Gold rush! Future of Coolangatta Gold revealed

Surf lifesaving Australia looks set to excavate the Coolangatta Gold mine if whispers on the shores of Broadbeach are anything to go by.

THE Coolangatta Gold could be set for a change as speculation grows the iconic event could soon become a round of the Ocean6 series.

With surf lifesaving still buzzing from the recently completed Aussies on the Gold Coast, talk on the beaches is that the marathon iron event may soon be integrated into the elite series.

It was a murmur which was fueled further by Northcliffe product Mitch Coombes moments after he claimed a second consecutive under-19 ironman title at the Aussies.

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“At this stage, it’s part of the Nutri-Grain series,” he said.

“That’s the talk that the Coolangatta Gold is going to be a series round.”

Mitch Coombes reavealed on Sunday that the Coolangatta Gold could this year become a Nutri-Grain series round. Picture: Tertius Pickard.

What first began as an iconic scene for a movie nearly 35 years ago has since become one of the most challenging endurance races in surf sports.

Year after year, competitors take on the 41.8km challenge that sees some of the country’s top athletes ski, swim, board and run to the finish line.

Six time Coolangatta Gold Champion Ali Day believes including the Gold as one of the Ocean 6 rounds would only strengthen the event.

“It would be great if it came off,” he said.

“They’ve talked about it for so many years and it would be great if they did because it’s one of the most iconic races.

“It’s my favourite event.”

2018 Elite Male Long Course Coolangatta Gold Winner, Ali Day supports the move to include the Coolangatta Gold as one of the Nutri-Grain series rounds. Picture: Jerad Williams

The 28-year-old believes that combining the events and making all Nutri-Grain series athletes compete in the race will raise the Coolangatta Gold back to its former glory.

“Over the past six times I’ve done it, I’ve had some real challenges but if everyone is made to do it then the quality will sky rocket,” he said.

“It’s still one of Australia’s most iconic endurance races but the last few years, it hasn’t been televised.

“If we can get it right, we can build it back up to where it used to be.”

2006 Coolangatta Gold Champion and former ironman Zane Holmes also supported the move to include the event as part of the elite series.

“If it becomes part of the series then there will be a lot more support for athletes,” he said.

“They’ll be made to do it as part of the series which can only be a good thing because we don’t currently have enough high quality athletes doing it.

2006 Coolangatta Gold Champion Zane Holmes believes that integrating the two events will lead to more promotion and support for athletes.

“The Gold used to be so iconic but I remember when I was racing, during my run leg people had no idea what I was doing.

“People were at the beach for the day and were asking my supporters and crew what I was doing.”

Holmes believes that athletes will have no trouble transitioning from the taxing endurance race to the shorter course Nutri-Grain series.

“Ali (Day) has done it. He’s more of an endurance athlete and took out the (Ocean 6) series this year and I’m better suited to short courses but I adapted to the long course,” he said.

“I found it really challenging the first few times to recover and get my body and mind right because they’re such different races,” Day added.

“They’re two completely different energy systems you’re using to go from a four hour endurance race to a 12 minutre ironman but now I’ve got the mix right.”

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In an email provided to the Bulletin, Surf Lifesaving Australia said that they were still finalising the summer surf sport calendar.

“The format for the elite series next season is still being discussed and will be released in the coming months,” they said.

“The Coolangatta Gold for 2019 is confirmed for 12-13 October 2019.”

There are also suggestions that organisers are considering starting and finishing the event at Surfers Paradise this year.