Cooly Gold could fall victim to COVID-19

SURF Life Saving Australia has officially cancelled all nonelite categories of the iconic Coolangatta Gold but fears remain the elite race could soon join the growing list of COVID-19 sporting casualties.

Rumours have been rife in recent weeks that the 41.8km endurance race from Coolangatta beach to Broadbeach, scheduled for October 25, could be cancelled due to the Queensland government’s COVID-19 border restrictions.

On Friday, Surf Life Saving Australia cancelled all nonelite categories of the Coolangatta Gold.

SLSA is continuing to work with authorities to run the elite athlete category as scheduled, on Sunday, October 25.

An email obtained by News Corp from Surf Life Saving Australia sport and participation pathways manager Bradley Dean asked athletes to indicate their interest in the 2020 Coolangatta Gold, should it go ahead as planned.

“There has been much discussion over the viability to run the Coolangatta Gold for this year,” the email, sent on August 7, read.

“There has been no formal decision made regarding the cancellation of the Coolangatta Gold and there are currently a number of scenarios being explored to get this event run in a safe and competitive environment.”

SLSA president Graham Ford said his team had been looking for ways to allow the Coolangatta Gold program to run as planned, to no avail.

“We know that people have been preparing and training for these events and we have been wanting to give everyone the opportunity to participate … but we have reached a point where … we needed to make the call,” he said.

Northcliffe director of surf sports Mark Williams said athletes would continue to train as if the elite race was going ahead but hoped a final decision would be reached soon.

The national pool rescue titles, set for the Gold Coast Aquatic Centre from October 2-4, also have been cancelled.