Northcliffe surf lifesaving stalwart Kristyl Smith opens up in Q&A
Kristyl Smith typifies many in the surf lifesaving movement: the Northcliffe stalwart is a glass half-full person.
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Kristyl Smith typifies many in the surf lifesaving movement: the Northcliffe stalwart is a glass half-full person. She was a six-times runner-up in the professional ironwoman series but she wouldn’t change a thing from her career which netted many world titles.
SALTWATER IN VEINS
Q: So you grew up in Caringbah in southern Sydney. What sort of lifestyle did you live as a child?
A: I had two older siblings, an older brother and an older sister so I was forever chasing them around. Obviously my family were heavily involved in lifesaving prior to me having any knowledge of it. My dad was a lifeguard and was active in triathlons down at Cronulla. We were forever following him around to different events. I got thrown straight into Nippers from when I was five.
Q: When and why did you move to the Gold Coast?
A: My family used to come up to Rainbow Bay for holidays. It was a Cronulla tradition. All the Cronulla surf clubs used to holiday in September at Rainbow Bay. Sometimes there would be 20, 30, 40 families. The Gold Coast was always the place I wanted to live. I loved it, especially the southern end. When I finished school in Sydney, I stayed there for one year then came up here for six months over winter on the Gold Coast. Then I came back up here when I was 20.
SENSATIONAL SIBLINGS
Q: After clinging to your ski on the first leg, you went on to win the 2005 ironwoman at the national titles. How do you reflect on that day and winning your first big title?
A: That was very typical of Gold Coast surf conditions, especially during cyclone season. There was a huge swell and we were lucky to even get out on the course that day. I don’t think I’ve competed in swell as big as it was that day at Kurrawa. It was a special day because not only was it my first time winning a national ironwoman but then 10 minutes later, my brother Nathan came out and won the open ironman championship. That’s the first time a brother and sister have won on the same day. That was a pretty special moment.
Q: You mentioned your brother Nathan there. What’s the rivalry like between you two?
A: We don’t really have one. We don’t compete against each other. We did find though that whenever one of us did well, the other had a terrible day except for 2005 obviously.
A LIFESAVER FIRST
Q: You once had to save someone’s life in the middle of a race. What was that day like for you?
A: I was coming in to shore on my ski and one of the girls in front of me had slipped off her ski and pushed her leg all the way through the foot strap. She was upside down and struggling and yelling at me. I had to stop the race and get off my ski and help free her. It turns out that those couple of points would have been pretty crucial to me finishing second or winning the series. Like anything, we’re lifesavers first and competitors second.
FAMILY CLUB POWERS TO THE TOP
Q: Northcliffe is an Australian surf lifesaving powerhouse. What’s the key to their dominance over such a long time?
A: When I first moved up to the Gold Coast, I didn’t want to leave my club in Cronulla. I had no intention of joining Northcliffe. When I came to the club, on the first day they showed me around the facilities and I met the coaches and committee. One of the big misconceptions about Northcliffe is that it’s not a family club but I have found that to be the complete opposite. Northcliffe is my second home here on the Gold Coast. I think they’re the most professional surf club in the world and it shows in their results.
Q: You’re a part-owner of Dolphin Surf Craft. How did that opportunity come about?
A: I was one of their team riders and loved the sport and the guys who were behind it. If you know surf lifesaving, you know the Holmes. An opportunity came up to work for the company (and) I’ve been here for 10 years now.
WORLD BEATER
Q: In 2010 you were crowned world ironwoman champion. What’s it like knowing you’re the best in the world?
A: We raced in Egypt that year so it was one of the most surreal experiences I’ve had. Two days before the race, we were in Cairo looking at the pyramids and enjoying the culture. Then two days later to come out and race on the world stage was pretty crazy. It was something that I’d worked towards for a long time. It’s pretty cool to be crowned world champion. I was pretty lucky to do it a couple of years later as well. I don’t think there’s any feeling that can top it, especially knowing that your training and hard work has paid off.
Q: You finished runner-up six times in the Kellogg’s Nutri-Grain Ironwoman Series. Is there any frustration there that you couldn’t add that crown to your trophy cabinet?
