Heading Trans Tasman team

Umina surf club coach Mr Peter Noble and manager Mr Garry Mensforth will be heading next year's Surf Life Saving Central Coast Trans Tasman team.

"The Central Coast team comprises a mixture of youth and experience and is seen as a vehicle for the development of our future surf stars through the inclusion of some new faces," said Surf Life Saving Central Coast chief executive officer Mr Chad Griffith.

The team will represent the Central Coast in New Zealand this month.

The team will also compete in Port Macquarie against teams from the northern area of New Zealand and also Country NSW in the biannual Trans Tasman Surf Challenge from Sunday, January 14, to Friday, January 19.

This challenge between the three areas has been conducted seven times over the last 14 years and Central Coast has won the event on all occasions.

The event is conducted over three rounds and is held in the respective countries on alternate years.

This year sees the event being held in Port Macquarie with rounds conducted at Flynns Beach.

The events comprise a mixture of swim, board, ski, and beach events with iron person races as well with the overall winner decided on a point score basis.

Mr Mensforth said: "This tour is an exciting concept and one that allows us to compete against overseas competitors whilst at the same time studying patrolling methods in New Zealand.

"The north island of New Zealand traditionally has the strongest competitive clubs in New Zealand and in the past has always provided stiff competition to visiting teams. "I would expect that this visit will be no different and we will be pushed all the way to continue our unbeaten record over the years in this event.

"With the inclusion of a team from Country NSW this time they will also provide stiff competition as their team will include some current Australian champions.

"With the event being conducted on Flynns Beach which is notorious for throwing up big surfs, we will be well placed to take advantage of the surf as our team has grown up on the beaches of the Central Coast.

"Similarly New Zealand surf patrols have many innovative patrolling methods to counter the large surfs and huge crowds that are experienced on Auckland's West Coast beaches and our education officers will be studying their patrolling methods to bring back new ideas that can benefit our patrolling of Central Coast beaches.

"This will be a great tour that will ultimately benefit the Central Coast."

Press release, November 14 Chad Griffith, Surf Life Saving Central Coast