A contingent of Bay of Plenty's finest surf life savers are preparing to swap the golden sands of New Zealand for the hustle and bustle of Japan ahead of the 2013 International Surf Rescue Challenge.

From next Monday, the Bay contingent including Max Beattie, Natalie Peat and Lisa Carrington will be part of the Kiwi squad competing against the world's top life savers for international dominance at Onjuku Beach in Chiba.

U20 team heading to Japan for the 2013 International Surf Rescue Challenge. Photo: Jamie Troughton/Dscribe Media Services

Starting in 1939 as the Trans-Tasman Series between Australia and New Zealand, the competition has rapidly expanded in recent years with South Africa joining the event in 1999 and the Tri-Nations Challenge being formed.

Since 2005 the event has quickly grown and this year the participating countries are Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, Korea, New Zealand, USA and Japan.

This year Surf Life Saving New Zealand is sending two teams – the New Zealand Team and the Under 20s – each comprising of six male and six female athletes.

Events include Ironman, surf race, surf ski, board relay, beach flags, beach sprints, tube rescue, beach relay and taplin relay.

New Zealand team coach Scott Bartlett is expecting some good competition from the other participating countries but believes New Zealand has what it takes to win.

'Our athletes have been training incredibly hard in the lead-up to the competition and they're eager to get out there and perform at their best,” says Scott.

'They all have the experience, talent and an absolute determination to win.”

Headlining the New Zealand team is Omanu's own New Zealand Iron Man champion Max Beattie, recent canoe world and Olympic champion Lisa Carrington and Dunedin's Andy McMillan.

Max and Andy were also part of the Black Fins team, which claimed the world life saving crown at Rescue 2012, last November.

Three other Black Fins team mates join them in the team – world ski champion Devon Halligan, world beach flags champion Chanel Hickman and former New Zealand and Australian beach flag champion Paul Cracroft-Wilson.

Last week, a last minute change was made to the team with injury ruling Lyall Bay Surf Life Saving Club member and Olympic swimmer Natasha Hind out of the team – replaced by Piha Surf Life Saving Club member Kirsty Wannan.

Also in the team are under 19 New Zealand Iron Woman champion Natalie Peat and Danielle McKenzie, both part of the inaugural under 20 team taking part in Rescue 2012.

Completing the team line-up is New Zealand open men's board race champion Nick Malcolm, kayaker Liam O'Loughlin and Ironman champion Chris Moors.

In the under 20 team, the Bay fills seven of the 10 spots, including Ben Cochrane, Daniel Hart, Jess Miller and Olivia Eaton.

The competition runs September 19-23.

New Zealand Team:

Lisa Carrington, Mount Maunganui LS

Devon Halligan, Midway SLSC

Chanel Hickman, Mairangi Bay SLSC

Natalie Peat, Papamoa SLSC

Danielle McKenzie, Mairangi Bay SLSC

Kirsty Wannan, Piha SLSC

Andy McMillan, St Clair SLSC

Max Beattie, Omanu SLSC

Paul Cracroft-Wilson, Fitzroy SLSC

Nick Malcolm, Mairangi Bay SLSC

Chris Moors, Red Beach SLSC

Liam O'Loughlin, Taylors Mistake SLSC

Management Team:

Scott Bartlett, coach

Mark Weatherall, team manager

Jason Pocock, assistant coach

Susan Pirret, physiotherapist

Under 20 Team:

Ben Cochrane, Omanu SLSC

Ben Johnston, Papamoa SLSC

Andrew Trembath, St Clair SLSC

Jack Manners, Lyall Bay SLSC

Jake Hurley, Red Beach SLSC

Daniel Hart, Papamoa SLSC

Katie Wilson, Mt Maunganui LS

Jasmine Smith, Wainui SLSC

Karina Radley, Mt Maunganui LS

Jess Miller, Mt Maunganui LS

Olivia Eaton, Mt Maunganui LS

Carina Doyle, St Clair SLSC

Management Team:

Brent Wilson, team manager

Kurt Wilson, coach

Jonelle Quane, assistant coach

Mike Ellis, physiotherapist