Lance Gilbertson doesn't want his son Kalani growing up to be a clubbie, or a surfer, or a paddler.
He'd rather his two-year-old stayed true to Hawaiian name _ and became a waterman.
In Gilbertson's world, a love of salt water should be all-embracing. Divisions between ocean sports shouldn't exist.
It's an attitude he hopes young Kalani will pick up _ he took him surfing for the first time a couple of weeks ago _ and it's also a philosophy that prompted Gilbertson to join the Mount Maunganui-based Ocean Club.
Ocean Club was set up three years ago to cater for surf athletes outside the traditional club structure, and now boasts 30 lifesavers from at least six different clubs.
"The whole idea of Ocean Club is just to enjoy the water, and let's all train together and compete together and have a beer or a feed afterwards," Gilbertson said.
"It's great. I hate it when clubs just do their own thing and dive into petty politics. It's all one sport and the sport's too small to really be selective.
"I've been overseas and raced in Hawaii and I've seen how the Hawaiians don't care what you do in the water as long as you're in the water. They call them watermen but in New Zealand you're a surfie or a cabbie and you get into all little groups which divides them."
Gilbertson and his family _ which will number four early next year when wife Jenni has their second child _ moved down from Auckland last year.
The 38-year-old has had a glittering ski paddling career, with 12 national surf titles and was an Olympic contender in flat-water kayaking.
After long stints with Fitzroy and Red Beach, he's now a member of Omanu, and is particularly excited about the chance to compete in the national championships in his home New Plymouth waters next year.
"I'm looking forward to that because we've got a very strong team, and I'm looking forward to beating the guys I used to race with in Red Beach!"
He's also in contention for the Bay of Plenty surf league team announced in January, but at the moment he's just enjoying working with promising athletes through Ocean Club.
Ocean Club manager Mark Weatherall said the great benefit the club could give was the chance for teenagers to rub shoulders with established surf stars.
"It doesn't worry us what club they compete for _ it's really just to develop a group of like-minded athletes," Weatherall said.
"There's a huge range of abilities _ like Mark Muir, a national ironman champion, to Nick Ross who's 13 and just learning to paddle a board.
"That's the beauty of the sport _ a 14-year-old could jump in at a meet and actually compete against Cory Hutchings if he was competing, and there are not many sports you can do that in. The 14-year-old probably wouldn't progress much past the heats in that case but it would still be great experience."
Lifesavers come from Whakatane twice a week, and Waihi when they can. The main core is from Omanu, but Mount Lifeguard Service and Papamoa are also represented, and there's an even gender split.
Weatherall hopes the concept will eventually draw in other water-based athletes, like triathletes, kayakers and waka ama paddlers.
That's good enough for Gilbertson: "I've got a young family and I'm having my kids later in life. If I don't keep fit, it would be a bit unfair on them, and plus I love the water.
"That's why my son's got a Hawaiian name, because they appreciate the water and they're all-inclusive. I took him for his first surf recently and he was buzzing about it.
"Mum's got some photos with him sitting on the board and he didn't stop talking about it all day!"
Lance answers call of the sea
AdvertisementAdvertise with NZME.