REMEMBER WHEN

AS Zane ‘Zapper’ Holmes headed to Germany chasing his third consecutive world ironman championship the Northcliffe star was missing his two most dedicated supporters.

Wife Kai and his mum Vicki were unable to make the trip but the champion ironman said he is certain to have plenty of support from his other family ... the Northcliffe clubbies.

“Kai and Mum are just there at every carnival, so this will be a bit different because they can’t do this trip. But I know I will have plenty of close mates and supporters from Northcliffe,” said Holmes.

Northcliffe had never won the overall world lifesaving championship which was contested in the pool and in the surf but they had won the surf section for the previous three world championships and were hell-bent on taking the overall crown.

Holmes, 27, joined Northcliffe as a nipper when he was seven, following his late dad John, mum Vicki and elder sisters Kirsty and Denby.

The family moved to Kawana Waters on the Sunshine Coast in 1996 where he joined the Alexandra Headland club for two seasons before joining Kawana Waters.

‘”I won my first world ironman title in Greece in 2004 and again at Lorne in Victoria in 2006 when Kawana Waters won the overall championship. Next week I will be defending my ironman and surf race championships,” said the 2006 Coolangatta Gold winner.

“I have been back home at Northcliffe for two seasons now and it has been great.’’

His late dad John won the first Queensland ironman championship final and was a life member of Northcliffe.