The Australian Development Team has returned following its successful participation in the Sanyo Bussan International Surf Lifesaving Challenge at Onjuku Beach, Japan in July.

Australia performed strongly and took out first place, however the event was notable for the high quality of competition from all countries participating, according to SLSAâ„¢s High Performance Manager, Dave Dwyer.

The Australian Development Team has returned following its successful participation in the Sanyo Bussan International Surf Lifesaving Challenge at Onjuku Beach, Japan in July.

Australia performed strongly and took out first place, however the event was notable for the high quality of competition from all countries participating, according to SLSA’s High Performance Manager, Dave Dwyer.

“I think all countries involved saw it as the perfect opportunity to gain experience in international competition and an understanding of how to deal with some of the variables of travelling ” for example, dealing with jet lag and different time zones, acclimatisation, different beach and surf conditions and, of course, different foods and languages, he said. “From Australia’s point of view the trip was excellent from all angles including athlete and coach development, he said.

According to Dwyer, the primary focus of the team was two-fold. “Firstly it was an opportunity to recognise the performances of our senior athletes over the past season, in particular Shannon Eckstein and Kristy Munroe, he said. “Another goal was to develop some of the future stars of the sport, including Jacob Lollback (Yamba), Corey Jones (Met Caloundra) and Liz Pluimers (Northcliffe).

“The two beachies’ (Simon Harris (Northcliffe) and Melissa Howard (Mollymook)) performed exceptionally well under somewhat trying circumstances as they maintained their composure during a series of appeals and DQs. “Beau Cummins (Tugun) and Meagan Nay (Kurrawa) both showed why they are up-and-coming world-class surf swimmers and the way Brittany Sharkey (Bulli) won the Women’s Board Race and then backed up to swim the gruelling leg in the Rescue Tube Rescue was outstanding.

The Australian Team did not underestimate the competition, as an opportunity to knock off the top-ranked country in the world is an excellent incentive in any competition. “A prime example of this was when Japan won the Female Board Rescue ” the whole beach went mad, Dwyer says. “It was a close race, but in the end a knowledge of local surf conditions proved to be telling.

SLSA President, Ron Rankin congratulated the team and said that the professionalism they demonstrated and the way they prepared themselves and portrayed their country and sport was beyond reproach.