As the 2019 NSW Envirobank Country Championships looms on the horizon here at Surf Life Saving NSW we are taking the opportunity to profile some of those athletes striving to make their mark at Kingscliff Beach.
Kiama’s Alexa “Lexi” Farland will be out to defend her Beach Sprint title when she takes to the sand at Kingscliff Beach next week.
But that’s not the only prize this talented teen has her eyes on as she hopes to improve her performances in the Flags and make an impression on the NSW Age Championships as well.
It was a successful 2017/18 campaign for Lexi which resulted in gold at South West Rocks, a South Coast cap at Interbranch for a second consecutive season, and a Beach Sprint Branch Championship win.
Her rapid improvement on the sand is down to plenty of hard work and attention to detail as she seeks to hone her technique.
If she needs to look for inspiration during those gruelling training sessions she only needs to look up for friendly advice from two of the brightest coaches going around in Dan Robberds and Kate Lewis.
It will be a family affair for the Farlands with younger brother Jackson also looking to make his mark on the Country Championships.
Her lucky number might be 13 but for Lexi Farland the numbers one, two, and three are the only ones that count when she hits the beach at Kingcliff as she sets her sights on bringing home some more medals to add to her growing collection.
Name: Alexa Farland
Club: Kiama SLSC
Age Group: U14
Events you are planning to contest: Beach Flags, Beach Sprints and Relays
How long have you been involved in surf lifesaving? 5 years
What do you enjoy most about being a member of a surf lifesaving club?I love the people in my club who support me in my events at carnivals. Back home though I love sitting out the back of the ocean on a board.
How has your training been going for the Country Championships?My training has been going really well, I’m so lucky to have Kate Lewis and Dan Robberds from the South Coast Interbranch team to help me train. I have been practising my new flags turn everyday.
What are your goals for the Championships and the rest of the season?To win gold in the Sprints and place in the Flags at country. Later on in the season I will be competing at the State Championships so I’ll have my fingers crossed I can make the finals there.
Do you have any pre-event superstitions or preparations? My lucky number is 13 but that never really comes up for me haha.
What are you most looking forward to about Country Championships?Meeting up with the club afterwards to celebrate everyone’s achievements.
Are there any surf athletes you admire or have found to be an inspiration and why?My coach Kate Lewis inspires me every week to train hard and never give up. She’s really successful even to a national level, winning gold in flags.
Previous Results:
Country Championships 2018 – 1st Beach Sprint
South Coast Branch Championship 2018 – 1s tBeach Sprint
South Coast Interbranch Representative – 2017 & 2018
Sunday 27 January 2019