Top Kiwis line up at Australian surf titles

Madison Boon is hoping she’s used up all her bad luck as the top New Zealand surf lifesaver swaps giant Gisborne waves for Perth heat at the Australian national championships which begin tomorrow.

The 18-year-old had a forgettable time at the New Zealand championships, which finished on Sunday at her home beach of Midway. She dipped out in both the under-19 and open ironwoman races after disastrous opening ski legs, though she still walked away with a cluster of team and board titles.

Boon won the under-19 board race at last year’s Australian titles and joins a large group of fellow Kiwis backing up for their second national championship in as many weeks.

“Depending on how I can juggle my programme, I will do both ironwoman races because I'll have nothing to lose, and I'd love to work towards that top-five finish,” Boon said.

“I've managed to break into the top-10 over there at the Queensland state titles which was a big goal for me but the goal this weekend is to work my way into the top-five.”

New Zealand’s hopes this weekend include teenagers Boon, Chelsea Maples (Mount Maunganui) and Orewa pair Teneale Hatton and Rachel Clarke, as well as beach sprinters Paul Cracroft-Wilson, Ben Willis and Morgan Foster.

Four-time New Zealand ironman champion Daniel Moodie will also be hoping to show his move across the Tasman a year ago is paying off, while Midway brothers Dan and Mike Janes will feature in the surf race.
Maples and Cracroft-Wilson are previous champions in Perth, where the temperatures are expected to push 30deg this weekend. Maples won the under-19 and open women’s beach sprints two years ago, while Cracroft-Wilson collected the men’s beach flags title.

He finished second to six-time champion, veteran Australian Simon Harris, last year and believes he’ll again be the man to beat.

“Simon Harris hasn’t raced much this season but I can’t rule him out,” Cracroft-Wilson said. “He won the Queensland titles a couple of weeks ago and me and Morgan will probably be there biting his ankles.”

Others expected to do well are Australian-based athletes Jess Parr and former 400m track sprinter Callum Taylor, as well as under-19 board paddler Nick Malcolm.

Clarke is coming off a memorable New Zealand championships, having collected the under-19 and open ironwoman double, after Boon’s misfortune prevented her from challenging.

“I had two very unlucky ski legs, one on the way out and one on the way in, but there wasn't anything I could do about it - it just wasn't my weekend,” Boon said.

“I went into the weekend knowing that I could do well and that won't change for next year.”

A group of younger competitors – including Hawke’s Bay athletes Lydia Diver and Ben Gillies and Papamoa’s Jamie Banhidi – will get invaluable experience from their first trip to the Australian titles.
More than 6000 athletes are taking part in the five-day carnival, with Moodie’s Northcliffe club tipped to dominate the elite ranks.