Bay of Plenty clubs will be looking to defend their domination of the national surf lifesaving championship titles this week, as 49 clubs converge on Ohope Beach for four packed days of competition.

The 2016 Eastern Bay Energy Trust New Zealand Surf Life Saving Championships will be hosted by Whakatane Surf Life Saving Club with the Masters competition taking place on Thursday, paving the way for the Open competition from March 18-20.

The national surf lifesaving competition will be taking place at Ohope Beach. Photo: Jamie Troughton Dscribe Media.

Omanu have long dominated the Masters space and last year they took out their 11th consecutive title, finishing with nearly twice as many points as Mount Maunganui.

However, Mount Maunganui defended their domination in the open ranks, winning the Allan Gardner Memorial Trophy for the fourth year running.

They finished with a massive 213 points; more than double that of Gisborne's Midway in second and Mairangi Bay in third.

The national champs is the pinnacle event of the surf lifesaving season.

From the Masters (over 30s) through to New Zealand representatives; surf boat crews to beach sprinters; these Championships will see over 1500 athletes compete over four days.

Within New Zealand, athletes will travel from clubs as far North as Omaha Beach and as far South as Kaka Point with the largest group (141 competitors) coming from Red Beach Surf Life Saving Club.

This year's event will also see international competitors from Australia and Italy.

Surf Life Saving New Zealand sport manager Mike Lord says the scene is set for four great days of racing which will produce the 2016 champions.

"Our athletes have been training hard and have been producing some standout results at local, regional and international events over the summer and we're bound to see some top level racing over the next few days as they give it their all to round out the season," he says.

"The weather is sure to play its part too with a predicted increase in wave height to 1.8m on Sunday.”