ECKSTEIN’S RESCUE 2012 WARNING TO AUSSIES: BEWARE THE KIWIS

 
Rescue 2012, November 8: The world’s leading Ironman, Shannon Eckstein has urged lifesavers worldwide to make a date with Rescue 2012 – one year from this week.
 
Yesterday marked the “One Year To Go” milestone for the start of Rescue 2012 – International Life Saving’s World Championships, when the world’s finest lifesavers will converge on the city of Adelaide. Over 4000 competitors from 40 countries  are expected to travel to South Australia for the event.
 
Between November 7 and 18, Glenelg and Christies Beaches will play host to 12 days of surf sports action at its absolute best with National Teams, Club Teams and Masters competitors all striving for world championship glory. The new South Australian State Aquatic & Leisure Centre will be the venue for all pool events.
 
Eckstein is the three-time and defending World Ironman Champion who wants to defend his title in Adelaide next November.
 
But the Northcliffe star has also put the call out to countries and clubs to join him in this rare opportunity to contest a world championship.
 
“It’s great to contest a world championship and for Australians to compete in this kind of event in our own country is extra special,” says Eckstein, who captained the Australians to National Team glory in Egypt in 2010.
 
“I can already feel the buzz around the Gold Coast clubs who are talking about Rescue 2012 and their preparations for next year.
 
“We’ll have a break after the 2011-12 season and then prepare ourselves for the world championships.
 
“If I am lucky enough to be selected in the Australian team for my third World Titles, it may well be my farewell to international competition – I don’t know whether I’ll be around for 2014, so I am to make the most of it.
 
“So I am excited about the possibility of again leading Australia next November in Adelaide – it will be a great climax to the year that’s for sure.”
 
As far as the National Teams Championship is concerned, Eckstein has issued a warning to the Australian squad: “Beware the Kiwis!”
 
“The New Zealand team will again be the team to beat; they have been going from strength to strength,” said Eckstein.

“It’s an Olympic year and you can rest assured there will be Olympians coming out of London, who will be part of the Kiwi team so they are sure to have a very strong team.”

 
“You cannot take anything for granted and competition for places on the Australian team will be red hot,” said Eckstein.

Eckstein recently joined Northcliffe and fellow Australian team member Elizabeth Pluimers at a two-day “Brighton Dolphin Training Weekend” at Adelaide’s Brighton Surf Life Saving Club.
 
Pluimers, who has won 19 Australian gold medals and is the current and two-time Australian open women’s board champion who also has her sights set on Rescue 2012.
 
The pair were joined by the Gold Coast’s noted surf sports competitor-turned-coach Dan Norton Smith who has coached a myriad of State and National champions over the past decade including Nippers, Age Group competitors, Open age athletes and Masters in a variety of disciplines.
 
 ABOUT RESCUE 2012
 
Rescue 2012 will be held in Adelaide, South Australia, from November 7-18, 2012 and will include five separate competitions - World National Team Championships, World Interclub Championships, World Masters Championships, World Surf Boat Championships, and World Inflatable Rescue Boat Championships.

Rescue 2012 is open to all proficient lifesavers. The Masters competition is open to all proficient lifesavers who are 30 years of age or above.

Athletes can compete in nine separate disciplines - swimming, simulated emergency rescue, Ironman / Ironwoman, surf-ski, board, beach sprints, beach flags, surf boats and IRB.

Beach, National Teams and all IRB events will be held at Glenelg Beach.

Christies Beach will be the home of all Masters, Interclub and Surf Boat events.

The South Australian State Aquatic and Leisure Centre will host all Pool events.