Vikings up for battle
THEY may be a long way from home but the Vikings are set to raid North Cronulla beach this weekend.
Five members of the Currumbin Vikings Surf Life Saving Club will launch a raid on the Nutri-Grain ironman and ironwoman series from today, with the club boasting one of the strongest presences in the event.
Just 18 months after former Mooloolaba coach Michael King moved to Currumbin after his Sunshine Coast base surprisingly cut its strong surf sports program, the Vikings have become one of the leading clubs in the sport.
After finishing second at Aussies on the Sunshine Coast last year, the Vikings squad continued their strong results at the world championships in the Netherlands in the offseason, again finishing behind Northcliffe.
And their Nutri-Grain quintet want to keep the momentum going this weekend.
Leading ironman Jackson Maynard previously played a lone hand at Currumbin but said he was loving the team environment since the arrival of King.
“It’s a massive step having five people and it’s good to get to taper with people and not just have to do it all on your own,’’ he said.
“It’s been good having Whitey (Hayden White) there and the girls (sisters Amy and Karlee Nurthen and Tara Coleman) and Kingy’s been amazing helping us out.
“As for myself, I’m just doing what I normally do and try to fly under the radar and hopefully I’ll be up the pointy end.’’
Amy Nurthen’s chances in last year’s series took a battering when she was diagnosed with glandular fever, an illness she carried into the opening weekend of the series and then raced with again in the final round at North Cronulla in a bid to compete with younger sister Karlee.
“I just wanted to put my foot on the line with my sister (last year) and finally we get to both do it when we’re fit.”
A Central Coast product, Nurthen will have her extended family at North Cronulla, as well as lifelong friend Coleman, who made the switch to Currumbin from North Burleigh this season.
“We grew up in NSW so I’ve pretty much got everyone at Currumbin, so I’m stoked.’’