THREE Warrnambool Surf Lifesaving Club youngsters will be hoping to continue their impressive form from last weekend's Lifesaving Victoria state titles at this year's national championships.
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Harvey Moncrieff, 13, Isaac Owen and Darcy Bridgewater, both 14, are part of the club's next generation of stars who will give the Australian Surf Life Saving Championships (The Aussies) a go for the first time when it runs from March 30 to April 7.
The trio, along with Darcy's sister Stella, 16, Matt Hardiman, 19, Brayden Casamento, 18, Harry McNamara, 17, Sophie Thomas, 22, and Emma Ragg came away from last weekend's state titles with a swag of gold medals.
The nine WSLSC members finished with 29 gold medal between them across the two-day carnival.
But their work is not done with a successful first time the aim heading to the championships in at Queensland lifesaving clubs Broadbeach and North Burleigh.
The boys are aiming to secure a spot in the under 14 board relay final - a race they claimed gold in at the Victorian titles. Away from the relay they will all be fighting each other for spots in the individual board final.
Darcy's sister Stella will be joining her brother on the trip to Queensland for her second time competing at The Aussies.
She shares the same excitement that is consuming her brother and his friends.
"It's going to be a lot of fun racing against people we haven't raced before," she said.
"I'll be going for the board final and also the board relay. I can't wait to practice on the waves up there."
The younger competitors in the squad will not have to look far for experience with the senior athletes in Hardiman, Casamento and McNamara having competed at the nationals multiple times before.
For the older trio the objective remains the same - to give everything in their events and try to make a final and see what happens from there.
The Aussies see members from Australia’s 314 surf clubs come together to compete in more than 400 beach and ocean events.
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Sean Hardeman
I'm a sports journalist for the Warrnambool Standard who covers a number of different sports across the south-west of Victoria. I enjoy watching cycling, surfing, football, soccer and Formula 1.
I'm a sports journalist for the Warrnambool Standard who covers a number of different sports across the south-west of Victoria. I enjoy watching cycling, surfing, football, soccer and Formula 1.
