Champ Day dawns on chance to claim title
ALI Day is in the box seat to claim a second Nutri-Grain series title after winning the opening round of the threeday event at North Cronulla.
Day snared his maiden title in 2014-15 – becoming one of only three people in the past decade to beat Shannon Eckstein to the series crown.
The four-time Coolangatta Gold champion was always going to be a contender in yesterday’s endurance event and came to the fore in the final swim, ski and board leg, breaking away with Kendrick Louis in the swim before pulling over a wave on the ski to establish a buffer he held to the finishing tape.
A dumping swell on the low tide played a major part in the race, initially allowing chasers to catch Eckstein, before handing Day a dream run at the end of the race.
The humble Surfers Paradise ironman said he had been lucky but acknowledged he had a hand in making that luck.
“You make your own luck 20 weeks ago when you have to do the training and I guess that’s the nervous part when you start the race, you’re thinking, ‘ have I done the work, have I done the right work?’,’’ he said.
“I didn’t get off to a great start but worked my way back into it. I made a few little mistakes – I guess all the guys did – but I just got that little bit of luck at the end in that last ski leg and that was enough to come through.’’
In a three-day event, a strong start was vital and consistency will now be the key if Day is to be in contention for his second title.
“I remember Shannon saying years ago, consistency is the key to doing well in a series,’’ he said.
“You want to get that confidence up and get the ball rolling and now it’s so important to recover and get ready for the next two days.”
But he has given himself every chance – something he knows will also pile pressure on over the next two days.
“I was almost thinking, if I win, I’ve got a bit more pressure on myself.”