Changes to the Coolangatta Gold, a broadcast deal and an Australia Day Iron X event headline Surf Life Saving’s new summer look
The surf life saving summer series is set to receive a major shake with Surf Life Saving Australia revealing a host of changes that will revolutionise the future of the sport.
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The surf life saving summer series is set to receive a major shake with Surf Life Saving Australia revealing a host of changes that will revolutionise the future of the sport.
As revealed by the Bulletin in April, the new look Nutri-Grain Iron series will kick off in October with the iconic Coolangatta Gold endurance race.
GOLD REUSH! FUTURE OF COOLANGATTA GOLD REVEALED
The professional series will include a further four rounds of action, two of which take place on the Gold Coast, concluding with the final on January 19 in North Cronulla, NSW.
The most radical change will be the inclusion of a new, stand-alone, Nutri-Grain Iron X event to be held on Australia Day which will combine traditional surf events like board and ski legs with stand up paddling and shore based challenges like commando crawls, sand hill climbs, rope climbing and sand bag drags.
At the heart of the new series is a new broadcast deal with FOX sports which will see four rounds of the Nutri-Grain series as well as the Iron X event broadcast live across the summer.
The gruelling Coolangatta Gold which kicks off the Nutri-Grain Series, will also be broadcast as a highlights package.
Surf Life Saving Australia CEO, Adam Weir, said the organisation is bringing the Nutri-Grain Series back in house while working with experts in the industry to reconnect Australia’s IronMen and IronWomen with sporting fans.
“We are thrilled that for the first time in more than a decade we will have our elite sporting series live on TV and reaching broader audiences,” he said.
“Surf sports plays an important part in raising the profile of Surf Life Saving with many Australians and we want to showcase our elite athletes and their lifesaving skills and athleticism.
“The Kellogg’s Nutri-Grain Ironmen and Ironwomen are not only the fittest athletes in the country, they are also great surf lifesavers who watch over the beach going public throughout the season.”
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Six-time Coolangatta Gold champion, Surfers Paradise SLSC star and Nutri-Grain IronMan Champion, Ali Day has been a part of the discussions for the new format and said that he is excited about what next summer presents.
“I love the Coolie Gold, so I’m thrilled that it’s included in the new look Nutri-Grain Series,” he said.
“It gives athletes like myself who enjoy the long format, a chance to put points on the board straight off the bat.
“I’m really looking forward to what the Nutri-Grain Series will bring and seeing who will come out on top.”
The changes come as Surf Life Saving attempts to reinvigorate the sport ahead of an 2032 Olympic push and the desire to attract new sponsors and fans.
The new look Nutri-Grain Series
Qualification Series – 7-8 September 2019 – Coolum, QLD
Round 1 – Coolangatta Gold – 13 October 2019 – Coolangatta, QLD
Round 2 – Nutri-Grain Series – 17 November 2019 – Burleigh Heads, QLD
Round 3 – Nutri-Grain Series – 1 December 2019 – Bulli, NSW
Round 4 – Nutri-Grain Series – 15 December 2019 – Surfers Paradise, QLD
Round 5 – Nutri-Grain Series FINAL – 19 January 2020 – North Cronulla, NSW
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