Junior surf lifesavers will not only be honing their skills for the summer season but ensuring their respective clubs enter the festive season with bragging rights following tomorrow's Bay of Plenty Junior Championships.

Tomorrow, Mount Maunganui's Main Beach will be transformed into a competitive cauldron with nearly 400 lifesavers under the age of 14 competing in the annual event.

Just under 400 junior surf lifesavers will compete in this year's Bay of Plenty Junior Championships.

Taking to both sand and water the competitors, ranging from under eight to under 14, will participate in an array of events including beach sprints, surf races, and board relays.

'It's all about recognising the performance of our athletes as well as giving them opportunity to test their skills,” says SLNZ Eastern region sport manager Scott Bicknell.

'Our main focus is to have fun and create better, more skilled experienced lifeguards and to retain them.”

Scott says the event returns as a standalone event following popular demand from across the region.

This is the only junior club competition held at on Mount Maunganui Main Beach prior to the Eastern Region Junior Championships and 2015 U14 New Zealand Championships.

'I think there was a massive demand to fill the gap with a championship event; plus all the clubs are competitive.”

Of clubs attending Mount Maunganui, Papamoa and defending champions Omanu return with the largest competitive rosters, with between 74 and 84 each, setting their sights on the overall title.

There are also good contingents from Waihi and Whangamata coming.

'It should be a really good competition between the Mount, Omanu and Papamoa to take out the title.”

The Bay of Plenty Junior Championships is on tomorrow from 9am-4.30pm at Mount Main Beach.