Nutri-Grain ironman Bondi: Ali Day extends winning run in series to eight after win in ‘brutal’ race, results

More than a decade ago Ali Day stood on Bondi Beach and watched in awe as a rival won an ironman race. On Saturday he moved another step closer to writing his name in history - again.

More than a decade ago a teenage Ali Day watched a youngster from Sydney’s northern beaches win a Nutri-Grain series race at Bondi and though how great it would be to do the same one day.

On Saturday, he did it for the second day in a row in a new format of racing - WaveCross - he described as one of the most “brutal” he has ever done.

But words of advice from his wife Kel had Day enjoying and celebrating the win far more than he usually does.

“I have to make sure I savour these wins more,’’ said Day, 30, who last year won every race to become the first athlete to cleansweep the professional surf series which continues with round three at Bondi on Sunday.

“I remember standing here at Bondi at 19 and watching Matt Poole win and thinking I would do anything to win like him.

BUMPER PHOTO GALLERY FROM RD 1-2

Ironman Ali Day winning round two at Bondi. Pic: HarvPix

“And here I am all these years later. I was talking to my wife last night and she said you have to enjoy these moment. I love winning races for her.’

Day dominated the WaveCross format which saw the former Warilla Barrack surf life saver, now racing for Surfers Paradise, race four times on Saturday in heats of four with only the best two at the end of each advancing.

In the four man final over a ski, swim, board course he beat Matt Bevilacqua (Northcliffe) and wildcard Corey Fletcher (Burleigh Heads Mowbray Park), who grew up on the Central Coast but now lives in Queensland.

“It was brutal,’’ Day said.

“You could not take your foot off the pedal all day. Couldn’t be complacent for a second.’’

Racing continues on Sunday in the six-round series which culminates with three final rounds at Kurrawa on the Gold Coast from February 4-6.

Day now leads the series on 40 points from Bevilacqua on 36 and Newport’s Jackson Borg on 29.5. Corey Fletcher is fourth on 28.

Ironman Ali Day cleanswept the series last season and has now won two legs in 2022. Pic: HarvPix

ALI DAY WINS ROUND ONE OF 2022 NUTRI-GRAIN SERIES AT BONDI

Ali Day didn’t realise how much he hated losing until it happened late last year and caught him by surprise.

On Friday the defending series champion caught the men’s field in the Nutri-Grain ironman series out with a dominating display in the opening round of the 2022 series at North Bondi - after learning valuable lessons from his unexpected loss prior to Christmas at a Queensland carnival.

Ali Day won the opening round of the Nutri-Grain series in style. Pic: HarvPix

“I had a bit of a shocker and as much as it hurt it was a good reminder,’’ said the champion ironman who in October won his seventh Coolangatta Gold.

“I was annoyed with my mistakes and I got a lot out of it.

“It made me angry and upset, out sport is very humbling like that. You can’t ever be complacent.

“You turn up and everyone thinks you can click your fingers and win. You have to work on it.’’

Ali Day won every round of the last Nutri-Grain series. Pic: HarvPix

Day, who cleanswept all six rounds of the series last season, was anything but complacent on Friday as he raced to victory in the 40 minute ironman raced in 1-1.5m surf at Bondi to finish ahead of Jy Timperley from Burleigh Heads Mowbray Park and Kendrick Louis from Manly.

Louis hobbled over the finish line, staining the sand with blood.

Kendrick Louis racing at Bondi.

Louis, who missed the entire 2020/21 Nutri-Grain season with a calf tear, stabbed the foot pedal on his ski through his toes.

“I might need a few stitches,’’ said Louis who was delighted with his podium in his return to racing.

Kendrick Louis racing at Bondi in his return from a calf injury.

The Manly ironman said he was confident of being able to back up in today’s second round of the six-event Nutri-Grain series.

Racing on Saturday starts at 11am and 12pm on Sunday.

NUTRI-GRAIN IRONMAN ROUND ONE TOP 10

1. DAY, Ali, AD; 2. TIMPERLEY, Jy, JT; 3. LOUIS, Kendrick, KL; 4. BEVILACQUA, Matt, MB; 5. ASKEW, Finn, FA; 6. BORG, Jackson, JB; 7. TAYLOR, Cory, CT; 8. POOLE, Matt, MP; 9. COLLINS, Joe, JC; 10. MORRIS, Zach.