Life’s a beach for surf sisters preparing for interstate surf lifesaving championships

When it comes to sport, there are definite advantages to being a triplet. For Sydney teenager Alex Rampoldi it means she has training partners on tap whenever she is preparing for a major event.

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When it comes to sport, there are definite advantages to being a triplet.

For Sydney teenager Alex Rampoldi it means she has training partners on tap whenever she is preparing for a major event.

This week both the 17-year-old and sister Leah, the recently crowned world beach flag champion, will be representing NSW in the interstate surf lifesaving championships at Newport with sibling Emily on the sidelines for support.

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Alex has been selected to race the open beach flag events at Newport on Thursday with Leah racing the youth division at the annual state-versus-state surf competition.

Surf lifesaving triplets, Emily, Alex, and Leah Rampoldi, 17, at North Cronulla Beach. Pic: Justin Lloyd.

Alex and Leah Rampoldi preparing for the interstates. Pic: Richard Dobson

“We train a lot with each other which is great. We egg each other on,’’ said Alex, who two years ago at age just 15, became the youngest ever Australian champion in open flags racing.

This year Alex has plenty to prove at the intestates, admitting she raced badly a year ago.

“I came third. It wasn’t my best race,’’ said the North Cronulla surf lifesaver.

“It’s given me a bit of hunger for this year.’’

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NSW are the defending interstate champions with a highlight of the event the ironman and ironwoman racing.

Alex, and Leah Rampoldi ready to represent their state.

Queenslander Hannah Sculley, who won the last round of the Nutri-Grain series, is one of the favourites in the ironwoman where she will race the likes of fellow Gold Coaster Maddy Dunn and NSW athletes Jemma Smith, Naomi Scott, and Lizzie Welborn.

Max Brooks is hoping for success at his home beach against an ironman field boasting the likes of fellow local Jackson Borg and Nutri-Grain ironwoman James Lacey and TJ Hendy.