They will also keeping a lookout on the weather forecast, too.
The surf lifesaving IRB crews are full of confidence heading north to the Surf Rescue New Zealand Championships in Waihi this weekend.
And so they should be — St Kilda was named top overall club at the South Island championships last month, and was the top under-23 men’s and women’s and open men’s team as well.
If the weather plays ball — the forecast was not looking favourable yesterday — nine crews will compete across five events to solidify the club’s rankings ahead of the national event being held in Dunedin next year.
At present it is the best in the South Island and in the top three nationally.
"We’re going with some younger crews that we’re aiming to bring through to... really make our mark next year when we’re racing in Dunedin," club president
and IRB coach Peter Gibbons said.
"If the racing goes ahead, we’ve got some absolute top crews that we’re very hopeful of winning some New Zealand titles."
St Kilda’s under-23 men’s crew of Danyon Noakes and Matt Lloyd and under-23 women’s crew of Emily Peacock and Madi Loudon are part of the national development squad.
Noakes and Lloyd will have the pressure on them, as they finished as the overall top national under-23 men’s team at last year’s event.
"They go in as favourites. Basically everyone’s chasing them."
St Kilda’s B under-23 men’s crew of Taryn Doyle and Jack McDowall were also nationally ranked and looked strong, benefiting from trainings against the top A crew.
"They’re only our B crew because the A crew’s the best one in New Zealand," Gibbons said.
Under-23 proved to be a strong grade for St Kilda at present and there were "big expectations" of Peacock and Loudon in the women’s events too.
St Kilda’s strength was a testament to the IRB programme the club ran and Gibbons looked forward to seeing what the club could produce against the best in the country.
