Early this month, a group of Whakatāne Intermediate School students travelled to Gisborne to compete in a beach Super 11 and triathlon competition.

The Super 11 event, contested by eight other schools, was modelled on surf club competitions, including beach sprints, flags, and swim relays.

The swim leg proved particularly challenging, with waves much larger than what the Whakatāne team was used to. Despite many of the students being members of the Whakatāne Surf Life Saving Club, Super 11 promised to be a highly competitive discipline.

Whakatāne’s year 7 girls placed fifth, while the boys battled their way to second place.

The year 8 girls finished third equal, and the boys secured fourth.

The triathlon portion of the competition featured multiple mixed teams, with Whakatāne entering three and securing an overall placing inside the top 10.

The triathlon consisted of a two-kilometre run, a 225 metre swim, and a 15km bike ride – an event that pushed students beyond their usual comfort zones.

The standout performance came from Archie Thompson, who placed second overall in a very competitive field.

“I didn’t do any training. I do like to do rugby, I am in the surf club, and I play touch. I also like to bike, so that would have helped,” Thompson admitted.

With Gisborne hosting the event, the Whakatāne students were billeted with local families – an arrangement they embraced, as it allowed new friendships and connections to form.

While many of the Whakatāne students were first-time competitors at this annual event, all are keen to return next year to compete again and build on the friendships they’ve made.