Surf Life Saving Australia has unveiled its field of athletes, including Kiama's Ali Day, and dates of competition ahead of the 2021-22 summer season - which will consist of the ironman and ironwoman series', next-gen and super surf teams league.
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The Nutri-Grain ironperson series now, in its 38th year, will take place over six rounds in January and February involving the top 40 athletes in the country - headlined by last year's winner Ali Day, who competes for Surfers Paradise.
Joining Day in the 11-strong men's field, made up of last season's top 10 finishers and the under 19s next-gen winner, will be Jy Timperley (Burleigh Heads Mowbray Park), Joe Collins (Northcliffe), Matt Bevilacqua (Northcliffe), Cory Taylor (Northcliffe), Jackson Borg (Newport), Matt Poole (Northcliffe), Zach Morris (Newport), Daniel Collins (Redhead), Jackson Maynard (Currumbin) and Kye Taylor (Swansea Belmont) - who won last season's under 19s competition.
The women's field consists of reigning champion Lana Rogers (Alexandra Headland), Georgia Miller (Northcliffe), Lizzie Welborn (Newport), Danielle McKenzie (Northcliffe), Tiarnee Massie (Maroochydore), Emma Woods (Alexandra Headland), Jemma Smith (Newport), Tayla Halliday (Alexandra Headland), Naomi Scott (Manly), Harriet Brown (Northcliffe) and next-gen winner Lucy Derbyshire (Northcliffe).
The trials, set to feature Warilla-Barrack Point's Hayden White and Nowra-Culburra's Kirsty Higgison, for the final places in both series will be held at Tugun from December 18-19 - where seven men and women, as well as two wildcards, will book their spots for the summer.
For the first time in 11 years, the series will make its way back to the sands of Bondi Beach, with the first three rounds taking place at North Bondi from (January 14-16) and rounds four to six scheduled to take place at Kurrawa on the Gold Coast (February 4-6).
"We are delighted to be able to announce the dates for our key sporting events, headlined by the Nutri-Grain IronMan and IronWoman Series," SLSA national sport manager Wayne Druery said.
"The event showcases the top 40 athletes in the country and to be able to have our under 19s and super surf teams league athletes compete in the same arena will no doubt inspire the next generation.
"We will continue to monitor the COVID-19 situation in consideration of the 2021/22 season and should circumstances require any change or adjustment, it will be communicated accordingly."
Establishing pathways for future generations is a key priority for SLSA with the next-gen and super surf teams league set to run as curtain raisers to the elite Nutri-Grain series.
The next-gen competition, which will run in Kurrawa from February 4-6, returns after a successful first year where the country's under 19s rising stars will battle it out across the same course as the senior competitors in conjunction with the final three rounds and weekend of racing in Queensland.
The super surf teams league, involving more than 100 competitors, will also make a welcome return for its second season in conjunction with the opening three rounds of the competition in NSW, noting that the impacts of COVID made it impossible to run last season.
It involves 13 teams from across the country competing in a range of surf lifesaving disciplines including board, swim, ski and beach events - from January 14-16 at North Bondi.
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Courtney Ward
Sports Journalist for South Coast Register and Milton-Ulladulla Times, who loves all things sport and travel. All views are my own.
Sports Journalist for South Coast Register and Milton-Ulladulla Times, who loves all things sport and travel. All views are my own.
