Summer of Surf results: ironman Ali Day back at his best, Noah Havard’s Paris Olympic dream

Iron surf star Ali Day had a rare perfect season in 2020/21. Now he’s given a strong indication he could repeat the feat even before the Nutri-Grain pro series kicks off later this week.

Ali Day added his name into the history books last season. Pic: Harvpix

Ironman Ali Day has enhanced his favouritism for another Nutri-Grain series victory with a winning hitout on the same beach the event will be staged on later this week.

Day, who is preparing for the opening three rounds of the series starting Friday at his old stomping ground in Kiama, won the ironman event at the Summer of Surf at North Bondi on the weekend.

Day’s surf skills saw him collect the win with a late wave carrying him to victory ahead of Nutri-Grain seres rivals Matt Poole and TJ Hendy.

Ali Day winning the Nutri-Grain Ironman Series. Pic: Harvpix.

“It was really good and 12 years to the day since I last raced there which was special,’’ Day said.

“It was a good chance to warm-up for the series and the competition was great.’’

Other Nutri-Grain competitors also used the event to warm-up for the professional series opener on Friday with Harriet Brown (Northcliffe) beating Lizzie Welborn (Newport) and Danielle McKenzie in the ironwoman race in which series rookie and North Bondi local Lily Finati finished fourth.

Former Nutri-Grain series winner Georgia Miller (Northcliffe) won the swim race from Bella Williams (Swansea Belmont) and Naomi Scott (Manly).

Ali Day and Lana Rogers are defending champions in the series which kicks off at North Bondi on Friday.

Other top results at the event included local Noah Havard (North Bondi) winning the surf ski race (see below), Flynn Hamilton (Swansea Belmont) winning the board race and Nick Slowman (Northcliffe) then 2km swim, run, swim run

One of the highlights of the day as Newport winning the $12,500 first place prize in the mixed Taplin relay ahead of Northcliffe and host club North Bondi.

SYDNEY SURF LIFESAVER’S PARIS 2024 OLYMPIC

JANUARY 7: Covid harmed and hindered many sporting careers but for North Bondi surf lifesaver Noah Havard it presented a golden opportunity.

On Sunday he farewells Sydney to relocate to the Gold Coast as he chases a spot in the Australian Olympic kayaking team heading to the Paris Olympics in 2024.

Just eight months after starting kayaking, the surf ski paddler will train with the Queensland Academy of Sport under kayak great Ken Wallace and has his sights firmly set on the Paris Games.

North Bondi paddler Noah Havard in action. Pic: Supplied

“That’s what I’m aiming for,’’ said the 21-year-old who won the surf ski race at the Summer of Surf series on Saturday at North Bond.

“I’m not sure what in yet, I’m still learning, it’s been a steep learning curve.’’

Havard was spotted by Wallace, who won two medals at the Beijing Olympic Games, while stuck in Queensland last year during coronavirus lockdowns in NSW.

“I got stuck and started training with him,’’ he said.

“We did lots of sessions and I started to learn the trade and I’ve been doing it ever since.’’

As a teenager the former Waverley College student had aspirations of playing in the NRL and was with the Sydney Roosters junior rugby league development squad when a doctor gave him the news that changed his life.

“I kept dislocating my shoulder and I was told to give up rugby league or I’ll have to have surgery and be out for six months,’’ said Havard, who was part of the North Bondi Surf Life Saving team which won an open Taplin gold at the last Australian championships and has won nine underage Aussies titles in various events, including the single ski.

“That’s when I got into a surf ski paddling.

“I loved my rugby league. It’s a bit of a shame.”

Tokyo Olympic kayaker Lachie Tame is set to compete at the event.

The Shaw and Partners Summer of Surf series hit Bondi on January 7-8 - the first time since 2010 the famous beach has hosted a major surf sports event.

The following Friday it will host the first of three Sydney rounds of the Nutri-Grain iron surf series.

Bondi is the second round of the Summer of Surf series which boasts $350,000 in prizemoney.

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