As a 14-year-old, Mark Inglis had his first taste of being a surf lifesaver – and 25 years on, he is now helping other youngsters into the service.

Originally from Opotiki, Mark is now the Eastern Region Surf Life Saving New Zealand sport manager, a role he took on about six months ago.

Mark Inglis keeps a close on Omanu Beach.

His background in exercise science and coaching, along with his surf lifesaving experience, made him the perfect person to take over the role.

'I enjoy the sport setting and managing events, which is potentially the role. It just seemed like a natural fit working for an organisation I fully believe in. It does a community service and a public good.”

Mark has come a long way from the 14-year-old youngster who loved to surf and got his first experience of saving a swimmer who had gotten in trouble one day at the beach.

'You kind of see it all the time. You're out surfing and you keep an eye on people swimming in the area. You see someone get into a rip, and it's not in patrol hours, and you've got a floating board and they don't. It just makes sense to go over and give them a hand.”

From there Mark, 40, says he decided to give surf lifesaving a go.

'It's a good community service, volunteer patrolling, just growing up in a small town like Opotiki it seemed a good option.”

In 2000, Mark moved to Tauranga to study. He joined the Omanu Surf Lifesaving Club, where he became a paid lifeguard and now the sports manager.

He enjoys the role, especially seeing all the youngsters coming through the system.

Last weekend there were about 340 competitors taking part in the Bay of Plenty Junior Carnival.

'There was a great level of racing. A lot of [the competitors], it was their first go at competition and so everyone got to participate in the beach events.

'We got through most of the events but had to call it a little bit early because the wind got up and it got cold for the competitors.”

Mark says the next big event will be Bay of Plenty Junior championships in Waihi on December 20.

But clubs throughout the region will be hosting junior competition for competitors to take part in.

If you're interested in those events go to Surf Live Saving New Zealand website for more information. www.lifesaving.org.nz