OLYMPIC GOLDEN BOY TATE SMITH TO SPEARHEAD NORTHCLIFFE TO RESCUE 2012

AUSTRALIAN SURF LIFE SAVING, September 28, 2012: London Olympic kayak gold medallist Tate Smith will spearhead a star-studded Northcliffe team for this year’s World Inter-Club Life Saving Championships at Rescue 2012, in Adelaide in November.

Tate, 30, captained the Australian ”K4some” to its first Olympic team gold with fellow lifesavers David Smith (Warilla Barrack Pt), Murray Stewart (Manly) and Jacob Clear (Burleigh Heads Mowbray Park) but will now head back to the surf, where his career began with North Bondi over 15 years ago.

But Recue 2012 is calling and so are his Northcliffe team mates.

“It has been a real whirlwind since coming back from London with appearances and commitments and we have loved every minute of it,” said Tate.

“We are now off to both the AFL and NRL Grand Finals this weekend which will be awesome and we are really looking forward to but then it’s going to be time to get back to training. I want to make sure I’m ready for the World’s.

“Eight weeks should be enough to get back and do the work I need. I don’t want to Adelaide and let the boys down – I will never hear the end of it.”

Smith has a celebrated Surf Life Saving career which has seen him win every major Australian ski title from his first, the under 19 single ski with North Bondi in 2001, before his move to the Gold Coast for a golden decade, which has netted him 18 Aussies gold medals with Northcliffe, en-route to this year’s Olympic triumph.

Between 2004 and 2012 Smith has won the coveted open single ski, three double skis, six ski relays, five taplin relays and three mixed double skis.

He will be joined in Adelaide by a who’s who of lifesaving with the Northcliffe team to be captained by Australian team captain and five-time Australian and three-time world Ironman champion Shannon Eckstein and 2010 World Iron, swim and board champion and Australian team member for Rescue 2012 Kristyl Smith.

Joining them will be:

New Zealand London Olympians, and Kiwi National Team members kayaker Kev Morrison and swimmer Andrew McMillian.

2009 World 25km open water silver medallist and recent world record breaker for the English Channel Trent Grimsey.

Kellogg’s Nutri-Grain Ironman Cory Hill, who was fourth at this year’s Aussies as well as Australian open belt and tube rescue champion Dev Lahey; reigning under 19 Ironman champion and KNG Ironman qualifier Mitch Miller; 2011 Under 19 Ironman champion Tanyn Lyndon (subject to a fitness check on his shoulder) and former Townsville-based pool rescue star and Under 20s Australian representative Stefaan Demopulous.

Joining Smith in the women’s team will be defending Coolangatta Gold champion and 2011 Australian Ironwoman champion Courtney Hancock, her sister KNG Ironwoman Bonnie Hancock and fellow KNG Ironwoman Harriett Brown; Australian team member and world record holder for 200m super lifesaver and world 200m obstacles champion Miranda Bell; Australian rep and pool specialist Christina Ruiz; former Australian single champion Casey Leo Litzow; former NZ ironwoman champion Maddy Boon; Queensland State team representative and fellow Ash Adams and Jess McDonald.

Northcliffe Team Rescue 2012:
Shannon Eckstein (Captain)
Tate Smith
Trent Grimsey
Andy McMillan
Cory Hill
Dev Lahey
Stefaan Dempoplous
Mitch Miller
Tanyn Lyndon
Kev Morrison
Kristyl Smith (Captain)
Courtney Hancock
Bonnie Hancock
Miranda Bell
Christina Ruiz
Harriet Brown
Casey Leo Litzow
Madison Boon
Ash Adams
Jess McDonald
Coach: Barry Newman
Managers: Steven Fry and Mark Williams

Issued on behalf of Surf Life Saving Australia.