Difficult conditions are expected this weekend in Terrigal on the NSW Central Coast for the first round of the Sharkskin NSW IRB Premiership 2022 – with 16 teams from across the state participating.
Caves Beach, North Cronulla, Helensburgh Stanwell Park, and the host club will line up for first-lap honors when the race starts on Saturday, May 14.
Nearly a year after the start of the 2021 Premiership season on the same beach, Kiama Downs will be looking to rediscover the form in which they made an incredible 15 out of 23 finals en route to a points total nearly double that of second place.
COVID-19 would eventually cause the season to be disrupted and then canceled. Kiama Downs team manager Stephen Strong is excited about the opportunity to be back on the water and put their training into practice.
“The last few years have been difficult for all clubs,” he said.
“It will be great fun to have a full racing season.
“We’ve made it through Covid, but the weather gods have been a little naughty over the past few months, which has caused a slight change in training where we’ve been working with some of our new competitors acting as patients in and around the cans, and on start and finish.
“Everyone is in the same boat. However, we are ready.”
Despite Kiama Downs dominating in Terrigal a year ago, he doesn’t take anything for granted, especially given the circumstances will be a little different than usual.
“Terrigal is a great place to start,” Stephen said.
“Overall, it’s a good, flat beach, and it takes some unpredictability out of the game.
“You’ll get a nice place to work on your skills and smooth out a few things, but I’ve talked to some people there, and I’ve been told the swell is coming in from the north, so we’ll see.
“It’s the first race back in just over 12 months, and I think we’re a little smaller than in the past, but we’ll still be in the mix; it’ll be interesting to see how some of the other clubs also stand in line.
“This first weekend will be where everyone will find out what’s going on and who are the clubs that will push it at the back of the Premiership.
“The usual suspects will be there – Caves (Beach), Terrigal, North Cronulla – and there could also be a few surprise packages.”
Surf Life Saving NSW Director of Surf Sport, Don van Keimpema, is looking forward to seeing the 2022 Premiership, with four surf clubs organizing their rounds over the coming months ahead of the South West Rocks state championships in July.
“The Sharkskin NSW IRB Premiership is an important event on the state calendar for surf sports – it provides a great spectacle and showcases the skills of our membership,” he said.
“I’m looking forward to the 2022 season, which we’re confident will be the first uninterrupted Premiership in two years. We know the competitors are eager to come out, and we can’t wait for it to start.” .”
2022 Sharkskin NSW IRB Premiership Venues and Dates:
Terrigal SLSC, May 14-15
Bulli SLSC, May 28-29
Broulee Surfers SLSC, June 11-12
Ocean Beach SLSC, June 25-26
NSW Championships: South West Rocks SLSC, July 8-10
Round 1 Competition Teams:
Avalon Beach Bondi Bungan Beach Caves Beach Coogee Helensburgh Stanwell Park Kiama Downs Maroubra Newport Nobbys North Avoca North Cronulla Ocean Beach Queenscliff South Maroubra Terrigal
For 2022 Sharkskin NSW IRB Premiership Merchandise, Click Here
Wednesday May 11 2022