Courtney Hancock to take on rookies in bid to return to top ironwoman series

SHE might be the winner of one of the toughest surf races in the world but winning the Coolangatta Gold hasn’t given Courtney Hancock a free pass into the Nutri-Grain ironwoman series

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SHE might be the winner of one of the toughest surf races in the world but winning the Coolangatta Gold hasn’t given Courtney Hancock a free pass into the Nutri-Grain ironwoman series

In fact Hancock must battle against rookies and rising starts to secure her spot in the surf lifesaving series modified down to a three-day event in February in 2017.

Victory in the iconic Coolangatta Gold earlier this month ended a long drought for the former champion ironwoman who has struggled for two seasons to replicate the form which saw her rule the waves in the past.

Courtney Hancock with her Coolangatta Gold trophy.

“It’s just nice to know I can still race my way into a winners circle,’’ Hancock said.

“To see all the hard work finally paying off against has really sparked me for the season ahead.’’

Key to a season to remember for Hancock is re-requalifying for the Nutri-Grain series, a title she last won in the 2013/14 surf season.

But after a series to forget last season, Hancock is seeking one of the qualifying spots on offer in the Summer of Surf series which kicked off in Queensland last weekend and moves to Newport this Saturday.

‘’To be honest, having to do this to get in, like a rookie, just feels, like part of my renaissance,’’ she said. “I feel really fresh, like I’m starting out all over again.’’

Ironwoman Courtney Hancock has been working overtime to regain her old form.

Crucial to her bid to regain the mantle of top surf ironwoman in Australia is racing at Cronulla in the inaugural Ironwoman Invitational on November 6.

The race is part of the Sally Fitzgibbons organised International Beach Festival and where the condensed, three-day 2017 Nutri-Grain series will be raced in the New Year.

The normal four to six round series has undergone a transformation and will run over just three days from February 24-26 at Cronulla.

“Any chance to race at Cronulla before the Nutri-Grain I will take with open arms,’’ Hancock said.

The ironwoman invitational is on November 6 from 10.30am.

The four-day Sydney International women’s pro is the centre piece of the inaugural International Beach Festival at Cronulla from November 3-6.

A board riders battle, a pro assist, the Shire Mile, an Ocean swim and assorted other events for families, children and elite athletes will run alongside the world qualifying surf event.

For more information, or to enter events such as the Ocean swim or Shire Mile, go to the main site of the International Beach Festival.

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