Three Mount Maunganui Lifeguard Service juniors got some real-life rescue experience while competing in the NZ under-14 national champs on their home beach yesterday.

Under-13 competitors Liam Good, George Wylie and Marley Igasan were warming up at the northern end of the Mount's Main Beach when they spotted three people struggling in a rip.

They quickly paddled over to them and helped all three back into shore safely.

Liam featured in a classy piece of sportsmanship later in the day, when he accidentally tripped a Christchurch competitor coming out of the water during the surf race heats.

Liam stopped, helped his rival to his feet and then allowed him to finish in front of him.

'We had some great performances on the beach yesterday but that was the absolute highlight for me,” Mount coach John Bryant says.

'The other athlete's Mum approaches me afterwards to say how impressed she was and it was a really proud moment.”

The four-day Oceans 20 carnival continues today and over the weekend.