Western Australia’s state Surf Life Saving team, the Western Suns, will this weekend be aiming to upstage the surf sports powers of Queensland and New South Wales at the 2012 Surf Life Saving Interstate Championships.

“Western Australia will be taking a strong team to Sydney, with a mix of experience and youth and will be lead by team veterans Tom Nolan from North Cottesloe and Trigg’s Ceris Graham, who were announced as WA captains,” said Surf Life Saving Sports Development Officer, Patrick Allin.

Day one of the Interstate Championships are being held at Sydney’s Olympic Park for the pool rescue events on Sunday (January 22) and will be followed by the ocean events at Queenscliff Beach on Monday.

“Western Australia has often performed above its weight to finish third behind the high profile Queensland and New South Wales team and we will again be aiming to be competitive in the pool rescue races and hold our own in the ocean events,” said Allin.

Team Captain: WA leader Tom Nolan.

One area where Western Australia traditionally has an advantage is in the beach sprint events, with WA being home to some of the fastest men and woman across the sand, including World and Australian champion Tom Nolan and City of Perth pair Brittany Brymer and Gabby Murphy.

“Nolan is a world class athlete and it is great to have him representing WA again and he should start favourite in the beach sprint and popular beach flags events,” said Allin.

In the ocean events, WA will be lead by world surf ski champion Dan Humble, the experienced Jade Whitehead and Ceris Graham and the up and coming surf sports athletes Alex Nash, Kirstie Hardstaff and Joshua Maurice.

One of the athletes making their Western Suns debut will be 14 year old Jade Mickle (City of Perth), who will be competing in water events in the under 15 age group category.

“Jade is the daughter of WA Ironman legend Greg Mickle, and is coached at City Beach by WA head coach Rick Turner, and Turner ironically coached Greg throughout his career, so it is great to see the next generation of Surf Life Saving coming through the team,” said Allin.

After the Interstate Championships WA athlete’s attention will turn to the upcoming WA State Championships on March 3 and 4 at Scarborough Beach, the Australian Surf Life Saving Championships from March 26 to April 1 on the Gold Coast and the Life Saving World Championships to be held in Adelaide from November 7 to 18.