Preparations for the Under 14 New Zealand Surf Life Saving Championships are underway at Mount Maunganui's Main Beach, with a digger creating a trench for internet, power and lighting cables.

For many years now New Plymouth Old Boys Swimming and Surf Life Saving Club's Vaughan Garrett has been travelling to the Mount to help Surf Life Saving New Zealand logistics officer Alan Coates prepare for the event.

Nearly 900 children, aged 10-14, from around New Zealand will be in the Mount competing in the annual event which runs from Thursday until Sunday, says Alan.

'We need to get power across to the tower to run the sound system and there's also the big exhibition tent and food caravans. So we need to get the power and lighting and stuff. Once the event's finished we pull it all out again.”

Known as Oceans '17, the annual competition has a proud history of being one of SLSNZ's biggest events which aims to encourage and promote young children to pursue a future in lifeguarding.

'The carnival is the high point of the season,” says SLSNZ sport manager Mike Lord, 'and many of the athletes have been training and competing at a local level throughout the season in preparation.

'There's always an amazing atmosphere at the Oceans carnivals as the kids give the competition their all but also display great sportsmanship; looking out for one another and cheering each other on. It's a great chance for them to hang out with their mates in an environment that they love.”

The 2016 event saw Omanu Beach Surf Life Saving Club successfully defend their championship title after fighting off stiff competition from around the country.

This year has attracted 898 entries from 46 Surf Life Saving Clubs around New Zealand from as far north as Waipu Cove to as far south as St Clair in Dunedin.

'There are a few here already from out of town,” says Alan, 'but most coming in today and tomorrow.”

The largest group of athletes comes from Red Beach, just north of Auckland, with a total of 70 athletes followed by Mount Maunganui with 54 and Mairangi Bay with 52.

While the largest age group being contested is the U13s with 276 competitors, followed by the U14s with 243, U12s with 224 and the U11s with 155.

As well as the sporting action on the beach, a number of surf life saving sponsors including Zespri and EBOS Sport will have marquees set up on site to support and assist the young athletes in achieving their best throughout the four days of competition.

Keep up-to-date via the Facebook event page here and follow the live results on our website at http://liveresults.co.nz/sls or via the SLSNZ App.

CLUBS REPRESENTED ARE:

• Bethells Beach SLSP
• East End SLSC
• Fitzroy SLSC
• Foxton SLSC
• Hot Water Beach LS
• Kotuku Surf Life Saving
• Lyall Bay SLSC
• Mairangi Bay SLSC
• Mangawhai Heads VLS
• Maranui SLSC
• Midway SLSC
• Mt Maunganui Lifeguard Service
• Muriwai Volunteer Lifeguard Service Inc
• New Plymouth Old Boys SLSC
• North Beach SLSC
• Ocean Beach Kiwi SLSC
• Omaha Beach SLSC
• Omanu SLSC
• Onemana SLSC
• Orewa SLSC
• Otaki SLSC
• Pacific SLSC
• Paekakariki Surf Lifeguards
• Palmerston North SLSC
• Papamoa SLSC
• Piha SLSC
• Red Beach SLSC
• South Brighton SLSC
• St Clair SLSC
• St Kilda SLSC
• Sumner SLSC
• Tairua Surf Life Saving Club
• Taylors Mistake SLSC
• Titahi Bay SLSC
• Waihi Beach Lifeguard Services Inc
• Waikanae SLSC
• Waikuku Beach SLSC
• Waimairi SLSC
• Waimarama SLSC
• Wainui SLSC
• Waipu Cove SLSC
• Westshore SLSC
• Whakatane SLSC
• Whangamata SLSC
• Whiritoa Lifeguard Service
• Worser Bay LSC