Jordan off to a flyer for Aussies

SURF LIFESAVING: Noosa teenager Jordan Mercer got Australia off to a winning start at the world titles in Adelaide yesterday, as the National Teams Championships' ocean and beach events commenced.

In the first final of the day at Glenelg Beach, Mercer overcame choppy conditions to win the youth board race.

She then teamed with Tweed Heads Coolangatta's Mariah Jones to win the youth board rescue.

Mooloolaba member Miranda Bell's strong showing at the championships got even better when she won the open surf race.

On Friday, Bell claimed silver in the 200m super lifesaver in the pool.

Her twin brother Sam came second in the open men's super lifesaver.

After the surf race, Miranda Bell said: "The buoys were hard to see because of the late afternoon sun, so I knew I had to make sure I was on course on the way out.

"But coming round the buoys I said to myself 'I really want this', so I just put my head down and swam as hard as I could, hoping no one was with me.

"And I was happy to stand up, look over my shoulder, and run to the line."

Mercer said she would rather forget her start to the board race, but was pleased everything fell into place after that.

On her performance with Jones, she said: "It was the first time we have paddled together and our combination was pretty good actually."

After a disappointing 10th place the open surf race, Mooloolaba's Rebecca Creedy teamed with multiple national ironwoman champion Kristyl Smith to win silver in the open board race.

The National Teams Championships finish today.

An event spokesman said New Zealand was "very much in the box seat".

The more prestigious World Interclub Championships start Tuesday.