March 7, 2025 • 6 mins
The New Zealand Surf Lifesaving championships are underway in Gisborne.
Competitor Claudia Kelly has taken part in swimming, board racing and board rescue, securing her first open title in the surf race.
Claudia talks to D'Arcy Waldegrave about the event.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the All Sport Breakfast podcast with Darcy
Waldgrave from News Talk ZB.
Speaker 2 (00:11):
All Sport Breakfast on News Talks ABM. Darcy water Grave,
thanks very much for your time, Ryan A on New
Zealand Surf Life Saving Championships are on. We're going to
get in the sea, which I'm told to do quite
a lot, but this time it's literal while from Claudia
Kelly's perspective anyway, she joins us. Now, good morning, Claudia,
(00:32):
good morning. You sound very chipper and ready for another
big day in the ocean at the National Surf Life
and Surf Life Saving Chips and Gismond. At the moment,
you've already had a day in the drink, didn't you yesterday?
Are you competed in a number of disciplines? What did
you do?
Speaker 3 (00:49):
Yes, I've been doing some swimming, board race and board rescue.
Speaker 2 (00:53):
Okay, how did you go?
Speaker 4 (00:55):
Oh? Pretty well.
Speaker 3 (00:56):
I actually got my first open title in the surf
race and actually just also won the board rescue with
my partner Julia, which.
Speaker 2 (01:05):
You don't say overly surprised. It's something you've been building
up to for a while. You've got a bit of
game here, Claudia.
Speaker 3 (01:11):
Yeah, I've I've been working pretty hard at the sport
for many, many years and I've just had a bit
of a breakout season in the Professional Iron Series and Australia.
So it's pretty cool to be able to come and
translate that into into New Zealand.
Speaker 4 (01:26):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (01:27):
So you were born in the nak in Taranaki, you're
at varsity down in Dunedin, but you're also gone pro
over in Australia. Are there several of you? How do
you fit that all in?
Speaker 4 (01:38):
Yeah?
Speaker 3 (01:38):
I was just about to say I am. I think I'm.
Speaker 4 (01:40):
Literally two people or maybe three. It's a very it's
a very busy, busy life.
Speaker 3 (01:47):
Yeah, I'm setting medicine full time, so that's literally a
full time gig and then somehow managed to fit in
normal trainings and a few flights here and there.
Speaker 2 (01:55):
You must absolutely love it or you're a sucker for punishment.
Where do you sit?
Speaker 4 (02:00):
Oh? Probably halfway between the two to be honest.
Speaker 2 (02:03):
But giving success like you did yesterday you said it's
been a breakout year for you or all of that work,
I'm presuming what how old are you? How? Only been
doing this.
Speaker 4 (02:11):
For Yes, I'm twenty three.
Speaker 3 (02:14):
So I've been doing I've been doing some flav at
East End since I was five years old in the
nip NIPS program, but I've been competing internationally since i
was fifteen, So, oh gosh, it's coming up on eight
to nine years.
Speaker 4 (02:29):
That's a bit crazy.
Speaker 2 (02:30):
Actually, you've done the work and you've got the passion
behind it. It's really really good to hear it. Did
you expect you get this far and you actually meant
to compete as a professional?
Speaker 3 (02:41):
Honestly, I have to say younger me always always knew
that I could do it. Yeah, I've always had had
the drive behind men. I've always been try or tried
to be the hardest work through the room. I've just
been pretty lucky, unlucky with injuries along the way.
Speaker 4 (02:55):
So it's yes, I.
Speaker 3 (02:57):
Think it's taken me a bit longer than what I
would have liked to get here, But you know what,
it just makes it even sweeter.
Speaker 2 (03:04):
Well, it shows that you've got it, absolute crazy hard
drive in the middle to actually get up there and
do that through injury, when you consider you're training to
be a doctor as well, and you're going overseas. So determination.
