Emu Park’s Brittany Hooton competing in iconic Coolangatta Gold

Star athlete Brittany Hooton reveals how she is feeling as she gears up for the iconic Coolangatta Gold this weekend.

Emu Park’s Brittany Hooton will have some added inspiration when she competes in the gruelling Coolangatta Gold long course event on Sunday.

The 19-year-old will do the opening leg of the 41.8km course in a ski formerly owned by one of her idols - champion ironwoman Jordan Mercer.

“I actually bought one of her old skis so I’ll be paddling that for this race,” Hooton said.

“I was looking to buy a ski and this one popped up so that’s pretty cool.”

Emu Park's Brittany Hooton, pictured in the ski previously owned by champion ironwoman Jordan Mercer, powers into a training session.

Hooton will compete in the under-19 long course, which consists of a 23km ski, 1km run, 3.5km swim, 6.1km board and 8.2km run.

Fellow Emu Park Surf Lifesaving Club member Matilda Phelan will take on the open short course (10.5km ski, 2km swim, 3km board, 5.5km run) on Saturday.

Hooton did the virtual short course last year due to Covid restrictions but this is her first attempt at the long course.

“I’ve wanted to do it for a couple of years but I waited until I finished school,” she said.

“I’ve been preparing pretty much all season for this with my training.

Brittany Hooton says her goal is to complete the gruelling Coolangatta Gold long course event.

“It’s been on my bucket list for a little while so I’m excited to do it.

“I’d just like to complete it, to get to the finish line. I feel like that would be an achievement.

“We’ve done practice runs here which have taken about five hours but the conditions down there are obviously going to be a lot different with the surf and the wind.”

Hooton started in nippers in under-6 and has gone on to enjoy success at states and the Aussies, surf life saving’s equivalent of national championships.

She knows this will be her biggest challenge yet and has been putting in the hard yards with coach Ted McLeod to ensure she is in peak condition.

Brittany Hooton says the Gold Coast surf will add another dimension to the event.

Her weekly training schedule includes swimming sessions in the pool and in the surf, as well as board and ski sessions on the Fitzroy River and at Emu Park beach.

“It’s the traditional iconic endurance race of the year,” Hooton said.

“Hydration and nutrition will be a big part of it because the last leg is an 8km run and it will be in the middle of the day so that heat’s going to be tough.

“The mental aspect will also be a factor. You’ll have those thoughts coming in but you’ve just got to push through it.

“You’ve got to remember that not many people can do this, it really is a big thing, so you’ve just got to keep looking towards that end goal.”