Two from Umina surf club selected for junior academy

Two Umina Surf Life Saving Club members have been selected to be among the 44 juniors surf life savers participating in the 2017 Junior Development Academy Program.

Thomas Rodham and Kiara Jack will represent Umina when 44 of the state's most promising water athletes aged between 12 and 14, congregate on Sydney's Northern Beaches in early October.

Rodham and Jack are two of just five juniors from the Central Coast to make the cut and the only ones from Peninsula clubs.

The three-day program is tailored to introduce juniors to a high performance environment.

The young athletes chosen for this program already boast impressive resumes with country and NSW medallists counted among their number.

NSW Surf Sports manager Mr Rob Pidgeon said: "The aim of the program has always been to create an opportunity for these young athletes to learn new skills and techniques in an environment where they can work with their peers.

"For us it is important to establish a pathway from talented junior through to the senior level, and we've been incredibly lucky to have NSW coach Mr Jim Walker heavily involved in the program."

Many past participants have used this program as the first stepping stone to higher representative honours including competing for Australia on the world stage.

SOURCE:

Media release, 29 Aug 2017

Donna Wishart, Surf Life Saving NSW