Big swell building for Piha surf boats

A raw slab of West Coast swell is pulsing towards Piha for the final event in the New Zealand surf boat series this weekend.

The two-day competition will start tomorrow with the annual `Day of Giants' trans-Tasman challenge, pitting four of Australia's best crews against New Zealand's finest.

The swell is forecast to peak at 3m for the Piha Big Wave Classic on Saturday, which doubles as the last of four rounds in the national series.

Victorian crew Jan Juc will be a warm favourite in tomorrow's event, having collected the Australian series title last year.  They'll again be swept by veteran oarsman Scott Tannerhill, who is well used to handling big swells off the coast of Melbourne.  Jan Juc will be hunting their third title at Piha and go in as defending champions.

Current Victorian state champions Lorne and North Queensland title-holders Tannum Sands will also compete, along with New South Wales entry Bronte, who have just finished competing in the Ocean Thunder professional series.

The New Zealand challenge will be led by hosts Piha, swept by former Kiwis rugby league representative Mark Bourneville.  Piha are currently in second place in the New Zealand series and won the world surf boat title in Biarritz last year.

Wellington's Lyall Bay, Gisborne's Midway and the Piha B crew will also compete.

Mount Maunganui's champion women's crew will take on a Victorian Selection, while Tannum Sands have sent over an under-19 crew to compete against the host Piha Pistols crew.

National men's champions Titahi Bay are missing this weekend's round, having already wrapped up the national series, and will instead focus on the New Zealand and Australian championships in March.

But the race for the women's series title is still wide open, with Mount Maunganui, Whakatane, Lyall Bay and Waihi Beach all still in contention.

Today's racing will start at 11am.