Caine Eckstein could be one of the big winners of surf life saving’s new changes

FIVE-time Coolangatta Gold champion Caine Eckstein believes that the event’s inclusion in the elite Nutri-Grain series shouldn’t have a huge impact on the series, despite the newly established Surf Sports Representative Committee criticising the move.

FIVE time Coolangatta Gold champion Caine Eckstein believes that the Gold’s inclusion in the elite Nutri-Grain series shouldn’t have a huge impact on the series, despite the newly established Surf Sports Representative Committee criticising the move.

Caine Eckstein in action. Photo: Harvpix

In a letter sent to Surf Life Saving Australia in April this year, the committee stated they did not support the long course, endurance race’s inclusion in the professional series as it had the potential to interfere with athlete’s seasons.

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“We are of the view that including the long course Gold in the series will result in a clash with the international surf rescue challenge event and pathway for athletes,” the letter said.

“Further, the race is not suited to all athletes and will increase the risk of injury for some, especially the athletes who may only be selected to race a month prior to the event.”

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On a more practical level, Northcliffe president David Shields believed that the distinct differences in training put Gold athletes at a disadvantage when it came to competing in the Nutri-Grain series.

“People who do the Coolangatta Gold usually end up having a terrible season because their bodies don’t recover,” he said.

“They struggle to back it up.”

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Though the man who has won five Coolangatta Gold’s, including the 2011 race when he also went on to take out the Nutri-Grain series in the same season, believes that it’s up to the athlete whether they can manage both long and short courses in the new look series.

“I’m an endurance guy so I can handle the long race better than others,” he said.

“If I was the coach of a few of the athletes, I’d probably not want them to do the Gold but you’ve got to weigh up if you’ve got a chance of winning it.”

Nutri-Grain ironman and Ocean6 round at Surfers Paradise. Caine Eckstein. Picture: Jerad Williams

Eckstein was also intrigued by SLSA’s other changes, including the much criticised Iron X event but said that the more chances to race the better.

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“I’m pretty positive about it,” he said.

“We could be sitting here in two years time thinking why didn’t we have stand up paddle boarding as part of our sport.”