Big-money surf race launched

THE richest single-day pay day in surf sport will be retiring great Shannon Eckstein’s parting gift before he calls it quits later this year. A winner of a record eight Australian Ironman Championships, nine NutriGrain Ironman Series and six World Ironman titles, the Gold Coast favourite will farewell ironman racing at the Australian titles in March. The Shannon Eckstein Ironman Classic will take place at Northcliffe on March 22-23, with $20,000 going to the winners of the ironman and ironwoman races.