Max Brooks said he would no longer compete if Iron X changes are put in place for the professional series

The Australian ironman champion claims he will retire if Surf Life Saving Australia decides to integrate stand up paddle boarding and CrossFit-style obstacle courses into the Nutri-Grain professional series next season.

AUSTRALIAN ironman champion Max Brooks claims he will retire from the sport if Surf Life Saving Australia decides to integrate stand up paddle boarding and CrossFit style obstacle courses into the Nutri-Grain professional series next season.

Max Brooks winning at the Australian Surf Lifesaving titles at Broadbeach on the Gold Coast. Photo: Harvpix

There’s a growing belief that if the stand alone, Iron X race is successful, that the additional disciplines set to feature in the exhibition event will form part of the 2020/21 elite series.

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Brooks, the 2019 Australian ironman champion, said that he feared any such decision would force him out of the sport he loves.

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“If Iron X becomes a part of the sport then there’s no way I’m doing it,” he said.

“It’ll drive me out of it.”

The Newport star said he’d been left ‘hurt’ and ‘let down by SLSA’s decision to stage a one off Iron X race though Brooks said he held the most fear for the next generation of surf stars who’s chosen sport could potentially undergo a major overhaul.

“Surf life saving is one of the best sports around,” he said.

“I mainly feel sorry for the young kids coming through.

“I love the sport and it’s done so much for me.”

Newport ironman Max Brooks. Picture: Harvpix

Brooks also worried about how athletes were going to find the time to train for additional disciplines on top of their already packed training schedule.

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“We train harder than anyone and lot of other sports but we get paid next to nothing,” he said.