Wauchope Bonny Hills Surf Life Saving Club members are gearing up for another year of competing in the prestigious Iron Man event The Coolongatta Gold on October 6 and 7.
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Competitors have been training hard during the off season, with the focus on endurance.
The short course race on October 6 consists of a 10.5 kilometre ski paddle, 2km swim, 3km board finishing in a 5.5km run.
The long course on October 7 consists of a gruelling 23km ski paddle from Coolongatta to Miami, 2.1km run to Burleigh, 3.5km swim to Currumbin, 6.1km board paddle and finishes with a 7.1km run back to Coolongatta.
This year also sees the introduction of a youth challenge for under 11s through to under 16 competitors.
This event is designed for young competitors who are keen to be part of the experience.
The course consists of a 300m soft sand run, 400m swim, 400m run, 500m board, concluding in a 50m run.
Wauchope Bonny Hills will be represented in the youth challenge by 11 year old Blake Ellis. Blake’s mum Gayle is also competing as part of a team, The Bonny Bras, in combination with some friends from Maroubra.
The club is sending five teams to compete across the short and long courses and two athletes, Chayce Anderson and Finn Askew, who will be doing the short course as individuals. Jessie Willsher will compete in the long course as an individual.
In the short course, the masters male team includes Matt O’Garey, Paul Hoole, Marty Brazel and Jeremy Bate.
The masters female team includes, Elaine Walker, Carolyn Turnham, Briohny Spencer and Christine Lalor. The ladies are hoping to defend their gold medal effort from last year in both the short and long courses.
The masters mixed team includies Paul Mason, Brett Anderson, Britt Collie and Matt Lees. This is a different line-up from last year's mixed masters team who claimed a gold medal, but hopes are equally high for this year's line-up.
The under 19 male team of Will Jones, Max Milligan, Hugh Stewart and Finn Askew, will be looking to improve on their bronze medal position from last year.
Included in the masters male team will be Trent Seale, Marty Brazel, Paul Kuhnell and Jeremy Bate. This team will be looking to repeat their medal winning performances of last year.
As part of their training some of the athletes recently attended a weekend of training at the Gold Coast with Kurrawa head coach and former Australian single ski champion Nick Crilly.
The club and athletes would like to thank all their sponsors and coaches for their continued support.
