Moodie looking to keep place in revamped Ironman Series

New Zealand Surf Ironman Champion Daniel Moodie will take on the best Ironmen in Australia this weekend in a trial to try and qualify for this season’s revamped Kellogg’s Nutri-Grain Ironman Series.

Moodie, the current 5 x NZ Ironman Champion, will once again be looking to compete in the lucrative Series by securing one of 8 qualifying spots up for grabs.

Last year the 22-year-old Westshore club member secured one of 11 spots in Tugun, Gold Coast, where this year’s trial is also being held, and went on to finish 16th in an indifferent season.

Moodie, who is also in training as a member of the New Zealand team to the World Lifesaving Championships in Egypt in October, is upbeat about his chances this weekend.

“It was great to be part of last year’s Series, I learnt a lot racing under the kind of pressure you were under,” said Moodie.

“From all that I learnt last season, along with a good winter of training, I’m feeling good about the trials.”

Surf Life Saving Australia (SLSA), Sports Entertainment Limited (SEL) and former champion Guy Leech have joined forces to significantly boost the future of Ironman and Ironwoman racing, with a five event series this summer at some of the most iconic beaches in Australia.

The partnership will see long time sponsor Kellogg’s Nutri-Grain again back the series that will be supported by more than 40 hours of television, including live Sunday afternoon broadcasts in Australia from Currumbin (November 21), Bondi (Dec 3), Coolum (Dec 19), Portsea (Jan 2) and Noosa (Jan 9).

The series will feature the best 20 Kellogg’s Nutri-Grain IronMen and 20 IronWomen including superstars Shannon Eckstein, Zane Holmes, Ky Hurst and Alicia Marriott racing for more than $300,000 (NZ$380,000) in prize money over traditionally popular formats that will test endurance, power, skill and speed, giving the truest indication of just who is the best overall surf athlete on the planet.

Adding to the action will be a Legends series that will rewind the clock to the halcyon days of the sport and bring former heroes like Leech, Trevor Hendy, Grant Kenny, Darren Mercer, Guy Andrews and Clint Robinson back to competition in a relay format.

“Everyone on the Gold Coast had been speculating about the new series before it was released, and to see what was launched was really exciting,” said Moodie.

“They’re trying to get it back to its heyday, I used to watch Cory Hutchings in the old Series on TV and he was one of the legends I looked up to and wanted to be like. It’d be amazing to be apart of something that big again.

Moodie was also keen to see the Ironman Series make its way back to NZ.

“There is one event I can still remember well and that’s Piha, the surf was massive and that’s when you knew these guys were legends, I don’t know, maybe they’ll take it back to Piha one day, that’s something I’d like to be a part of .”

Madison Boon (Mairangi Bay) has learnt from her disappointing finish last year in the trials and has made a few changes in her training to help her prepare.

"After the last trial I was upset, I gave it everything and only just missed out. But I'm determined to learn from it and I made a few changes to help keep me on track for this year," said Boon.

"I have moved back to NZ and joined Mairangi Bay SLSC, I'm also studying in Auckland which is going well. I've been a part of the NZ Development Team and had a great trip to Japan last week for the Sanyo Bassan Cup. I feel like I'm in good shape and have a better mindset for the trial."

NZ Surf Ironwoman Champion Nikki Cox (Westshore) is unable to make the trial and is considering lodging an application for a wildcard spot.

IronMen – (pre-qualified) Shannon Eckstein, Hugh Dougherty, Ky Hurst, Rhys Drury, Corey Jones, Ali Day plus top 8 trialists and 6 wildcards
IronWomen – (pre-qualified) Alicia Marriott, Elizabeth Pluimers, Kristyl Smith, Hayley Bateup, Courtney Hancock plus top 9 trialists and 6 wildcards

KNS Ironman Series website: www.surfironmanseries.com