Speaker 3 (03:17):
Wow, yeah, yeah, I like to pride myself on my
I'd say resilience. Yeah, bouncing back from things is something
I'm very Yeah, yeah, I pride myself on that and
just my hard work. Was always trying my best to yeah,
give it everything.
Speaker 2 (03:33):
Clearia Kelly tell us about the Surf Life Saving National Champs. So,
I you you're competing for east End and Nukie. Is
this or the cut and Nucky? Excuse me? This is
obviously a national competition, so clubs pitted against each other
from all over the shop. So I'm presuming rather large.
Speaker 3 (03:51):
Yes, so there's thirteen hundred athletes. I think they just
said it over the yeah, over the loud speakers and yeah.
Speaker 4 (03:58):
So it's a pretty huge event.
Speaker 3 (04:00):
And it's really cool to see all of the clubs
from all around the country coming together. I know as
an open woman and I've been racing these girls for
for over ten years and it's just so cool to
have the community come together and put on some really
good racing.
Speaker 4 (04:15):
And because he's putting on some really good surf as well.
Speaker 2 (04:18):
You say really good, do you mean like terrifying or
fair or what's really good to you? What'd suggest you're
a sack of a bunch when we determine that you'd
like something quite brutal, wouldn't you, Claudia.
Speaker 4 (04:28):
Yeah, this is pretty massive. Yeah, so yeah, just thinking.
Speaker 3 (04:33):
I think it allows us to, you know, show off
the skills that we've been working and training our whole lives,
and it just makes things look quite pretty interesting, like
it's great spectators for when the surf's like this. But
luckily it's not too it's not too big and dangerous
that we can't go ahead. So the Yeah, the event
team that Surf New Zealand has done a really good
(04:53):
job of getting us still out in the water and
racing in the in the big waves.
Speaker 2 (04:57):
We live half an hour from phr and they call
it a washing machine when it doesn't work. Well, it's
not that bad, is it.
Speaker 4 (05:03):
No, it's not that bad.
Speaker 3 (05:05):
I think on Thursday it was it was pretty hick
deck and we could only do some swimming. But it's
it's settled down enough that we've been able to get
our boards out there and hopefully get some skis out too.
Speaker 2 (05:17):
Two things to finish on. Where is favoritism not only
in your division but for the club's full stop?
Speaker 3 (05:24):
Oh I mean I'm gonna have to say I'm back
at East.
Speaker 4 (05:27):
End all the way. Yeah, yeah, obviously.
Speaker 3 (05:31):
It's also cool by the club that I trained with
down in Duneeda and Saint Clair. They're I'm doing really well.
They've got some young athletes coming through. It's really cool
to see them on the lead aboard. I think Alman
who is currently leading. But you know, Easterton's known.
Speaker 4 (05:45):
For our heart and determination, so hopefully we can get there.
Speaker 2 (05:49):
And what's in front of you today in the ocean?
What have you got lined up?
Speaker 3 (05:54):
Got some ski races and some irons and then.
Speaker 4 (05:58):
Hopefully some relays later in the day as long as.
Speaker 3 (06:01):
As long as the weather plays ball. But hopefully it's
yet it's looking like it's going to be a good day.
Speaker 2 (06:06):
I'm not going to pretend to know what I'm talking about,
because you'd see straight through me. What's irons?
Speaker 3 (06:11):
So the ions, so i'm women and iron Man events.
That's a swim aboard and a ski with run transition.
So it's like a mini triathlon in the surf basically,
but way cooler than a normal triathlon.
Speaker 2 (06:24):
I reckon stay healthy, stay fit, study hard. I'm very impressed.
It wouldn't be by what I've heard so far. Claudia
Kelly out of the powerhouse. I called him that Tararanake's
East end at the Surf Life Saving National Champion and Gismond,
thanks very much for your time, get in, get amongst,
stay safe.
Speaker 3 (06:43):
Oh thank you so much.
