MANLY AND FRESHWATER ATTRACT SUPERSTARS OF SURF

Sydney Northern Beaches: The who's who of Australian Surf Life Saving, including Zane Holmes, Shannon Eckstein, Nathan and Kristyl Smith and Alicia Marriott will converge on the Sydney Northern Beaches for the traditional Australia Day weekend surf carnivals at Manly and Freshwater.

The Australian High Performance squad, which includes Manly's world Ironwoman champion Naomi Flood, will be in camp at the NSW Academy of Sport at Narrabeen from next Friday, January 23.

The best of the best will line up in the major individual events, the open Ironman and Ironwoman, surf race, ski race, board race and beach sprint at both the Westpac Manly Open Carnival on Saturday, January, 25 and the Macquarie Sports Australia Day Carnival at Freshwater on Sunday, January 25.

"This is a rare opportunity to have the entire Australian squad on show for two days of red hot racing - it is a major coup for the Northern Beaches," said Sydney Northern Beaches Competition Manager Michael Bate.

"These carnivals are traditionally among the biggest club carnivals in the country and we attract competitors from every State but this news is the icing on the cake - it is very exciting indeed."

The Open Ironman field will read like an Australian final with Holmes, Eckstein and Smith joined by Hugh Dougherty and Jacob Lollback while Courtney Hancock, Gemma Newbiggen, defending Kellogg's Nutri-Grain champion Elizabeth Pluimers and Allira Richardson joining Flood, Smith and reigning Australian champion Alicia Marriott in the Ironwoman.

"This is our biggest camp of the year and there is a lot riding on the Manly-Freshwater carnivals - it will be all on the line," said Surf Life Saving Australian National Head Coach, Brett Dowker.

"To have the like of Zane and Shannon joining the Smiths, Naomi, Alicia and the others, knowing there are spots up for grabs in a very competitive Australian team is bound to produce some very competitive racing.

"We will name the team to tour South Africa after those two carnivals so they all know they have to perform. It is a rare opportunity to race the South Africans, just in surf competition over three Tests on three days next March."

Dowker said he would also call on the premiership winning success of the Manly Sea Eagles when the squad meets on Australia Day.

"There are so many NRL fans in our squad and being in the heart of Manly-Warringah it was only appropriate that we invite the Sea Eagles to address the team," Dowker said.

"They are really looking forward to that and with Naomi (Flood) being an Eagles Angel, I know she is especially excited about it."

Flood, a member of the victorious Australian team at last year's World Championships, will have to keep a host of in-form stars at bay to hold her place on the team and especially with Kristyl Smith added to the High Performance squad.

The successful captain of the 2008 Sydney Northern Beaches NSW Inter-Branch Championship winning team, will lead the Inner Plus Northern NSW Hammers in the opening round of the Kellogg's Series at Kurrawa this weekend.

She has been in good form, winning the Ironwoman at Queenscliff last Saturday while her Hammers team mate, Courtney Hancock won the recent Queensland Ocean Assault final from Kristyl Smith and Terri Sullivan.

Northcliffe trio, Holmes, Eckstein and Smith filled the first three placings in the men and will be the three to beat this weekend and at the Manly-Freshwater carnivals.

The 2009 SURF LIFESAVING HIGH PERFORMANCE SQUAD: for the Manly-Freshwater Carnivals: Alicia Marriott (City of Perth) Allira Richardson (Maroochydore) Beau Cummins (Northcliffe) Brendan Sarson (Cottesloe) Brittany Sharkey (Maroochydore) Brooke Fletcher (Bulli) Cara Langendam (Bulli) Chris Allum (Cronulla) Courtney Hancock (Northcliffe) Dean Scarff (City of Perth) Dev Lahey (Northcliffe) Downie Langthorne (Bulli) Elizabeth Pluimers (Northcliffe) Elly Graf (Cronulla) Emma McKenzie (Alexandra Headland Gemma Newbiggin (Mooloolaba) Hugh Dougherty (Burleigh Heads) Jacob Lollback (Burleigh Heads)Jenny Parry (North Burleigh) Kristyl Smith (Northcliffe) Leonie Keen (North Burleigh) Matt Green (Bulli) Naomi Flood (Manly) Nathan Smith (Northcliffe) Nick Crilly (Northcliffe) Shannon Eckstein (Northcliffe) Thomas Nolan (North Cottelsoe), Zane Holmes (Northcliffe)