Eckstein hoping for a fairytale

All good stories have a fairytale ending and that’s exactly what Shannon Eckstein will be hoping for when he competes in the inaugural Shannon Eckstein Classic.

ALL good stories have a fairytale ending and that’s exactly what Shannon Eckstein will be hoping for when he competes in the inaugural Shannon Eckstein Classic across the weekend.

After 19 years of elite racing, the 36-year-old launched the Classic as his parting gift to the sport he loves before he hangs up the budgie smugglers later this year.

“I’d love to win this event but knowing that, a lot of the boys have been peaking for this event,” he said.

“I know I’m going to give myself a chance but obviously it’d be a fairy tale to win this.”

The Classic presents the richest single day on the ironman calendar with $5000 on offer in Friday’s dash for cash and $20,000 on offer for the winner of the ironman and woman races on Saturday.

Shannon Eckstein ahead of the class event named in his honour. Picture: HANSON MEDIA

So much is the lure of a quick payday that the season’s dominant ironman Ali Day chose not to compete in last week’s state ironman final.

After battling with injury himself and also opting out of the ironman final, Eckstein said that he’s just about back at full fitness.

“Since I had the calf injury, my body was never going to be 100% come Aussies but I’ve been doing everything I can to be the best I can be,” he said.

“In the back of my mind, I’m still worried about it going again when I’m wading through the tides.”

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Injury hasn’t been the only thing playing on Eckstein’s mind as he’s made the transition from athlete to event organiser.

“I haven’t slept that well the past two nights, not because I’m nervous about racing but because I’m nervous because I have my name on an event and I want it to go well,” he said.

“Now it’s here, we’ve got a lot of signage up so I’m really excited.”

Despite namesake suggesting Eckstein should take out the inaugural race, his little brother Caine has other plans should it come down to a sprint to the finish.

“I’m a lot softer than him in that respect in that there’s no way he’d ever let me win,” he said.

“I don’t think so (Caine would let him win if it came down to a sprint) because he’s had his time.”

Hannah Sculley, Maddy Dunn, Georgia Miller, Courtney Hancock and Shannon Eckstein ahead of the Shannon Eckstein classic on Friday and Saturday. Picture: HANSON MEDIA

Fellow Northcliffe athlete and ironwoman Courtney Hancock said that it would be sad to see her mate retire but she tipped Eckstein to take out his own race on Saturday.

“I’ve been very lucky, to be by his side the past 13 years and whether it’s been racing, training down at the beach or swimming, being able to soak up his energy and skills,” she said.

“For Shannon, it’s a celebration of his many accomplishments and many amazing years he’s had in our sport.

“For me, it hasn’t really hit until today so it’s a bit sad.”

The dash for cash will take place today at Northcliffe followed by the ironman and woman heats and finals on Saturday.