IT has taken Brayden Cassamento five attempts to gain a spot in Lifesaving Victoria’s Interstate Championships team.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
But now the 18-year-old Warrnambool Surf Lifesaving Club member has his spot, alongside clubmates Sophie Thomas and Matt Hardiman, he is going to make full use of the opportunity to represent his state.
“I was pretty excited when I found out because the last couple of year I have missed out so I’m pretty excited for the opportunity,” he said.
“I’m excited to meet new people and it (the racing) will be a lot faster and harder up there and it’s a straight final up there so you have to be ready for one race and give it your all.
“It will be a good stepping stone for The Aussies (Australian Surf Lifesaving Championships) because they will all be there and you can find out where you are at and what to work on.”
The south-west trio will represent Victoria at a carnival at Sydney’s Newport Beach on January 24.
Cassamento was selected as a board paddler in the junior side of the team and will be racing in the individual board, board relay, Taplin relay and board rescue.
It will be Thomas’s fourth year and third time in a row in the team. The 22-year-old will be competing mainly in swimming and iron events at the carnival.
Hardiman, who was a captain of last year’s state side, enters his third year in a row in the senior side of the team.
The 19-year-old said he would mostly be racing on the board but he was also eager to do his first iron man event at the annual carnival.
“It’s a new event for me this year and it’s going to be really cool to come up against some of the top guys in Queensland and New South Wales,” he said.
“It adds a new challenge and I’m keen to give it a go.”