Aussie teammates Lizzie Welborn, Georgia Miller rivals in quest for Coolangatta Gold crown
Lizzie Welborn and Georgia Miller have gone from teammates to rivals ahead of the iconic Coolangatta Gold.
Manly
Don't miss out on the headlines from Manly. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Last week they were teammates, helping Australia to victory at the International Surf Rescue Challenge Trophy in South Africa for the eighth consecutive year.
On Sunday, Lizzie Welborn and Georgia Miller will be adversaries as they vie for victory in the famed Coolangatta Gold race.
Defending Coolangatta Gold champion Miller, 23, is the athlete to beat in the arduous 41.8km endurance test created for the 1984 movie of the same name and which is now an annual event.
OFFER: NewsLocal digital subscription offer: $1 a week for the first 8 weeks
But in South Africa, Welborn said she and Miller were both teammates and training partners as they prepared for the race which doubles as opening round of the 2019/20 Nutri-Grain ironwoman series.
GOLD: Family team up for surf challenge
SURF’S UP: Father, son chasing Gold
“It was definitely in the back of my mind over there, that we doing the Gold,’’ said Welborn, 20, who is racing for the Newport surf life saving club this season.
“It was important that we were doing the right prep for the Gold while we were there.’’
Welborn and Miller, born and bred on the northern beaches but now living and training on the Gold Coast, enlisted some big name talent for their training sessions.
I know people complain about how hard it is. But that’s what I like
The duo worked with Newport’s Australian ironman champion Max Brooks, Olympic kayaker Riley Fitzgibbons from the Central Coast and Gold Coast ironman legend Shannon Eckstein in a number of sessions in South Africa to keep on track for the Gold.
“Me and Georgia and Max all went for a longer paddle up the coast,’’ she said.
“We were staying with Shannon and Riley and did a big session together as well which was great.’’
NEW RECRUIT: Beaches athlete on pro circuit
Welborn revealed she has also done a complete run through of the demanding course involving ski and board paddling, swimming and running and feels as prepared as she can for the four hour plus race.
“It’s my first time and I’m really excited,’’ she said.
“I know people complain about how hard it is. But that’s what I like.
“It’s why I did the Molokai (to Oahu, 52km paddle race) race earlier this year. l like to push myself. Test myself.’’
MORE NEWS
Ali Day is chasing a record seventh Coolangatta Gold crown in the elite men’s racing.
NSW athletes competing in the elite men’s race include Newport’s Boorks, Jackson Borg, Kendrick Louis and Newcastle’s Dan Collins.