Winning an Australian title once is an achievement. Defending it is another challenge entirely. Doing it three years in a row takes something more.
For Kirra Surf Life Saving Club’s IRB team, three consecutive Australian Open IRB Championship titles have cemented an extraordinary period of success, built not only on results, but on the culture, trust and depth behind them.
The team capped off another impressive season at the 2026 Australian IRB Championships, claiming both the Open and Under 23 Championships and securing a third consecutive Open national title.
For Kirra IRB Team Coach Andrew McAuliffe, the three-peat is difficult to separate from the people who have contributed along the way.
“It’s a testament to every member of those teams from each year that have secured each of those titles,” Andrew said.
“Winning individual medals is great, but nothing beats winning as a team. It takes an entire team to secure a national title and we can’t do what we do without each and every member playing their part.”
More Than Three Titles
While three consecutive championships now sit beside Kirra’s name, maintaining that level of success has required the team to reset each year.
Training begins early, with the team returning to the boats every weekend from February, while athletes complete their individual fitness programs throughout the season.
Kirra’s tube teams also train weekly at Miami pool, with that preparation contributing to victories in both the male and female Under 23 and Open Tube events this year.
But Andrew believes the motivation required to maintain those standards doesn’t need to come from the coaching staff.
“It’s the team that keeps us coaches motivated,” he said.
“The culture within the team drives itself and we very rarely have to push or motivate anyone. The motivation is to keep getting better and keep being successful both on and off the beach.”
That desire to improve has helped Kirra avoid becoming defined by previous results. Each season brings a new challenge, and with it, another opportunity for the team to evolve.
Culture Behind the Competition
For Kirra coach and athlete Te’a Domeracki, the team’s success starts long before they line up on the beach.
“I think what makes our team so successful is the culture we’ve built over a number of years,” Te’a said.
“We genuinely enjoy being around each other, and there’s a huge amount of trust between our athletes, drivers, patients, coaches and support crew. Everyone understands their role, but more importantly, everyone is willing to step up and help wherever they’re needed.”
It is an approach particularly suited to IRB racing, where communication and trust between each member of a crew can be just as important as speed.
“We train hard and have very high expectations of ourselves, but we’ve always tried to make sure that success doesn’t come at the expense of enjoying it,” Te’a said.
“There’s a really strong sense of mateship within the team, and I think that translates directly into how we race. IRB racing relies so heavily on trust, communication and teamwork, and those things are difficult to manufacture if they don’t exist away from competition.”
Andrew sees the same connection as fundamental to Kirra’s sustained success.
“Our success is built on our team environment and family culture,” he said.
“On the beach we are great, but off the beach we are even better. We have each other’s backs and strive to make each other better people.”
Building Camp Kirra
This season, the team took another step towards strengthening that culture with the introduction of its first Camp Kirra.
Rather than focusing solely on racing and technical development, the camp gave athletes and team members an opportunity to help shape what they wanted Kirra’s IRB program to be.
Open forums encouraged the team to ask questions, share ideas and have honest conversations about expectations, while external experts were invited to bring different perspectives and challenge the group.
For Te’a, giving everyone a voice created greater ownership of the team and its direction.
“Something we really focused on this season was making sure the whole team had a voice in shaping that culture,” she said.
“It gave everyone an opportunity to contribute and helped create a real sense of ownership over the direction of the team.”
That collective approach is also reflected in the depth Kirra has developed across its squad.
“Our success isn’t built around one or two people. It comes from a whole group who continually push each other to improve and genuinely want to see their teammates succeed,” Te’a said.
“Winning three consecutive Australian Open IRB Championships has been an incredible achievement, but I think the culture and friendships behind those results are what we’re most proud of.”
The Next Generation
Three consecutive titles could provide a tempting opportunity to sit back and admire the trophy cabinet. Kirra, however, is already looking ahead.
Rather than simply chasing a fourth title, the team’s focus is on continuing to develop its depth and creating opportunities for its newer and younger competitors to learn alongside experienced athletes.
“After achieving the three-peat this year, our goal is to keep evolving rather than becoming comfortable with what we’ve already achieved,” Te’a said.
“Every season brings different challenges, and we know that previous results don’t guarantee anything when you get back on the start line.”
Continuing the work started through Camp Kirra will also be a priority, ensuring athletes remain involved in shaping the team as it moves into its next chapter.
For Te’a, seeing what that next generation can bring is one of the most exciting prospects.
“We’ve achieved some pretty special things together, but there’s still a lot of motivation within the group,” she said.
“Seeing people improve, watching new combinations come together and getting back on the beach competing alongside some of our closest friends is what keeps us coming back each season.”
Success Built Together
Three Australian Open IRB Championship titles in three years is an impressive measure of Kirra’s success. But speak to those within the team, and medals and trophies only tell part of the story.
Behind each result are months of training, countless weekends on the water and a group of athletes, coaches and support crew who have built an environment where everyone has a role to play.
As Kirra turns its attention to another season, the challenge will be to keep improving without losing the culture that got them there in the first place.
As Te’a puts it, the goal is simple: “We want Kirra to remain competitive at the highest level while continuing to build something that people genuinely want to be part of.”