Queensland’s 26 top surf life savers: Revealing the state’s future Ironmen and Ironwomen
The Australian surf life saving coach has had his say on who our next generation of Ironman and Ironwoman talent are. See who made the list.
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The future of Queensland ironmen and ironwomen is in safe hands according to Kurt Wilson, Head Coach of the Australian Surf Life Saving team and Queensland SLS General Manager of Sport.
“(The future of surf life saving in Australia) is very strong, our Youth World Championships team won the 2022 Worlds very convincingly,” Wilson said.
“We won both the Open and Youth Championships, which is the first time any nation has done that.
“It’s a good sign and a huge component of that side is from Queensland.
“From clubs like Currumbin and Burleigh, to Alex Heads and Maroochydore, there’s some great talent coming through and it’s a product of some great club systems.
“Clubs like Burleigh, Northcliffe, Surfers, Currumbin, those high profile clubs are developing high profile athletes and coaches so it’s almost a baptism of fire for those emerging athletes trying to get into that professional environment.”
Wilson broke down some of the best athletes fans can expect to see on the big stage and on the podium in years to come.
Meet the top athletes here:
Kobi Holden
Age group: U17s
Club: Wide Bay but racing for Currumbin
Experience: Coached by father Craig Holden, coach of the Australian Youth team, Holden had a good showing in the Summer of Surf series. Holden is a previous ironman winner at the Youth Championships.
Strengths: board
Callum Brennan
Club: Currumbin
Experience: Brennan is a previous winner of the SLSQ Youth Champs Ironman race, and was part of the Aussie Youth team to compete at the World Championships, where he medalled.
Strengths: Swim events, iron, board
Riley Brennan
Age group: U17s
Club: Currumbin
Experience: The younger brother of Callum, Riley is sitting at the top of the U17s age group, Brennan was a member of the Australia Youth Team, is a World Championship medallist, and won several Summer of Surf rounds in the Ironman events this year.
Lily O’Sullivan
Age group: U19s
Club: Burleigh Heads
Experience: Outstanding showcase in the Ironwoman series, part of the Australian youth team that went to World Champs
Strengths: Iron
Britney Ingr
Age group: U17s
Club: Kurrawa
Experience: Won the world beach sprint title. Would be surprising if Ingr doesn’t win her age group beach events this weekend
Strengths: beach events
Tom Johnston
Age group: U19s
Club: Maroochydore
Experience: Johnston was part of the Australia Youth team in 2022, and had a good showing across the Queensland Beach Series. Johnston will be out to win the U19 sprint title.
Strengths: Beach events
Ruby Meehan
Age group: U19s
Club: Northcliffe
Experience: Meehan won the Next Gen Ironwoman Series to qualify her for the 2023/24 Ironwoman Series.
Strengths: Ski and board
Jasmine Rayward
Age group: U19s
Club: North Burleigh
Experience: Part of the Australian Youth team to head to the World Championships in 2022, where she medalled in the Taplin relay.
Strengths: ski and iron
Mitch Morris
Age group: U19s
Club: Northcliffe
Experience: Won the Next Gen Series to gain him entry to the 2023/24 Ironman Series. Aussie Youth team member alongside twin brother Jake.
Strength: Iron
Jake Morris
Age group: U19s
Club: Northcliffe
Experience: Aussie Youth team member Jake Morris is one of the next big things coming through the ranks.
Losing out to twin Mitch in the Ironman Next Gen Series, Jake will trial later in the year to make the 2023/24 Ironman Series.
Strengths: iron
Ryan Green
Age group: U19s
Club: Currumbin
Experience: A current U19 board finalist, Green had a good run in the Next Gen Series finishing sixth, and will be looking to get on the podium in the Ironman and win the board race at state champs.
Charlotte Cross
Age group: U19s
Club: Burleigh Heads
Experience: Cross will be looking to podium in the iron. She is an upcoming star of the sport, having just missed out on qualifying for the Ironwoman Series.
Strengths: iron
Grace Otto
Age group: U19s
Club: Burleigh Heads
Experience: Won the Next Gen Series last year and had her first season in the Ironwoman Series this year.
Strengths: Iron and swim
Before the Youth Championships, SLS Queensland Sport Manager Stuart Hogben broke down his athletes to watch. Meet them here:
Bianca Rayward
Age group: U15s
Club: North Burleigh
Experience: Rayward is a Queensland state team member and South Coast Interbranch team member. As the younger sister of gun surf athlete Jasmine Rayward, it’s no surprises to see Bianca as one to watch for the weekend.
Strengths:swim board, iron, strong across the water events
Elke Rayward
Age group: U12s
Club: North Burleigh
Experience: The littlest of the Rayward family is Elke, who could possibly be the best athlete of them all as she moves through the junior age groups. Elke was a member of the South Coast Interbranch team.
Strengths: iron, swim
Taj Murray
Age group: U14s
Club: North Burleigh
Experience: Queensland state team member, South Coast Interbranch team member. Murray has been in the sport since the age of eight and has shown plenty of talent since reaching U12s. Coached by his father Michael Murray, Taj will be in the mix for a medal come Sunday.
Strengths: Board and iron
Bern Winter
Age group: U15s
Club: Currumbin
Experience: Queensland state team member, Point Danger representative at the Interbranch Championships
Strengths: board and swim
Zeke Zimmerle
Age group: U15s
Club: Tweed Heads Coolangatta
Experience: Queensland state team member, Point Danger member for Interbranch
Strengths: Beach competitor in sprint flags, beach relay
Regan Copsey
Age group: U14s
Club: Maroochydore
Experience: Queensland state team member, part of the Sunshine Coast Interbranch team
Strengths: Swim board, water events,
Pipi Barlow
Age group: U15s
Club: Maroochydore
Experience: Queensland state team member
Strengths: Beach events, sprint flags and relay
Niamh Arthur
Age group: U14s
Club: Sunshine Beach
Experience: Queensland state team member
Strengths: water events, swim, board, iron
Zoe Woods
Age group: U15s
Club: Alexandra Headland
Experience: The little sister of Ironwoman Emma Woods, Zoe has Ironwoman blood in her veins.
Woods grew up around the sport and is only getting better.
Strengths: swim, board, iron
Stanley Jarrott
Age group: U14s
Club: Maroochydore
Experience: A member of the Queensland state team, Jarrott grew up around the surf with dad Kirk Jarrott an Australian title winner for ski paddle.
Strengths: iron and board
Byron Oliphant
Age group: U15s
Club: Alexandra Headland
Experience: Oliphant has experience in the Queensland state team, the Sunshine Coast Interbranch team, is a medal winner won in board events at Aussies, and was a Series Champion at the Summer of Surf U15s Ironman competition
Strength: All rounder, iron, board
Indi Bland
Age group: U14s
Club: Elliott Heads, Bundaberg
Experience: Queensland Country team for the Interbranch Championships. Bland was unlucky to not get selected into the state team for 2023 but will be in the mix again for 2024.
Strengths: swim, board
Peyten Goudie
Age group: U14
Club: Yeppoon
Experience: Goudie raced well at the North Australian Championships in Mackay in October to get selected into the Queensland Country team, where she was on the cusp of making the state team.
Strengths: board and iron
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Originally published as Queensland’s 26 top surf life savers: Revealing the state’s future Ironmen and Ironwomen
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