Surf life saving ironman champion Max Brooks puts positive spin on Aussies cancellation
Some athletes are “glass half full” people even in testing times. Newport-based surf life saver Max Brooks is one of them.
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Ironman Max Brooks this week should have been putting the finishing touches on his campaign to defend the Australian surf Ironman crown on the Gold Coast.
Instead, the Newport lifesaver is putting all his efforts into his new job with an IT company after the coronavirus forced the cancellation of the 2020 Australian surf lifesaving championships, which were due to start this weekend.
While missing both the competition and camaraderie of his surf peers, Brooks has opted to put a positive spin on the sports showcase event being erased from the surf sport calendar for 2020.
Instead of bemoaning the lack of competition, he is embracing the fact he has extra time to be an Australian champion.
“Without doing anything,” said Brooks who won the prestigious Australian Ironman surf lifesaving title for the first time last year.
“So there is a positive to it.
“But yeah, I was definitely looking forward to competing
and representing the club but there’s bigger things going on in the world right now.”
Brooks trains regularly with the Newport surf life saving club but due to isolation rules and beaches and pools being closed is now keeping fit on his own or with brother Charlie.
“Given all the, you know, the regulations and stuff and guidelines from the government, we’ve stopped our squad training,” he said.
“I think this is the longest I have ever been without going to the beach, two weeks, it feels weird.”
Brooks said he is thrilled to be working full time during this difficult period and said keeping busy while staying fit is crucial for mental health.
“For me I’m just kind of trying to keep my mind occupied and I guess avoid depression by just staying at home all day every day,” he said.
The first major event of the new 2020/2021 surf life saving season is the Coolangatta Gold, slated for October.
At this stage the iconic multi-endurance event is still on the calendar although the world surf lifesaving championships in Italy from late September have now been cancelled.