LEGENDS’ LASTING LEGACY
ALI Day and Georgia Miller may have taken the honours in Sydney on Saturday, but the final round of the Ocean6 series belong to retiring great Shannon Eckstein.
In the aftermath of his final professional race, the 35-year-old surf ironman legend finally realised the influence he has had on the sport.
“It was a great celebration of my professional career and when I realised through the season I couldn’t win the title it was all about the nine Nutri-Grain Series Titles I have won,” Eckstein said.
IN the aftermath of his final professional race, surf ironman legend Shannon Eckstein has finally realised the influence he has had on the sport.
The man considered by many as the greatest ironman of all time drew the curtains on an incredible professional career on Saturday with a fifth-place finish in the last round of the Nutri-Grain Series at Wanda Beach, Sydney.
The Northcliffe member finished 10th overall in an injury interrupted final series.
It was Eckstein’s final professional race in a series he has won nine times over 19 years, including 34 individual race wins.
The usually measured and philosophical athlete conceded it was an emotional moment crossing the line for the last time.
“It was a great celebration of my professional career and when I realised through the season that I couldn’t win the title it was all about the nine Nutri-Grain Series Titles I have won,” Eckstein said.
“I finished the season off with three great races and (Saturday was) emotional.
“It’s obviously been a big part of my life for a very long time. I have had so much support throughout the week and to have all the athletes line up today for me was pretty special.
“Every day you just keep going and try to keep improving and win races and you don’t realise the people you touch and the effect you have them, so it was nice to have all those compliments.”
Cyclone Oma produced five foot waves, with Surfers Paradise representative Ali Day winning the final event and the series, while Kendrick Louis and Matt Poole finished second and third overall.
Northcliffe’s Georgia Miller claimed the ironwoman crown after winning in Sydney, moving her ahead of Maddy Dunn.
Having missed round 5 to attend her sister’s wedding, Miller had to cross the line first and hope Dunn finished seventh or worse.
All the stars aligned, with Dunn running eighth to hand Miller her first series title.
“The move to Queensland has been such a great change for me,” the Sydney product said. “I really needed it and it has paid off.”