Newcastle boat captain and sweep Brian Foster said they will use a double round of the Streets Surfboat Series this weekend at Hawks Nest as a much-needed hit-out.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The Newcastle open men’s crew are the defending champions in the combined Newcastle and Central Coast surfboat series but have had a disrupted start to the season due to work and personal commitments.
The open men’s crew are third after two rounds of the Streets Series but Foster hopes they will show stronger form post-Christmas and be reaching their peak by the state and Australian titles in March and April.
“Our preparation this season is not ideal, we have a couple away and we’re definitely under strength at the moment in both boat time and training time,” Foster said. “But we’ll get there.”
In excess of 80 crews will compete this weekend. Saturday is short course racing and Sunday long course.
Tea Gardens Hawks Nest Surf Life Saving Club also hosted the event last year. Club secretary Maxine Cook said it has helped increase their member numbers.
“It is good for the club and the area,” Cook said. “There are a lot of community benefits.
“We are only a small club, of around 275 members, but having this carnival has created a lot of interest in the club.”
Cook said member numbers have increased as a result of hosting the carnival because people needed to become volunteer lifesavers to compete in surfboat rowing.
The hosts will field crews in masters women, masters men and reserve men divisions.
