Jewellery targeted by surf power pair
THEY’RE surf lifesaving’s ultimate power couple but this afternoon, Kurrawa duo Matt Bevilacqua and Brielle Cooper will get the chance to prove it in the inaugural Shaw and Partners Shannon Eckstein Classic dash for love mixed board race.
Two years after simultaneously claiming the male and female Nutri-Grain series crowns, the couple will get the chance to snag some more silverware with a Michael Hill-branded ring and watch on offer for the winner of the Valentine’s Day event in addition to $90,000 of prizemoney for the other races across the weekend.
“We’re very lucky to have Michael Hill on board and it’s very rare you get to race a mixed board rescue because it’s not something you do at states or Aussies,” Cooper said.
“It’s so awesome to have the event going ahead again because I grew up in Broadbeach not too far from where the event is being held.”
Bevilacqua said: “We’ve got a nice night planned so it would be good to get a win in the dash for love and go out to a nice dinner with some new nice jewellery from Michael
Hill so how good would that be.”
“We’ll be flying home.” The two have form in the event having come second to platonic surf lifesaving power duo Shannon Eckstein and Courtney Hancock in the mixed board rescue at the World Ironman Series, the event crafted and created by Bevilacqua and Kurrawa teammate Matt Poole, staged in Bali in 2018.
“That was against the best of the best and we paddled pretty well together so we’ll see how we go,” Bevilacqua said.
If the two do happen to be successful in picking up some prizemoney this weekend, Bevilacqua said the couple would likely indulge in some post-season travel on the back of the 27-year-old’s stellar summer which included a maiden Coolangatta Gold title and a second overall in the Nutri-Grain series.
“I’ve actually had a really good summer so far so Brielle is really putting the pressure on me to get away and have a holiday so I think I’d get away after Aussies and enjoy a nice result from the season,” he said.
Cooper said: “Canada is next on our bucket list so it would be cool to get over there for a holiday.”
Organisers hope the Shannon Eckstein Classic will go ahead this afternoon and tomorrow as planned.
However, due to the weather, they will have a final meeting at 10am today to confirm the event schedule.
WE’VE GOT A NICE NIGHT PLANNED SO IT WOULD BE GOOD TO GET A WIN IN THE DASH FOR LOVE AND GO OUT TO A NICE DINNER
MATT BEVILACQUA