Speaker 1 (06:45):
For more from the Your Sport Breakfast with Darcy Watergrave,
Listen live to News Talk Said Be on Saturday mornings,
or follow the podcast on iHeartRadio
You're listening to the All Sport Breakfast podcast with Darcy
Waldgrave from News Talk ZB.
Speaker 2 (00:11):
All Sport Breakfast on News Talks ABM. Darcy water Grave,
thanks very much for your time, Ryan A on New
Zealand Surf Life Saving Championships are on. We're going to
get in the sea, which I'm told to do quite
a lot, but this time it's literal while from Claudia
Kelly's perspective anyway, she joins us. Now, good morning, Claudia,
(00:32):
good morning. You sound very chipper and ready for another
big day in the ocean at the National Surf Life
and Surf Life Saving Chips and Gismond. At the moment,
you've already had a day in the drink, didn't you yesterday?
Are you competed in a number of disciplines? What did
you do?
Speaker 3 (00:49):
Yes, I've been doing some swimming, board race and board rescue.
Speaker 2 (00:53):
Okay, how did you go?
Speaker 4 (00:55):
Oh? Pretty well.
Speaker 3 (00:56):
I actually got my first open title in the surf
race and actually just also won the board rescue with
my partner Julia, which.
Speaker 2 (01:05):
You don't say overly surprised. It's something you've been building
up to for a while. You've got a bit of
game here, Claudia.
Speaker 3 (01:11):
Yeah, I've I've been working pretty hard at the sport
for many, many years and I've just had a bit
of a breakout season in the Professional Iron Series and Australia.
So it's pretty cool to be able to come and
translate that into into New Zealand.
Speaker 4 (01:26):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (01:27):
So you were born in the nak in Taranaki, you're
at varsity down in Dunedin, but you're also gone pro
over in Australia. Are there several of you? How do
you fit that all in?
Speaker 4 (01:38):
Yeah?
Speaker 3 (01:38):
I was just about to say I am. I think I'm.
Speaker 4 (01:40):
Literally two people or maybe three. It's a very it's
a very busy, busy life.
Speaker 3 (01:47):
Yeah, I'm setting medicine full time, so that's literally a
full time gig and then somehow managed to fit in
normal trainings and a few flights here and there.
Speaker 2 (01:55):
You must absolutely love it or you're a sucker for punishment.
Where do you sit?
Speaker 4 (02:00):
Oh? Probably halfway between the two to be honest.
Speaker 2 (02:03):
But giving success like you did yesterday you said it's
been a breakout year for you or all of that work,
I'm presuming what how old are you? How? Only been
doing this.
Speaker 4 (02:11):
For Yes, I'm twenty three.
Speaker 3 (02:14):
So I've been doing I've been doing some flav at
East End since I was five years old in the
nip NIPS program, but I've been competing internationally since i
was fifteen, So, oh gosh, it's coming up on eight
to nine years.
Speaker 4 (02:29):
That's a bit crazy.
Speaker 2 (02:30):
Actually, you've done the work and you've got the passion
behind it. It's really really good to hear it. Did
you expect you get this far and you actually meant
to compete as a professional?
Speaker 3 (02:41):
Honestly, I have to say younger me always always knew
that I could do it. Yeah, I've always had had
the drive behind men. I've always been try or tried
to be the hardest work through the room. I've just
been pretty lucky, unlucky with injuries along the way.
Speaker 4 (02:55):
So it's yes, I.
Speaker 3 (02:57):
Think it's taken me a bit longer than what I
would have liked to get here, But you know what,
it just makes it even sweeter.
Speaker 2 (03:04):
Well, it shows that you've got it, absolute crazy hard
drive in the middle to actually get up there and
do that through injury, when you consider you're training to
be a doctor as well, and you're going overseas. So determination.
Speaker 3 (03:17):
Wow, yeah, yeah, I like to pride myself on my
I'd say resilience. Yeah, bouncing back from things is something
I'm very Yeah, yeah, I pride myself on that and
just my hard work. Was always trying my best to yeah,
give it everything.
