Sunshine Coast’s nippers to watch
The next era of lifesaving superstars are being developed on our own beaches. Here are 15 Sunshine Coast junior lifesavers on their way to becoming household names:
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A raft of junior Sunshine Coast lifesavers are establishing themselves as the next generation of household names in the sport.
Local nippers will get the chance to put their names forward as the athletes to lead the next era at the Queensland Youth Surf Life Saving Championships from February 25-27.
Sunshine Coast Interbranch Team Manager Kane Pilkington said the nippers were in fine form heading into the major event.
“We are hoping a lot of medals are going to come from the Sunshine Coast clubs right across the board the beachies and everyone in the water from younger age groups all the way to Under 15s,” he said.
Mr Pilkington said “homegrown athletes” like Byron Oliphant, Nicholas Carter and beachies Bailen Noy and Pipi Barlow were ones to watch going in to the pointy end of the surf season.
“They put a lot of time and effort into their training and have skills and techniques they practice day in day out,” he said.
“They are definitely going to be pushing for state medals.”
The largest event for U11-U15 age categories will see the finest talent from around the state go head to head in team and individual events including 1km and 2km beach runs, beach flags and sprint, surf race and surfboard events.
Using surf lifesaving competitions results from five recent events and representative team selections the Sunshine Coast Daily can reveal 15 nippers to watch ahead of the prestigious event.
Here are the Sunshine Coast’s Surf Life Saving superstars:
Eliza Parish, Alexandra Headland – U15
As the current Under 14 Queensland board champion Eliza Parish is hoping to claim back-to-back wins at the upcoming state championships.
Parish, who was selected in the Sunshine Coast Interbranch team and represents the YPC squad, placed fifth in the surf race and fourth in the iron race at the recent Sunshine Coast Branch Championships on February 5 to 6.
The born and bred Alexandra Headland Surf Club competitor said she loves the competitiveness of surf lifesaving and is looking forward to racing on February 25 to 27.
“States is at my home beach this year which I’m really looking forward to,” she said.
Dylan Wilson, Sunshine Beach – U15
Sunshine Beach star Dylan Wilson is “pretty keen” to be crowned the Queensland winner of the Under 15 ironman race after placing second in the event last season.
Wilson, who was selected in the Sunshine Coast Interbranch team and the YPC squad is well on his way to achieving his dream after claiming third spot at the recent branch championships.
The 14-year-old said he enjoyed the challenge of the longer iron racing.
He said he was feeling good leading into the Queensland championships and was “pretty keen” to put his foot on the line.
Byron Oliphant, Alexandra Headlands – U14
After taking out all individual water events at last seasons’ state championships Byron Oliphant is known as an up and coming superstar of the sport.
While competing in the Queensland Interbranch Championships in November 2021 the Under 14 athlete won both the iron and board race.
Oliphant continued his strong lead up to the Queensland State Championships and won the ironman race at the recent branch championships.
He is hoping to replicate his success from the previous season.
“My goal is to do my best and try and back myself like I did last season,” he said.
Britt Ackerley, Maroochydore – U14
Current Under 13 board champion Britt Ackerley says her “great coaches and club” have given her the best opportunity to perform at the upcoming championships.
Ackerley has proved her strength as one of the top performing nippers on the Sunshine Coast after being named the ironwoman race winner at the interbranch championships.
The Maroochydore competitor went on to win the surf race at this month’s branch championships at Mooloolaba.
Jed Rowlands, Sunshine Beach – U14
Sunshine Beach all-rounder Jed Rowlands is quickly becoming one of the top performing Sunshine Coast nippers
Rowlands had a great performance at last season’s state championships, placing first in the Under 13 1km beach run, second in the ironman and surf race and fifth in the board race.
He has proved he is a force to be reckoned with leading into the pointy end of the season taking out second and third in the swim and ironman races at the branch championships.
