Moodie improves as Eckstein dominates ironman series
Reigning champion Shannon Eckstein climbed back into the winner's circle in today's fourth round of the Kellogg's Nutri-Grain Ironman Series at Alexandra Headland, Queensland, while New Zealand's Daniel Moodie grabbed a couple more big scalps.
Moodie finished 18th in round three yesterday but again showed his fighting qualities in the pounding 2m surf, picking up his best result of his debut series in the heavy seas to finish 11th.
It lifted him to 16th overall ahead of the series final in Cronulla in two weeks and also saw him finish today's event ahead of Australian stars Ky Hurst and Pierce Leonard.
"I just couldn't find my form yesterday after a tough couple of weeks but today felt a lot better," Moodie said. "Everytime I step out against these guys, I feel like it's raising my own level another knotch."
The 22-year-old will now head back to New Zealand to compete in this weekend's Lion FOundation Surf League in Mount Maunganui, with his Hawke's Bay team, anxious to get some quality competition against the best Kiwi ironmen ahead of the final round.
Eckstein was disappointed with his result yesterday, when Hurst's miracle last-to-first wave saw him beaten in the final stretch, using his surf skills and his speed on the ski to win a hotly contested men's round from Hugh Dougherty (Tugun) and Rhys Drury (Dicky Beach)
His Northcliffe clubmate Elizabeth Pluimers also bounced back from a sloppy third round, able to find a gap in the white water as the women were being smashed at the start of the ski leg to break clear and safely negotiate her way to the finish ahead of Hayley Bateup (Kurrawa) and Alicia Marriott (Mooloolaba).
Pluimers led by enough to be able to let big waves pass her by on the way back to the beach and wait for something less dangerous.
"I got a pretty sweet ride out on the ski which was kind of lucky and saw those big ones coming in at the end and decided just to wait until they'd all gone and try to sit and wait for a little wave at the end," the 23-year-old said.
"It was tough on every leg out there today, even the swim legs."
Luck was also on the mind of Eckstein, who had yesterday's race snatched from his grasp when Hurst bodysurfed past from the back of the field.
Eckstein again led around the final set of buoys today but this time kept his advantage despite the fast-finishing efforts of Dougherty, Drury and Dylan Newbiggin (Mooloolaba).
Despite losing the chance to go through the series undefeated yesterday, the defending champion was happy to be back on top.
"It hurts losing, so it's good to come back and win," he said. "You never like losing but I've got a saying, ‘if you lose don't lose the lesson' because if you lose you might have made a mistake, but I don't think I made any mistakes yesterday."
It will be Eckstein's rivals needing the luck if they are to unseat the champion in the Kellogg's Nutri-Grain Series final at North Cronulla on February 21.
Yesterday's win put him on 79 points from a possible 80 and six points clear of Dougherty (73) with Hurst on 65, Drury 60, rising star Ali Day (Warilla Barrack Point) 56, Corey Jones (Met Caloundra) 52, Leonard (Northcliffe) 51, Nathan Smith (Northcliffe) 47, Newbiggin 45 and Matt Poole (Mooloolaba) 44.
The double points on offer in the final keep Dougherty and Hurst in with a chance of causing an upset, especially if there is good surf.
Bateup is in pole position to win her first Nutri-Grain series as she continues her super-consistent series.
She has had first, second, third and fourth placings in the four rounds to date to lead the pointscore on 74 points.