In 2020 the Club instigated a programme to refocus on developing athletes to a standard that would deliver them into State and National Pathway programs. This was the Clubs’ first venture back into such initiatives for a number of years, hence the name, “MWKC Phoenix Programme”.

The Programme has been led by Head Coach Brett Worth, a MWKC founding member, an Australian representative in Marathon and former NSWIS Coach. Assisting Brett, the Club has qualified around 12 additional coaches who are all active paddlers themselves. Two of our coaches bring an overseas perspective having paddled and competed in Hungary and Czechoslovakia, and others have had their own representative careers as Open level athletes.

Reinforcing the Club’s historical links to Surf Lifesaving, the majority of our coaches are active competitive lifesavers at Mona Vale, North Narrabeen, Narrabeen Beach, Collaroy, Dee Why, Queenscliff and Manly. In fact, many of the first year Phoenix intake athletes are also Surf Club members, coming from Mona Vale, Newport, Collaroy and North Curl Curl.

In its inaugural year, the sponsorship for paddlers amounted to coaching and financial support for Regatta entry. This year will see the Programme develop in complexity and the number of athletes sponsored (targeting U16 and U18) as well as supporting athletes who fall outside the targeted age groups ie U14 and U21/U23.

For more information about our club and this program please review the Phoenix Applicant document.