Nicholas Carter, Alexandra Headland – U13
A love for the ocean pushes Alexandra Headland nipper Nick Carter to achieve his dreams.
Carter who placed second in the ironman and surf race at last season’s state titles, said he was feeling “very strong” heading into this year’s championships after stellar results at branch.
The 12-year-old beat an impressive field to take out all individual water events at the branch championships.
As a humble competitor Carter said he loved the challenge of ironman racing and was looking forward to racing at states.
“I just want to try my best in all my events that I am in,” he said.
Ruby Williams, Maroochydore – U13
As the reigning Under 12 board champion Maroochydore star Ruby Williams has worked extremely hard to be named as one of the best performing nippers.
The talented nipper said she had always loved the board race and dreamt of being crowned a back-to-back winner of the event.
“I’m feeling good, I feel like I have trained the way I’m supposed to have trained and I’m prepared for any circumstance,” she said.
Williams’ recent results show she is on track to achieve her goal.
The 12-year-old won the Under 13 board race, placed second in the ironwoman race and came fourth in the surf race at last the branch championships.
Bailen Noy, Maroochydore – U13
Sprinter Bailen Noy is hoping to be named Queensland’s quickest nipper on the sand this season.
Noy is aiming to win both the Under 13 flags and beach sprint events at the upcoming state championships.
The Maroochydore competitor, who won the Under 12 Queensland beach sprint title in 2021, said he is typically able to contain his nerves although does feel the pressure in finals.
“I normally don’t feel nervous because I’m prepared for each event,” he said.
Belle Jackson, Maroochydore – U13
A competitive streak has pushed Belle Jackson to be named one of the quickest nipper competitors.
The long-time Maroochydore athlete who claimed second spot in both the Queensland beach sprint and flag titles last season is hoping to stay on the podium.
“My goal is to be in the top three in flags and sprints,” she said.
Pipi Barlow, Maroochydore – U14
New Maroochydore competitor Pipi Barlow applies a fun motto to her racing.
Barlow is going into the state championships with big dreams of being selected in the Queensland Cyclones Team for all beach events.
Barlow said she will need to post good results at February’s state carnival to catch the eyes of selectors.
With such high stakes the Under 14 competitor said she reminds herself to have fun.
“I just love the sport for the enjoyment of it and a little bit of competition,” she said.
Ava Halliday, Alexandra Headland – U15
Alexandra Headland favourite Ava Halliday has surf life saving in her blood with her older sister competing in the Nutri-Grain Ironwoman series.
Halliday claimed fifth place in the Under 14 ironwoman and board race at last season’s Australian Championships.
Cerys Davis, Alexandra Headland – U14
Cerys Davis is known as one of the Sunshine Coast’s best swimmers after placing third in the Under 13 state event last season.
The Alexandra Headland competitor is looking strong leading into the Queensland championships claiming third spot in the Under 14 ironwoman race at the branch championships.
Byron Dieckmann, Maroochydore – U15
Under 15 nipper Byron Dieckmann will be one to watch in the upcoming Queensland Ironman title.
Dieckmann claimed third in the U14 Australian Championships event last year and stood second on the Under 15 podium at the region’s branch championships in February 2022.
Kyton Pickering, Maroochydore – U14
As a member of the Sunshine Coast Interbranch team Kyton Pickering has grabbed the attention of selectors and surf life saving fans.
Pickering did not disappoint at the November 2021 interbranch event claiming fourth in the Under 14 board race, fifth in the ironman and sixth in the surf race.
The Maroochydore competitor is expected to come out strong at the state championships.
Jay O’Pray, Maroochydore – U14
While swimming is her preferred event, Jay O’Pray turns heads in all water events including the ironwoman.
The daughter of Sunshine Coast Councillor and long-time Maroochydore lifesaver Jason O’Pray, Jay had a state podium finish in the Under 13 ironwoman race in the 2021 season.
She also placed fourth in the Under 13 surf race, carrying on a strong family tradition.
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