AUSSIE RECAP
With the national surf lifesaving titles now finished, Eliza Reilly looks at the five things we learnt across the nine days of action
WHAT WE LEARNT FROM TITLES
ECKSTEIN’S HARD TO REPLACE
Though the champion couldn’t get it done in his final ironman race, Shannon Eckstein reminded everyone on the shore at Broadbeach just how good he is.
With a ninth Aussies title on the line, it all came down to a charge for home in the swim.
He hit the shoreline first but his line had him placed too far down the beach and he couldn’t catch Max Brooks in a dash to the finish.
It was an almighty performance from the 35-year-old.
At least we can watch him dominate the Masters competition next year.
LOCALS MADE OF IRON
Someone might want to check the iron levels in Gold Coast waterways because of the 27 iron titles contested at the Aussies, locals won 10 of them.
Locals claimed a podium clean sweep in the under-15 ironman title with Currumbin’s Hugh Munro taking out the Matthew Barclay Memorial Trophy ahead of Kade Atchison (Northcliffe) and Zach King (Currumbin). Vikings Charlotte Cross and Ruby Meehan went one-two in the under-15 ironwoman.
In the opens, locals won three of the six iron titles with Georgia Miller (Northcliffe) taking out her maiden Aussies ironwoman crown, Mitch Coombes (Northcliffe) going back-to-back in the under-19 ironman and Jade Slee (Mermaid Beach) taking out the under-19 ironwoman.
The Masters also showed everyone they’ve still got it with five locals winning
titles.
MILLER MORE THAN WELCOME
Northcliffe couldn’t believe their luck when they secured the services of Sydneysider Georgia Miller in early 2018.
Miller had a faultless first season in the maroon star, achieving a rare treble which includes the Nutri-Grain Ironwoman series, Coolangatta Gold and her maiden Aussies ironwoman title.
The 22-year-old was also a force in team events, taking out four gold, one silver and one bronze medal alongside Northcliffe teammates.
LOCAL KNOWLEDGE CRUCIAL
Even the champions struggled at times to navigate the Broadbeach swell.
Conditions were so challenging the event had to be partially relocated to North Kirra on Friday and Saturday.
Ski races were particularly tumultuous and several surf craft went flying across the week, after waves crashed on to them and their competitors.
AGAINST THE ODDS
The Aussies were full of incredible underdog tales that will go down in history.
You had Tynan Neveceral take out gold in the under-15 flags after never having trained for surf lifesaving before. Jade Slee from Mermaid Beach took out her first ironwoman title in the under-19 final and couldn’t believe it. Ryan Blenkinship from Darwin is forced to stop training when his coach spots a crocodile and had never encountered swell like Broadbeach’s before he took to the water. The 2019 Aussies will definitely be one to remember.