Twenty five thousand athletes from across the globe are ramping up their training schedules ahead of the World Masters Games in Auckland in just under two months.
One of those athletes is Kiwi Mark 'The Horse' Bourneville who knows all too well how to prepare for a fierce competition.
Bourneville has played rugby league for New Zealand and France and has stepped into the boxing ring for the Fight for Life three times.
But it's Surf Life Saving the 53 year old will compete in at the Masters in April.
He's been part of the sport for more than a decade.
"It's got adrenaline, bit of aggression and you get smashed and you get bashed and you get tumbled about," Bourneville says.
He's won a record 21 New Zealand surf boat titles as the sweeper for Piha.
"I like exciting and adventurous things and this ticks every single box on the planet, believe me."
For the Masters he'll be reunited with his old teammates, Craig Knox, Bruce O'Brien and brothers Andy and Chris Lamont.
"Fortunately they were NZ champions with me so they know what we've got to do to finish in front of everyone else."
"We've already put some plans together, they're on the bikes, they're in the gym, they're on the rowing machines which they hate but it's part of winning and we've got to spend plenty of time on the boats of course."
Bourneville is accustomed to the treacherous waves on the wild west coast so the Masters should be a piece of cake. The Surf Life Saving events are being held at the much calmer Takapuna Beach.
The World Masters Games are being held in Auckland from the 21st to the 30th of April.
Newshub.