Speaker 2 (03:33):
Clearia Kelly tell us about the Surf Life Saving National Champs. So,
I you you're competing for east End and Nukie. Is
this or the cut and Nucky? Excuse me? This is
obviously a national competition, so clubs pitted against each other
from all over the shop. So I'm presuming rather large.
Speaker 3 (03:51):
Yes, so there's thirteen hundred athletes. I think they just
said it over the yeah, over the loud speakers and yeah.
Speaker 4 (03:58):
So it's a pretty huge event.
Speaker 3 (04:00):
And it's really cool to see all of the clubs
from all around the country coming together. I know as
an open woman and I've been racing these girls for
for over ten years and it's just so cool to
have the community come together and put on some really
good racing.
Speaker 4 (04:15):
And because he's putting on some really good surf as well.
Speaker 2 (04:18):
You say really good, do you mean like terrifying or
fair or what's really good to you? What'd suggest you're
a sack of a bunch when we determine that you'd
like something quite brutal, wouldn't you, Claudia.
Speaker 4 (04:28):
Yeah, this is pretty massive. Yeah, so yeah, just thinking.
Speaker 3 (04:33):
I think it allows us to, you know, show off
the skills that we've been working and training our whole lives,
and it just makes things look quite pretty interesting, like
it's great spectators for when the surf's like this. But
luckily it's not too it's not too big and dangerous
that we can't go ahead. So the Yeah, the event
team that Surf New Zealand has done a really good
(04:53):
job of getting us still out in the water and
racing in the in the big waves.
Speaker 2 (04:57):
We live half an hour from phr and they call
it a washing machine when it doesn't work. Well, it's
not that bad, is it.
Speaker 4 (05:03):
No, it's not that bad.
Speaker 3 (05:05):
I think on Thursday it was it was pretty hick
deck and we could only do some swimming. But it's
it's settled down enough that we've been able to get
our boards out there and hopefully get some skis out too.
Speaker 2 (05:17):
Two things to finish on. Where is favoritism not only
in your division but for the club's full stop?
Speaker 3 (05:24):
Oh I mean I'm gonna have to say I'm back
at East.
Speaker 4 (05:27):
End all the way. Yeah, yeah, obviously.
Speaker 3 (05:31):
It's also cool by the club that I trained with
down in Duneeda and Saint Clair. They're I'm doing really well.
They've got some young athletes coming through. It's really cool
to see them on the lead aboard. I think Alman
who is currently leading. But you know, Easterton's known.
Speaker 4 (05:45):
For our heart and determination, so hopefully we can get there.
Speaker 2 (05:49):
And what's in front of you today in the ocean?
What have you got lined up?
Speaker 3 (05:54):
Got some ski races and some irons and then.
Speaker 4 (05:58):
Hopefully some relays later in the day as long as.
Speaker 3 (06:01):
As long as the weather plays ball. But hopefully it's
yet it's looking like it's going to be a good day.
Speaker 2 (06:06):
I'm not going to pretend to know what I'm talking about,
because you'd see straight through me. What's irons?
Speaker 3 (06:11):
So the ions, so i'm women and iron Man events.
That's a swim aboard and a ski with run transition.
So it's like a mini triathlon in the surf basically,
but way cooler than a normal triathlon.
Speaker 2 (06:24):
I reckon stay healthy, stay fit, study hard. I'm very impressed.
It wouldn't be by what I've heard so far. Claudia
Kelly out of the powerhouse. I called him that Tararanake's
East end at the Surf Life Saving National Champion and Gismond,
thanks very much for your time, get in, get amongst,
stay safe.
Speaker 3 (06:43):
Oh thank you so much.
Speaker 1 (06:45):
For more from the Your Sport Breakfast with Darcy Watergrave,
Listen live to News Talk Said Be on Saturday mornings,
or follow the podcast on iHeartRadio
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