Belgum’s national IRB team, who travelled more than 30 hours to be on the Gold Coast this week, have certainly been making the most of it.
“We started as a team in 2016, so we have been around for a while” said team leader Anke Nuyens of her tightknit women’s crew. “The boys team is completely new though, it is their first competition actually”.
The team, entered in every IRB event, were supported by family from the sand who couldn’t be prouder of the team.
“They are all very close friends and are looking forward to exploring Australia more when the competition wraps up”, one parent commented.
In Belgum, the team have to travel some distance to a short stretch of coastline if they want to train in surf conditions.
“We train in the North Sea, where surf conditions are similar but far more choppy” Anke said. “You have to be on your toes”.
Anke’s father is known back in Belgum as the founder of IRB racing for the country. He fell in love with the sport at the 2012 World Championships in Adelaide. He took the sport back home to his family’s club of Polderse Reddingclub and “the ball just started rolling from there” said Anke.
The varied team contains, young students, a doctor in his mid-twenties and other professionals, all of whom worked hard to look for sponsors and raise the funds required to get the team out to Australia.
Anke said she was thrilled to be here. “The weather is so nice, everyone is just happy and excited to be here “ Anke beamed, “it is just a really great atmosphere”.
Loving the competition so much, the team are already making plans to compete in Morrocco in 2026. “We’ve already spoken with the Moroccan ambassador and he is excited to have us”.
After missing out on a medal at their last world titles the women’s team were back to prove themselves, and while they missed out on that illusive medal they were still grinning ear to ear when they crossed the line.
Belgum have also been well represented in the pool and ocean events.
