Watch out world, the Aussies are getting serious! The countdown has started and with only 21 weeks to go, some Australian contingents attended the first team training session last weekend.

With a professional surfing coach Steve Foreman at the helm, Neil Decker, the key organiser planning the weekend, and collaborative experiences from former world champs Darren Kearns and Neil, everyone had a fantastic learning experience.

The training sessions were held at the North Wall Groin at Iluka and conditions were challenging, powerful and wedgy with the rocky wall close by ranging up to 5ft on the sets. Heat training is much more intensive than free surfing and everyone was forced to put their thinking caps on and concentrate on heat strategy, making the most of 15 minutes, surfing as a team and surfing according to the judging criteria. Two long sessions on the windy cold Saturday were followed by a theory session at the pub over dinner. Most were so exhausted they couldn't make it through the footy. Sunday ran through some more heat practice consolidating all the new practices everyone learnt, finishing with a planning session for attending the world titles and a final pep talk from the coach.

Everyone had a fantastic weekend. Feedback from some was that they had learnt more on waveski surfing in one weekend than they had in years. All ranges of experience attended and everyone walked away with some new tips, renewed motivation to give it their best over the next 5 months. Another session is hopefully planned for early next year to give everyone time to consolidate their final training sessions before the big event.

Waveski Surfing Australia and all that attended wants to thank the coach Steve Foreman, organiser and planner Neil Decker and Penny Bedford, the photographer who took these amazing photos. More information will be posted in the coming days on travelling advice for the 2007 World Titles.