Omanu ironman Max Beattie once again headlines a bumper field of surf lifesavers aiming to stamp their mark on this weekend's Whangamata Classic.

On Saturday, more than 650 athletes will descend on the Coromandel beach for the annual event – up on last year's 550 athletes from 21 clubs.

Max Beattie in the red and white colours of Omanu. Photo: Jamie Troughton - Dscribe Media.

Jointly hosted by Surf Life Saving Northern Region and SLSNZ Eastern Region, the carnival is set to bring some of the country's best together to compete.

Following his success at the Lifesaving World Championships in France, New Zealand team member Beattie will be one of the athletes to keep an eye on in the Open Men's competition.

Gold Coast-based Beattie will also be keen to make amends placing third in the 2013 event, behind Mount Maunganui's Andrew Newton and Whangamata's Bjorn Battaerd.

A large number of the New Zealand Youth team will also be competing including Olivia Eaton, Maddison Kidd, Jasmine Smith, Hannah Williams, Ben Johnston, Jake Hurley, Matthew Scott, Jacob Hales and Maia Bryant.

New Zealand Team assistant coach Jason Pocock is also set to compete.

Other names to look out for include Kelsi Boocock, who returns from an injury that ruled her out of the Youth World Champs, and former New Zealand team members Steven Ferguson and Morgan Foster along with the Red Beach Sirens in the Surf Boats arena.

This year will see a huge field being represented in the under-16 and under-19 age groups along with a massive contingent of Red Beach athletes, with 106 entered.

Saturday's events will include beach sprints, beach flags, surf race, board race, ski race, iron/diamond and taplin plus canoe and surf boats.

The first events start at 9am with the beach events running concurrently with water events throughout the day.