Rox lifesavers ready for international challenge

FOUR Umhlanga Rocks (Rox) Surf Lifesaving club members are hoping to put their best foot forward for the South African junior team at this year’s International Surf Rescue Challenge which takes place over three days at North Beach on 28, 29 September and 2 October.

The international surf lifesaving competition returns to Durban for the first time in a decade and features some of the best male and female lifesavers in the world.

This year South Africa, Australia and New Zealand will compete with athletes from Japan, Spain and the USA.

The Rox members, Paige Horn, Tatum Botha, Connor Botha and Ally Chislett are all raring to go and say their collective goal is for the SA team to do well.

Related article: SA lifesavers ready for International Surf Rescue Challenge

“There’s no individual medals, just overall team ones so we all want South Africa to succeed. This is going to be my first international surf rescue so I’m just looking to gain as much experience as possible,” Horn enthused.

Fellow club member, Tatum Botha, will also be tackling her first international surf rescue competition and agreed with Horn’s sentiments.

“Like Paige said, being part of this competition for me is also about gaining experience and learning as much as I can from the other international competitors. I’ve heard people suggest there is some pressure on us as the home team but I don’t feel any of it to be honest. Collectively we want South Africa to shine,” she said.

Ally Chislett, who will be competing in her second International Surf Rescue Challenge said the conditions at North Beach will be tough to navigate.

Read also: Support Umhlanga Rocks lifesaving club’s fundraiser on the rox

“We’ve had some of our training at North Beach but the conditions vary from day to day so while we are prepared, the conditions on the day may prove tricky. The waves are also a little bit bigger making the surf events that much harder,” Chislett said.

After placing second in the senior men’s competition at ADreach Ocean heroes competition, Connor Botha, said he hopes to finish in the top three of the competition.

“I’m super excited and confident ahead of the challenge. I had a great ADReach Heroes competition which was held on North Beach so that’s helped me get to grips with what we will be up against,” he said.

The 22 traditional surf lifesaving disciplines as contested at national and world championships will be fought for over the three days.

Based at the Durban Surf Lifesaving Clubhouse at North Beach the swim, board, surfski and beach events will be staged over three days on the weekend of 28 and 29 October and concluding on Wednesday 2 October.

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