REMEMBER WHEN

GOLD COAST BULLETIN Monday March 21, 2005

NATHAN Smith ran into his sister’s arms and both stormed into lifesaving folklore as Kurrawa Beach created its own brand of surf magic.

Cronulla-based Nathan won the national ironman title and his sister Kristyl, who lived on the Gold Coast, won the ironwoman, in a historymaking first on the final day of the Australian Surf Life Saving Championships at Kurrawa.

That both won was amazing — that they won in a treacherous swirling 2m swell with wind gusts up to 40 knots, was close to miraculous. But one had fed off the other.

"I saw Kristyl win and saw how much of a dogfight she had,’’ older brother Nathan, 24, said of his 22-year-old sister.

"Kristyl was my inspiration when I was going around. That was all I thought of. I just wanted to do it for her.’’

Mum Carol, dad Ross, who handled for Nathan, and sister Tiarne, 26, who won gold in the longboard event, were a part of the jubilant celebration.

As Nathan was swamped by the media, Ross quietly gathered his son’s surf equipment from the beach and, almost unnoticed, wiped the tears from his eyes.

However the son didn’t forget his father.

"Dad was with me today and I have a pretty good record when he handles for me,’’ said Nathan. "I am glad he was with me and can share in this.’’

There was no shortage of pride. "I was just cheering him on,’’ said Kristyl. "I was so excited and got a hug from him.”