Rufus Dempsey

Ōpōtiki Surf Lifesaving Club has a small team competing in the 2026 AON New Zealand Surf Life Saving National Championships, which begins at Ōhope today.

Held over four days, the national championships is expected to attract 1400 youth, senior and masters athletes from 46 clubs around the country.

Combined with supporters and spectators, up to 4000 people are expected on the beach.

The competition covers almost all aspects of surf lifesaving. There will be New Zealand representatives, canoes, surf boat crews, surf swimmers, beach sprinters, ski and board paddlers all having a crack at being the next national champion.

The programme is designed to operate within changing surf and weather conditions by allowing event blocks to move between days, but keeping the structure and pathway to completion consistent.

The Ōpōtiki Surf Lifesaving Club is fielding a team of eight masters in the canoe races – four men and four women along with one open contestant.

In addition, Carol Quirk, a ring in from Lyall Bay, will be competing in the rescue board race event for the Ōpōtiki club.

A men’s masters team consisting of Steve Williamson, Hamish McKenzie, Warwick Joblin and Flyn Hocart Saunders will be racing today.

With the addition of Bryn Gault, they will then compete in the open section races running from Friday to Sunday.

Williamson said the races were a great challenge and he encouraged more people to give it a go.

“All the events are designed to replicate rescue situations and surf sport is an extension of what we do as lifeguards, plus it’s a great reason to stay fit,” he said.

The four-man canoe race has been a strong event for the Ōpōtiki masters in the past and spirits were high as the teams held a last-minute training session at Waiotahe Beach on Monday to perfect manoeuvres before today.

Entering the canoe race for the first time is newly minted lifeguard Laney Hunia, who had been a patrol supporter at the club for a while before passing her full surf lifeguard exam in 2025.

“I am excitedly nervous,” she said.

“We have had some good trainings with big waves, the boys have been very supportive, and we lean into their experience.

“We are a tight-knit little crew, and I am looking forward to the competition this week,” she said.

She will be joined in the boat by Ute Seufert, Nicola Mansel and Mere Edwards.

Masters compete in five-year age groups starting with the 30-34-age group and going up to 70+ years old.

All masters competitors must have the minimum qualifications of either the Surf Bronze Medallion or the Surf Lifeguard Award in order to compete.

Anyone interested in giving it a go is encouraged to get in touch with the Ōpōtiki Surf Lifesaving Club.