Finn Askew goes from surf prodigy to ironman young gun in Nutri-Grain surf series

He seemed destined to be a surfing champ as a kid. But Finn Askew is completely hooked on a different sport after mixing it with the stars of the Nutri-Grain ironman series for the first time.

Finn Askew made it into the series via the qualifying event. Pic: Supplied.

Three days, three races and the verdict is in. South West Rocks teenager Finn Askew is completely hooked on being a professional ironman.

The 18-year-old got his first taste of the Nutri-Grain ironman series earlier this month and he has one word for it.

“Awesome,’’ said Askew ahead of rounds four, five and six from February 26.

“So good. As an experience it was incredible. I have learned so much.

“It was everything I expected, running out, having your name called out. It just sucks that with Covid you don’t get those big crowds like in the past.’’

Young surf life saver Finn Askew was a talented surfer as a kid.

The teenager, who is training with series leader Ali Day on the Gold Coast, is in 12th place overall with three rounds to go but could have been top 10 but for a pileup on the ski leg of the third round on Sunday.

“I made a few mistakes in the ski and went from eighth to 18th,’’ Askew said.

“Four of us of got caught on the first ski can. There was so much wind and heaps of chop.

“We all got stuck on each other and we drifted outside and allowed a lot of others through.

“Five to 10 seconds and you lose big. You have to be right on your game.

Askew needs to be in the top 10 to requalify for next year’s series but with three rounds to contest in a fortnight has the time to move up the pointscore.

“I just have to back myself and trust my instincts,’’ he said.

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Young surf life saver Finn Askew has relocated from his home at South West Rocks to train with the best further north..

FROM SURF PRODIGY TO SURF LIFE SAVING STAR

At first, Finn Askew seemed destined to one day be surfing at events alongside Australia’s best surf talent.

Battling in heats with Owen Wright, carving it up with his brother Mikey, charging with Ryan Callinan and Julian Wilson.

As a grom, he turned heads on the beach and in sponsor circles with Quiksilver, the brand made famous by the likes of Slater, Australian Tom Carroll and American Dane Reynolds, backing him by his 10th birthday.

“I was with them for about eight years,” said the teenager from South West Rocks who had been representing Newport surf club before recently relocating to the Gold Coast.

Finn Askew, at age 13, surfing near his home at South West Rocks on the NSW mid north coast. Pic Nathan Edwards

But it’s no longer surfing Askew aspires to be the best in the world at - it’s surf life saving, specifically ironman.

In February he got the chance to test his mettle against the best in the game in the first of three back-to-back rounds of the Nutri-Grain ironman and ironwoman series at Kingscliff.

“I just love surf life saving. I started doing the sport from the age of five and I love nothing better than being in the water,’’ Askew said.

“I’ve been competing for Newport while living at South West Rocks so that meant I had to do my board, ski and iron sessions by myself and it got hard.

“It made the move to the Gold Coast crucial. The Gold Coast is like the Hollywood for ironman.’’

Young surf life saver Finn Askew is training alongside the best in the game, Ali Day. Pic: Supplied.

And the undisputed star of surf ironman, former NSW south coast star and six-time Coolangatta Gold winner Ali Day, is helping the teenager prepare for the rigours of the sport with Surfers Paradise teammates TJ Hendy and Courtney Hancock.

“I’m still surfing but I don’t do comps any more,’’ Askew said.

“I found I like something that has a start and a finish. I am really competitive and I want to beat people. With surfing it is someone’s opinion.’’

Finn Askew during the trials for the delayed series late last year. Picture: Supplied.

Askew finished eighth in the series trials last November but has been training alongside Day, who relocated from NSW some years ago for better opportunities in the sport, and believes he is ready to make a mark.

“He says focus on the process and don’t get caught up in other people’s problems, focus on yourself,’’ he said of Day’s advice.

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Originally published as Finn Askew goes from surf prodigy to ironman young gun in Nutri-Grain surf series