Surf Life Saving NSW’s brightest young stars have been honing their skills at the NSW Talented Athletes Program (TAP) on Sydney’s northern beaches during the school holidays.
Sutherland Shire stars included Connor Levings (Elouera), Alex Rampoldi (North Cronulla), Zac Roja (North Cronulla), Emily Eaves (Wanda), Kiera Warn (Wanda) and Brooke Dixon (Wanda).
TAP exposes leading U13-15 athletes to the start of the Surf Life Saving NSW high performance pathway.
Former TAP students Kendrick Louis, Alyce Bennett and Tanyn Lyndon have gone on to win national and world championships, represent Australia and qualify for the Kellogg’s Nutri-Grain Ironman Series.
Connor Levings of Elouera SLSC learnt a lot from the elite development camp.
‘‘I really learnt what is required as an elite athlete in terms of mental, dietary and special training requirements,’’ Levings said.
‘‘It's been an amazing experience and definitely on a higher level to anything we've ever done before.
Surf Life Saving NSW sports manager, Shane Knight, said the program was important to ensure the future of surf sports in NSW.
‘‘The program is one of the most successful and longest running programs that SLSNSW offers to its members,’’ Knight said.
‘‘This program exposes athletes from NSW to some of the best coaching and sport science testing around.
‘‘Over the years, this program has helped young up-and-coming surf sport athletes to go on to compete and represent teams at the highest level possible.
‘‘I have no doubt that some of these athletes [in the present program] will follow that same path.’’
Nine surf lifesaving branches from NSW were represented in the 2014 program, with athletes travelling from as far north as Kingscliff and as far south as Tathra.
Forty competitors from 90 nominations were selected for the three-day program at the Sydney Academy of Sport.
Four elite coaches from NSW worked with the squad in their chosen disciplines.
Australian superstars Kendrick Louis, Rachelle King and Murray Stewart mentored the group.
North Curl Curl’s Tony Williams was the head coach.
‘‘The main thing about TAP is that it is a good introduction to future representation for the sport,’’ Williams said.
‘‘The group here is the cream of the cream, with stacks of ability.
‘‘It is a great chance for them to learn different skills and compete against athletes of similar ability and make contacts in this environment.
‘‘Friendships have been formed up and down the coast at TAP.’’
The action-packed program was supported by Engine Swim and NSW Sport and Recreation.
SLSNSW State coaches took the squad through surf sports specific training aimed at developing skills, technique and building the athletes’ understanding of the physical training required to reach their goals in surf sports competition.
Sydney Academy of Sport educated the students on performance enhancing theory including sports nutrition, sports psychology and goal setting.