The club will take 20 competitors to the Life Saving Victoria surf summer series’ second round after starting its season in Bancoora before Christmas. 

Club coach Steve Kerr said the group, aged from 13 and to over 30, was preparing for the Ocean Grove-based Victorian championships in March.

The seven-round surf summer series, which includes a leg in Port Fairy, will provide the ideal lead-up to the state titles. 

Kerr said Warrnambool’s best hopes at Anglesea lay in the board section.

“Our board paddlers, and that’s what a lot of them will come down and do, is the main focus but we’ll be competitive in the open ski relay and open board relay,” he said.

“In our under 17s Matt Hardiman, in particular, will paddle very well. 

“He came second last carnival and backed up and got fifth in the open board as well.

“Young Paddy O’Brien in his first carnival is competing in under 15s. 

“I think he’ll make the final and push the top ones and that will be a pretty good effort for him.”

Kerr said the Warrnambool team worked diligently to prepare for carnivals.

Some of its competitors train up to eight times a week.

Training isn’t confined to the beach, with pool and running sessions — “a bit of beach running and a bit of track running, just for general fitness” — all part of their preparation.

“They all enjoy it. They’re good mates, which helps,” Kerr said.

“We’ve been going along with anywhere from between six to a dozen (at each training) and then this year, on the back of having the nippers Vics here, we’ve brought through a lot more.

“We regularly get, on a Tuesday and Thursday night, 20 to 25 paddlers. 

“Numbers are really good and healthy. 

“It’s just a matter of trying to build on that over the next two years while we have the (junior) states here.”