Australian surf life saving: Swimmer Lani Pallister’s dream, ironman, ironwoman tips

Lani Pallister is riding a wave of success after returning to her happy place for a mental refresher while an expert has weighed in on who are the ironman and ironwoman favourites at Aussies.

There are plenty of Olympic hopefuls competing at Aussies 2023

Having battled an eating disorder, a heart issue, Covid and various other ailments in recent times Lani Pallister deserves a break and that’s what she’s been having at the Australian surf life saving championships.

But what she is doing isn’t any sort of time out - racing in heats, quarters, semis and finals of various events, including the surf race, surf teams, board rescue, life saver relay and Taplin.

“It’s a mental break,’’ laughed Pallister, the 20-year old goddaughter of Dawn Fraser and daughter of swimmer Janelle Elford and triathlete Rick Pallister, who is swimming 6km each morning outside her surd events.

The only reason she isn’t doing the ironwoman is because she didn’t make it back from a swimming training camp in New Caledonia in time to front up for a qualifying iron heat at the Aussies in Perth on Wednesday.

Lani Pallister at the Aussies. Picture; HarvPix

Pallister, who tore up the world short course swim championships in December with a slew of top results - including a maiden 400m freestyle world crown - said she is fighting fit and happy as she prepares for world championship swimming selections in 10 week but said her eating disorder is a “daily battle’’.

Lani Pallister is chasing an Olympic swimming dream.

“The eating disorder is something that will stay with me for life. It is mentally crippling.

“It’s a daily battle but I am a lot better,’’ she said.

Pallister, who represents Alexander Headlands, said she jumped at the chance to do the Australian championships .

Start of the U19 teams race at Aussies.

“Surf always has a special place in my heart. Dad was an Australian belt champion and Nutri-Grain ironman and I’ve been doing it since I was five years old,’’ she said.

“To be able to mix between the two sports is something I’m really happy to do.’’.

Pallister said making the Olympics is her big goal - and an emotional one - crying as she spoke of her desire to be at the Paris Games in 2024.

“It is something I have dreamt about for a very long time. I missed the last Olympic team by one so I would love the opportunity,’’ she said.

“I’m crying. I think that shows how much it means to athletes who have the opportunity to make teams like this.’’

Riley Fitzsimmons and fiance Georgia Miller. Miller won’t be defending her ironwoman crown at Aussies this year.

Australia’s kayakers dominated the surf ski semi-finals on Saturday to set up what is expected to be a memorable final on Sunday.

Adding interest is the fact three of the paddlers are teammates in Australia’s K4 combination heading to Europe in upcoming weeks for a series of World Cup’s and the 2023 world championship where quota spots for the Paris Olympics will be determined.

“There is plenty of rivalry between us,’’ said semi-final winner Noah Harvard (North Bondi) of his kayak teammates Riley Fitzsimmons (Northcliffe) and Jackson Collins (Kurrawa).

“We train for hours every day together but this will be different.’’

Collins is the defending Australia ski champion and Fitzsimmons won in 2019.

Ironwoman Lucy Derbyshire at Aussies.

Australian surf life saving coach Kurt Wilson has weighed in on the favourites for the ironman and irowoman races at Aussies on Sunday and his tips may surprise.

Wilson believes there is plenty of room for a “smokey’’ to get up in both the men’s and women’s racing with the best swimmers in pole position to dominate.

“There could be a young smokey get up in the ironman,’’ he said.

“For me, it’s a smokey or Ali Day.

Wilson said the like of Joe Collins, Noah Steiner, Hayden Cotter, Bailey Armstrong and Cooper Williams will all be ones to watch.

Wilson believes a young athlete with a strong swim could dominate the ironwoman racing.

“People like Naomi Scott, Lucy Derbyshire, Tiarne Massey,’’ he said.

“Like the ironmen, a veteran or a smokey.

“But those young girls will be coming in hot.’’

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Originally published as Australian surf life saving: Swimmer Lani Pallister’s dream, ironman, ironwoman tips