GOING THE DISTANCE
Day, Eckstein chase different goals in waves at Surfers
SHANNON Eckstein feels like a boxer fighting with one hand behind his back.
The man considered the greatest surf ironman of all time will complete the next stop in his farewell tour when he competes in Round 5 of the Nutri-Grain Ironman Series today at Surfers Paradise.
It will be his last NutriGrain Series race ever on the Gold Coast before retiring at the end of the surf lifesaving season, a fitting end given Eckstein started his career at Surfers Paradise before shifting to Northcliffe in 2005.
Eckstein, 35, said he was still building his race fitness and confidence in his leg after injuring his calf and missing two rounds of the series.
He is working towards being at the peak of his power for the state titles in March and Australian titles in April.
“It’s like a boxer fighting with his right arm tied behind his back and I’m just jabbing at the moment, using skill and craft to get around the ring,” Eckstein said.
“I don’t have a knockout blow at the moment. There is no extra speed. Hopefully that comes by the end of the season.
“The last thing I want to do is re-tear my calf because that would mean the end of it.”
Eckstein was hopeful of gunning for a 10th series win before hurting his calf in the opening round and it opened the door for Ali Day who could seal the title with one round to go by winning this weekend.
Day, 28, fell short of winning last season’s series with Matt Bevilacqua celebrating his maiden title win in a finalround showdown.
“It’s going to go down to the last race,” Day said. “You have to keep fighting all the way and that’s what I plan to do.
“I’ve been in similar circumstances a few times before so I’m just going to turn up pretending it’s the first race.”