Walker to defend surf title

Press, 11 February 1983, Page 24

Walker to defend surf title

By

RAY CAIRNS

Geoff Walker, for more than a decade one of New Zealand's outstanding surf livesavers, has decided to defend his national iron man title. For some weeks. Walker had contemplated turning his back on the event which recognises, more than any other, the country's most exceptional all-round lifeguard. With an equally pressing commitment this summer to kayak racing, Walker has not been doing nearly the amount of swimming training of the past. Where swimming was often the basis of his iron man training — letting surf ski and malibu board take their own courses — he has this season been concentrating especially on ski paddling, because of its close connection to the kayak. “I wondered if I would be able to keep my option open until fairly late in the piece, because I was never too sure on how my swimming was going," said Walker yesterday.

“But it all seemed to sort itself out at once. I swam quite comfortably in the South Island champs; I had not much trouble at all in keeping up, and I felt quite pleased about that. “The old iron man can well be a swimmer's event, and while I know a hard swim might mess up my other events to a degree, it would have been hard to toss it away."

The doubts of his swimming fitness resolved — and certainly Walker has had no trouble in winning, easily, his iron man events this season — he has been named at the head of the Canterbury challenge for the event he has already won three times.

The others so chosen are a Waimairi club-mate, Steve John-

ston. now in Wanganui and runner-up for the Central region title, and Simon Davis (Taylors Mistake).

The latter was perhaps a little fortunate to be chosen ahead of the fast-developing Nigel Ward (New Brighton), runner-up to Walker in the Fresh Up South Island championships, not so much because of any lack of expertise as for his continuing to be hampered by a limited recovery from a knee operation. The juniors are Brent Todd (Sumner), Warren Greig (New Brighton), first and second for the Canterbury title, and the South Island champion, Bruce Lomax (Taylors Mistake). Waimairi will contest the open taplin relay championship and Taylors Mistake the junior relay, though only runner-up to Waimairi for the Canterbury title.

The Canterbury club women to contest the malibu board and surf ski championships — four in each — will be confirmed at the Jim Beam carnival on Sunday at Taylors Mistake.