Iron X to face its acid test
THE controversial Iron X event that has divided surf lifesaving will be held today on the Sunshine Coast.
Five months on from the initial drama, some clubs remain strongly opposed to the event that has been billed as the future of the sport in some circles and the end of it in others.
“We hope it’s a flop so it doesn’t continue,” Northcliffe president David Shields said.
“It’s almost vulgar that they’re still running with it.”
In August last year, the Bulletin revealed a wave of uprising from Gold Coast surf lifesavers and clubs who were opposed to the exhibition event.
Today, we get to see what all the fuss was about when the inaugural Iron X is held at Mooloolaba.
The event combines traditional iron racing with standup paddle boarding, underwater swimming, and CrossFit style beach obstacles.
Despite Surf Life Saving Australia detaching the event from the Nutri-Grain series and confirming to clubs the newlook format wouldn’t replace traditional racing in future series, Shields said his views on Iron X hadn’t changed.
“Our opposition to it has only strengthened seeing the resources and time that has been pumped into an event which we oppose,” he said.
However, the $25,000 firstplace prizemoney today has proved too good to refuse for some Nutri-Grain series athletes who usually compete for $2500 for a round win or $25,000 for a series win.
Northcliffe athletes Danielle McKenzie, Hannah Sculley, Kirsty Higgison and youth squad coach Caine Eckstein have been confirmed as starters.
“A few of our members are competing because the prizemoney on offer is too much to refuse,” Shields said.
“We don’t support them doing it but we accept that they’re doing it because the prizemoney on offer is nothing like they were competing for in the series.
“We will celebrate their achievement if they do win.”
In addition to surf lifesaving athletes, the Iron X field is also set to include world stand-up paddle boarding champions Michael Booth and Lincoln Dews as well as female CrossFit star Katherin Baker.