Talent brings talent to club
THE pulling power of Australian surf lifesaving royalty Shannon Eckstein and Naomi Flood has delivered two rising stars to national powerhouse Northcliffe.
With Flood coaching the club’s high-profile women’s squad and Eckstein set for retirement following his pursuit of a 10th ironman series title in 2018-19, Northcliffe have added Sydneysider Georgia Miller and Mermaid Beach Surf Club’s Luke Cuff to their stable.
Competing for Newport at last month’s Australian championships, Miller won the open women’s surf belt race and was a member of the club’s victorious single ski relay and board relay teams.
The 22-year-old also finished third in the 2017-18 Nutri-Grain Ironwoman Series.
Gold Coast product Cuff, 24, has arrived at Northcliffe following a three-year stint at Mermaid Beach and time with Michael King’s Mooloolaba academy.
Having finished fifth and ninth on the past two ironman series leaderboards, Cuff believes the chance to rub shoulders with 35-year-old Eckstein can take him to the next level.
“I’m looking forward to learning from him every single day in the ironman sessions and not only that, but just the little things like how to compose yourself and be professional before and after races. All the one percenters,” Cuff said.
“I’ve had a look long-term at what I want to do and ironman surf lifesaving is one thing that I really want to push over the next few years.
“In order for me to do that I’ve got to look at my strengths and weaknesses and what’s letting me down at the moment.
“My ski paddling is one of my weaknesses and it’s been something I’ve been thinking about for a little while now.
“Northcliffe has one of the strongest ski squads in Australia.”
Miller will make the move to Mermaid Waters with boyfriend and kayaker Riley Fitzsimmons, who won world championship gold in the K4 with Ken Wallace, Jordan Wood and Murray Stewart last year.
She said the influence of Flood, an Australian ironwoman champion and twotime Olympic kayak paddler, would be vital.
“It’s just such a great opportunity for me to be here and learn from such great coaches,” Miller said.
“(Naomi) was a big factor in moving here.
“I know she’s a really tough coach and I think she’ll really push me to bring out the best in myself.”