A: I would have loved to have won it. Over the years, it was something that would sometimes frustrate me. Looking back at it now, I wouldn’t have changed a thing. I’ve had so many amazing experiences throughout my career and travelled to many amazing places. I look more towards the experiences I’ve had and friends that I’ve made rather than the titles that I have or haven’t won.
Q: At your peak, what did your weekly training regimen look like?
A: I did three sessions a day. We did swimming every morning then a run and swim session at 10am. Then in the afternoon we had a board or ski session. Overall each day I was probably training around four hours, five days a week. I was fortunate at that point to have a job with Northcliffe surf club which allowed me to train. We had a big day on Saturday where we usually replicated an ironman race. It was pretty full on. A lot of hard work and not much sleep but I loved it.
INSPIRING GEN NEXT
Q: What level of surf lifesaving are you competing at now?
A: I’m still active in the sport. I recently competed at the world championships where I mostly did masters events but I was still a part of the open team for Northcliffe. I was mostly there in a mentoring role but I did do a few team events with the girls. I think it’s more my body not being able to hold up. Obviously, I’m 35 so I wouldn’t be able to compete on a level that I would like to against some of the girls coming through. I’ve done my time. I don’t miss the training. I miss the competition but I’m glad to be past the training.
Q: Bondi young gun Lizzie Welborn counts you as one of her surf lifesaving heroes and I’m sure there’s others out there who feel the same way. How do you feel knowing that you’ve inspired the next generation of surf lifesaving?
A: It’s humbling to hear that. She’s a good friend of mine. I mean I’ve definitely been in their position. When I was younger, I could tell you every statistic about every ironman and woman and I’m sure there’s people now doing exactly the same thing.
Q: Welborn pipped you at the 2017 Summer of Surf ironwoman series at Surfers Paradise. What’s it like when the next generation starts to surpass the old guard?
A: That was pretty much happening my whole career. There’d be little 16 or 17-year-olds coming through the ranks. That would happen every competition. I love seeing it, though.
FROM SURF TO FOOTY
Q: In 2017 you started playing Aussie rules for Burleigh then Bond the year after and took out women’s club champion in your first season at Bond. Do you hold any AFLW aspirations?
A: No. Even to compete at the top Queensland level last year, for me, was probably at the top end of my body’s capabilities and my skill level. I’m terrible with my skills but I know I’m a good trainer and I can take on coaches’ instructions. In terms of my skill level, I’m nowhere near it and I’m pretty realistic about that. If anything, I’d probably go back to surf lifesaving. Going to football, I was pretty surprised my body held up last year. I love it and it’s a sport that’s growing and a few other surf lifesaving athletes are getting involved in.
Q: There is obviously a team element to lifesaving but once you hit the water it’s all individual. How did you find the change from a solo sport to a team sport?
A: A lot of people often think surf lifesaving is an individual sport but for me it wasn’t really like that. We had a really good team at Northcliffe. We all worked together to get the best out of each other. It’s exactly what it would be at football but it just happened that when we hit the water you’re competing for yourself. I haven’t found that too much of a change. There’s still a lot of mateship and laughs. You just have a different result at the end of the day. In footy, you’re team either does well or doesn’t. At the end of the day with surf lifesaving, I think it’s definitely a team sport, especially at Northcliffe.
Born: Sydney
Age: 36 this month
Past clubs: Cronulla, Northcliffe
Occupation: Part-owner of Dolphin Surf Craft
Career highlights:
World championships
■ 2010 ironwoman champion
■ 2006, 2010, 2012 and 2014 women’s surf race champion
■ 2010 women’s board champion
■ Most capped female member
Australian championships
■ 2005 and 2009 ironwoman champion
■ 2006 women’s board champion
■ 2014 women’s belt champion
■ Multiple teams event winner
■ Won her Australian ironwoman title as a 14-year-old in the under-16 division
Nutri-Grain Ironwoman Series
■ Selected to compete in series for the first time as a 15-year-old
■ Six-times runner-up
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