Trans-Tasman Surf Boat Challenge: New Zealand and Australia’s top surf crews battle it out in Waihi waters

The best surf boat crews from New Zealand and Australia will go head-to-head this weekend in the annual Trans-Tasman Surf Boat Challenge at Waihi Beach.

Held annually in Sydney last year, it will return to New Zealand shores in 2019 and, like 2017, will once again be held at Waihi Beach. Trans Tasman Surf Boat Challenge Trophy.

This year, the New Zealand crew of four, all from Titahi Bay, Wellington, showed how effective their preparation and training had been for this event, and how eager they were to win the title for the first time from an Australian. is shown.

Brett Hammer, rower for the New Zealand Open men’s team, said the Australian team “are the favorites for good reason and rightfully so”, but they still want their supporters to be proud. want to win, and winning would be the ultimate way to do it.

“Australian teams have dominated this event both at home and on the pitch since it started, so they need to be sharp,” Hammer said.

“We just want to put in a good performance and make our supporters proud, but we also want to see how we can compete against the fastest players in the world.

Similarly, the Georgia McLaren rowers on the Open women’s team said their goal after training for the event since last August was to “get on the boat and perform to the best of their ability.” said.

McLaren said: “We put strength and energy into every race and want to cross the finish line with the satisfaction of not leaving anything behind.”

Tim Marsden, the under-23 team’s sweep, said he’s ready for the challenge and most looking forward to pulling the black caps.

“I can’t wait to get out there and represent our country,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Australian team said they were “extremely excited” to travel to New Zealand for the match.

“Several [Australian] The team members are looking forward to reuniting with friends they met at the last Trans-Tasman Challenge, but the new members of the team are thrilled to be representing their country for the first time,” said Australian Team Manager Greg Hurd. said.

“The entire Australian crew has trained very well and we know that to beat the strong New Zealand crew we have to be in top form,” Hurd said.

The race starts tomorrow at 10am, with crews competing in three tests, followed by the final to determine the Trans-Tasman champion.

The national competition, the North Island Surf Boat Challenge, runs alongside the Trans-Tasman Challenge this weekend, attracting more crews from around the country for a big weekend of surf boat racing. Their race continues into Sunday morning as part of his six-round series of New Zealand Surfboats.

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