Only best for Nutri-Grain series

MICHAEL King says the weekend of the Kellogg's Nutri-Grain Series trials is up there with the worst of the season.

Cameron Cole (left), Aimee Berridge and Jack Hansen are three of the Mooloolaba contingent hoping to score a place in the Nutri-Grain series. Picture: Harvie Allison

MICHAEL King says the weekend of the Kellogg's Nutri-Grain Series trials is up there with the worst of the season.

That's because the Mooloolaba coach can't stand seeing any of his crew fall short of their goal.

King will be watching over 15 aspiring ironmen and women at Noosa over the weekend as they vie for a place in the lucrative series.

But they will be up against about 100 other contenders keen on nabbing just a handful of spots.

Sixty men and 45 women are confirmed starters for the two-day trial with just seven spots in each series available.

King said it would come down to physical preparation and who was prepared to do the hard yards when it counts.

“Everyone's prepared really well and they're excited about racing and the challenge they're at,” he said.

“The key is you've got to be physically prepared and have to have done the hard work.

“From the time you leave the beach you will have to paddle hard because there won't be any assistance from the ocean.

“It's the same deal on the beach. You'll have to work on every little bit.”

King's squad of Ironman Series ‘virgins' includes Cam Cole, Nic Anderson, Tyler Maxwell and Matt Bevilacqua, while Aimee Berridge, Claire Harris, Maddy Dunn, Teisha Jenkins and Nikki Chapman haven't competed in the Ironwoman Series before.

While it is a cut-throat weekend of racing, where many competitors will leave disappointed, King said that is the way it should be.

“That's the realisation – it is cut-throat,” he said. “It's good though because you'll only get the best people in there.

“The biggest thing is who will handle the pressure.

“The person that's prepared to put their foot on the line and go where others won't will get through.

“It's going to be hard but if you're good enough you'll get in and then you can start to prepare for the top 10 guys and girls that are waiting for you in the series.

“It does make it hard but it also makes you realise that this is what you're going to have to do in the series.”

Tomorrow will see competitors race twice through the M-Shape course. Each race is expected to take about 30-40 minutes.

The top 20 men and women will return on Sunday for a final race with the top seven finishers guaranteed a spot in the series.

Officials may later include more trialists in the series, however, the last three places will likely be filled by wildcards at the organisers' discretion.

Originally published as Only best for Nutri-Grain series