New Zealand ironman champion Daniel Moodie leads a strong Kiwi challenge in Sunday's iconic Coolangatta Gold surf lifesaving event in Queensland.
Westshore's Moodie, who won his third national ironman title in Ohope earlier this year, has been training with the powerful Northcliffe club on the Gold Coast and will test his endurance base in this weekend's race.
Moodie turned 21 last week, and will be joined on the start-line by Gisborne-based brothers Mike and Daniel Janes (Midway), and East End's Daniel Nelson, who have all been training with the Kurrawa club over winter.
“Training has been going well and we are all looking forward to racing this weekend," Mike Janes said. "It's great having the likes of Zac Franich, Daniel Nelson and Dan Moodie all here training hard out and it's going to be an exciting race this weekend.”
The Coolangatta Gold is a 46km endurance event, comprising of a 23km surf ski leg, a 3.5km surf swim, a 5.5km board paddle and three tortuous beach runs, starting and finishing in Surfer's Paradise.
It was made famous by the movie of the same name filmed at the inaugural event in 1984, and was won last year by Australian Rhys Drury. The 2007 event was the first time it had been opened up to non-surf lifesavers, with a strong multisport contingent also competing.
Defending female champion and current Australian ironwoman champion Alicia Marriott is expected to race, while a trio of New Zealanders will also chase the women's title.
Midway's Madison Boon will be a strong contender in the opening leg, having just returned from the world long distance kayak championships in the Czech Republic. She'll be joined by Muriwai’s Jess Parr and Mount Maunganui's Alice Towgood, whop are both based in Australia.
Parr will be looking to use her strength in the swim leg, having won both the open Women’s surf race and run-swim-run titles at the New Zealand championships in March.
New Zealand clubs will also be represented in the teams race with a strong contingent from Auckland’s Orewa club spear-headed by rising ski star Franich and Rachel Clarke in the woman’s race.
Surf Life Saving New Zealand media release
source: newshub archive
