Weather behaves for White Island race

About 40 lifeguards canoed, skied and swam against each other as part of this year’s 56th annual White Island race in Dunedin at the weekend.

A total of 10 different clubs, from as far as Christchurch, were represented in the race on Saturday.

St Clair Surf Lifesaving Club chairman Matthew Bradley said last week’s weather meant it was touch and go up until the day as to whether they would be able to run this year’s event.

"Luckily on the day we turned up, the weather gods were good to us and gave us a pretty perfect day to run.

"It was just perfect racing conditions."

The about 5km race from St Clair Beach to White Island and back took place every Labour Weekend, with only refreshed or newly qualified lifeguards eligible to enter, Mr Bradley said.

Competitors were allowed to either paddle a surf ski, double ski, canoe, paddleboard or surf boat around the island and back.

"And then for those that are a bit hardcore, a bit nuts, some might say, is swimming."

The fastest was Taylor Chamberlain, of Christchurch’s Taylors Mistake Surf Lifesaving Club, clocking in at 25 minutes and 19 seconds on a surf ski.

Having so many lifeguards in one place could get competitive, with some betting a box of beers on who would win, Mr Bradley said.

tim.scott@odt.co.nz