The pain of being pipped at the post in Torquay by fierce rivals Queensland last January is seared in the memory of the NSW athletes who will once again put state pride on the line at the Interstate Championships to be staged at Alexandra Headland Beach on Friday.

The 32-strong squad, including Nowra-Culburra product Kirsty Higgison, travelled to Queensland yesterday where they will participate in a two-day camp ahead of the one-day representative competition.

New South Wales will field one of their strongest teams in recent memory with plenty of experienced campaigners in both the Open and Youth squads. The 2017 team will field four debutants at this level.

Umina’s Jemma Smith, Lizzie Welborn (North Bondi), Newport’s Max Brooks and Georgia Miller and Manly’s Jay Furniss are all involved in the Nutri-Grain Iron Series, while Rio Olympian Riley Fitzsimmons (Avoca Beach) has also been included.

Many of those in the youth ranks have already made their mark in open competition achieving strong results against their older competitors and certainly won’t be overawed by the challenge of racing Australia’s best.

It’s also the start of new era for the NSW team with this being the first competition without long-serving coach Jeff Mowbray who retired last season.

Jim Walker has been handed the reigns for his first campaign in charge.

“Coming second last year by just two points is certainly a motivating desire for everyone,” team manager Stephen Marely said.

“No one needs to say it but it’s clear that is a goal and everyone is really looking forward to getting out there and giving a good account of themselves.

“We’ve been watching the surf conditions there doesn’t appear to be much around although there could be some rain.

“Alexandra Headland is a great beach and we’re really looking forward to racing.

“It’s a quiet a young team but they’ve got all got what I like to call that youth drive.

“They are all very experienced at match racing and in this type of competition you’ve got to be very tactical as well.”

One of the crucial tactics that will be need to considered is how best to exploit the powerplay.

For the third summer each state will be able to nominate one race in the open and youth events where all points will be worth double.

In such a close competition these strategies could ultimately play a key role in who is crowned champions.

The 2017 Interstate Competition will be contested at Alexandra Headland Beach, Queensland on Friday 20 January. Action begins from 0800 local time.

2017 NSW Interstate Team

Open competitors: Kirsty Higginson, Blake Drysdale, Laura Shorter, Taylar Puskaric, Riley Fitzsimmons, Daniel Collins, Hannah Minogue, Max Brooks, Lara Moses, Jay Furniss, Georgia Miller, William Budd.

Youth competitors:  Matthew Day, Jake Evans, Rachel Wood, Matthew Sperring, Jemma Smith, Luke Chaffer, Ngaire Hadfield, Justin McMorland, Naomi Scott, Bradley Woodward, Grace Gurr, Lizzie Welborn.