Moodie hunting form in ironman finale

New Zealand ironman champion Daniel Moodie is desperate for some consistency heading into the final of the lucrative Kellogg's Nutrigrain series in Sydney this weekend.

Moodie is currently 16th in his debut season in the five-round series which pits the world's best surf lifesaving athletes against each other.

The 22-year-old Hawke's Bay star, a four-time New Zealand ironman champion, has collected some impressive results so far this season but hasn't been able to put a complete performance together.

"It's been a bit frustrating - I had my best finish in the last round with an 11th but only managed 18th the day before," Moodie said.  "That's been the story of my season but it's been an incredible learning curve and I just hope I can go out on a high this weekend."

His preparations haven't been ideal - at last weekend's Lion Foundation Surf League in Mount Maunganui, he sprained an ankle on the first day and had to sit out the second day as a precaution.

"I would have loved to have raced on the Sunday but it was probably smarter that I didn't - this weekend is huge and I've also got the New Zealand and Australian titles to aim for next month so I didn't want to do any lasting damage."

Moodie is too far back to catch series leader and Northcliffe clubmate Shannon Eckstein, meanwhile, with Eckstein gunning for a slice of history at the North Cronulla final venue.

The current world champion will start favourite to win his fifth Kellogg’s Nutri-Grain Ironman title – joining another Northcliffe star Zane Holmes as the only ironmen to win the prestigious title five times.

Holmes, who finished second to Eckstein last year, withdrew from the 2010 Series with a nagging back injury, making Eckstein a clear favourite for this year’s event.

The 26-year-old has won three of the four rounds this year and holds a six point buffer over Tugun’s Hugh Dougherty and 14 points clear of Ky Hurst, while the top six male and female competitors will automatically qualify for the series next season.

“To win a fifth title would be special and to match Zane would certainly be something to be proud of," Eckstein said. “It’s a shame injury forced him out of the Series – we have had some great duels over the years.

“The surf can toss up all kinds of unknowns and I know North Cronulla is renowned for its surf, so anything is possible.”

The women’s Series is one of the closest in years with three-time Coolangatta Gold winner Hayley Bateup chasing her maiden series victory.

Bateup leads the series on 74 points after chalking up a win, a second, third and fourth – just two points clear of reigning Coolangatta Gold winner and former Australian Ironwoman champion Alicia Marriott (72), with defending champion Naomi Flood next on 70 points.