Fresh from taking out the Life Saving Victoria State Championships, Ocean Grove Surf Life Saving Club is confident of doing well at the ‘Aussies’ this weekend.
The group of young surf life savers is completing its final preparations before the squad travels to Queensland to compete in the Australian Surf Life Saving titles.
Despite winning the State Titles in Warrnambool, the squad is focussed on doing well at the ‘Aussies’.
Coach Sonia Kinsey is confident that the group can make the finals.
“While there are a number of athletes and clubs that are exceptional Australia-wide, we also have a number of great young athletes, who, if they are performing well on the day, could be up there,” Kinsey said.
“There are a lot of exciting combinations going up this year.”
Ocean Grove blitzed the State Titles, winning the Junior Nipper and Senior State Championships, but the group has had no time to rest in the lead up to the most important event on the surf life saving calendar.
“The kids have been training since May and while some train in Melbourne during the week, we all try to get together on the weekend for a session or two,” Kinsey said.
“This enables the athletes to bond and encourage each other on competition day. Most swim of a morning at 5.30am before school, only to continue with a session at the beach most nights from 5pm onwards.”
With no surf club since the end of last season Kinsey paid tribute to her young surf live savers, who have kept training and have been motivated despite having to transport their own gear to and from the beach on a daily basis, even during the cold winter months when the water temperature can drop to 10 degrees.
“I am extremely proud of them all, training trice a day most days of the week take a lot of dedication,” she said.
“While I know the competition will be tough, I hope they get the results that they deserve.”
The racing starts with the Youth on 30 and 31 March at North Burleigh and finishes with the older group racing from 4 to 7 April at Broadbeach.
