Midway's Sophie Petro (pictured) and Yahni Brown will make their debuts for the New Zealand Junior Black Fins next week at the world surf lifesaving championships on the Gold Coast. Photo / Paul Rickard
Midway's Sophie Petro (pictured) and Yahni Brown will make their debuts for the New Zealand Junior Black Fins next week at the world surf lifesaving championships on the Gold Coast. Photo / Paul Rickard
“Go in fearless” is the message to the Surf Life Saving New Zealand Black Fins, Junior Black Fins and Black Props (IRB) ahead of the Lifesaving World Championships starting next week on the Gold Coast.
Gisborne will be well represented in the Blacks Fins teams.
Dawson Building Midway’s Chris Dawson, Cory Taylor and Olivia Corrin will be joined by Kaiaponi Farms Waikanae’s Briana Irving and Oska Smith in the open team.
Smith will make his debut at that level.
Midway’s Sophie Petro and Yahni Brown will race in the Junior Black Fins (Under-19s) for the first time.
Yahni Brown (pictured) and Midway clubmate Sophie Petro made the New Zealand Junior Black Fins team after strong performances in the national championships at Mount Maunganui in March, where they won the iron finals in their respective age groups.
Photo / Paul Rickard
The New Zealand open team has been described as a good mix of youth and experience.
The world championships will be split into three areas – pool, beach and ocean. The pool events are being held at the Gold Coast Aquatic Centre in Southport. The beach and ocean events are at Kurrawa Beach.
The biennial team event runs from tomorrow (with the masters events) to September 8.
Athletes race in individual and team events, with points earned for each of the 43 events in total.
The Black Fins have won three of the last five world championships and have been on the podium almost every year since 1998.
The champs will also be the chance for the International Life Saving Federation and Surf Life Saving Australia to push for the sport’s inclusion in the Brisbane 2032 Olympic Games. The International Olympic Committee will be observing the Gold Coast world champs, with a final decision to be announced in 2026.
A New Zealand team spokesman said the Kiwis had been intensely preparing for the best part of nine months.
“For many of them it’s the culmination of years of work.”
Black Fins campaign lead Steve Kent knows how the athletes will be feeling as they head into the competition, having competed at previous world champs himself.
“I’m really excited for them. There’s no pressure. This is where the hard work pays off,” Kent said.
“Our athletes are completely committed. They’re taking every step they can to be professional and successful. They’re all volunteers but they’re treating this like it’s a professional event.”
Kent said there would be some strong competition.
“Australia, in particular, but also from France . . . (while) Germany and Italy are both consistently high performing teams. But the Black Fins have some world-class talent.”
Earlier this month, Black Fin Madison Kidd broke the world record for the 100m manikin tow with Fins in the Australian Pool Rescue Championships.
Black Fin Fergus Eadie broke his own New Zealand records in the 100m tow with fins and the 50m manikin carry during the Orange Cup in the Netherlands in December. He also broke a New Zealand record in the 100m manikin carry.
“Australia is the home of lifesaving,” Kent said. “This is about as close to home as we’re going to get.
“Five of our 12 athletes are based on the Gold Coast and train within two kilometres of the competition beach. We have a huge amount of experience and support that could give us the inside edge.”
Junior Black Fins campaign lead Zac Franich said selectors first began approaching prospective team members in January, with trials held in April before the final team were named in May.
“The junior team are looking extra sharp.
“We have a huge depth and breadth of talent across the board, and many of our athletes have already had the opportunity to familiarise themselves with the conditions on the Gold Coast.”
Petro and Brown have recently returned to New Zealand after spending some time there.
Franich said the progression for the juniors through the year had been inspirational.
“Many of them have already recorded personal best performance times in training events . . . those impressive times putting them in top tier finals contention.
“The team have been working incredibly hard and they now have nothing to lose. Our message to all our athletes is ‘go in fearless’.
“They’ve already put in the hard work to get into their best possible shape ahead of the competition.
“It’s been a massive journey for them to get where they are and now it’s time to enjoy the fruits of all that hard work – they’re mixing it with the best in the world.”
Worlds programme -
Masters competition runs from August 23-28.
Interclub competition runs from September 3-8.
The Black Fins and Junior Black Fins compete from August 28 to September 1.
