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SURF LIFESAVING

Experienced Parr key for NZ surf team

Surf Life Saving New Zealand

Wednesday 22 July 2009, 4:24PM

By Surf Life Saving New Zealand

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Jess Parr competing at the New Zealand championships in Gisborne earlier this year
Jess Parr competing at the New Zealand championships in Gisborne earlier this year Credit: Surf Life Saving New Zealand
New Zealand's Jess Parr heads out in 3-foot surf at Taiwan's Sizihwan Bay yesterday during preparations for the World Games.
New Zealand's Jess Parr heads out in 3-foot surf at Taiwan's Sizihwan Bay yesterday during preparations for the World Games. Credit: Surf Life Saving New Zealand

Jess Parr may be a rookie on the international stage but the New Zealand surf lifesaving team will be counting on all her experience at the World Games beginning tomorrow...

At 26, Australian-based Parr only has captain Glenn Anderson (28) as her senior in the 12-strong team competing over three days in Kaohsiung City, Taiwan.

Though this is the first time Parr has represented her country, the Muriwai club member won her first national surf race title in 2002 and has collected three more titles since, including the last two years.

Critically, she also brings a strong pool-swimming background to Taiwan, with the first two days of the competition held at the Kaohsiung Municipal Pool venue before switching to Sizihwan Bay for the final day.

“I was a national age-group title-holder before I crossed over fully into surf lifesaving and that’s made this a lot easier,” Parr said. “Swimming is the basis for the majority of events at international lifesaving events and having a background in the pool certainly makes picking up events like the manikin carry and the 200m obstacle race much simpler.”

New Zealand goes into the World Games as the top-ranked nation, courtesy of their pool performance at the world championships in Germany last year.

But eight members of the team will be making their debut at this level, including 16-year-old Wellington swimming star Samantha Lee and her 17-year-old Lyall Bay teammate Georgina Hind.

World champions Australia have also assembled an ominous squad for the World Games, including world ironman champion Shannon Eckstein.

Parr has been based in Australia for the past five years, studying at the University of New South Wales and competing on the white-hot carnival circuit there. It’s been a long wait for her to finally make a New Zealand team.

“Most young athletes dream of representing their country in their given sport and it has definitely been worth the wait.
“Five years ago when I relocated to Australia, it was harder to make the New Zealand team as Aussie-based Kiwi athletes were less common but there’s been a much bigger drift across the Tasman in recent years and a greater recognition by selectors of the results we’re achieving in Australia.”

The New Zealand team has spent the last four days acclimatising to the 38deg heat in Taiwan, with coach Scott Bartlett happy with their preparation.

“The team has really lifting after getting a bit of sun on their backs and we’ve done all the hard work – now it’s just a case of putting it together in competition,” Bartlett said.