Ocean Premier League series founder Matt Bevilacqua discusses the future of the event

One half of the duo behind the Ocean Premier League ironman series held under lights in Bali last year said the return of the highly successful event is not ‘out of the question.’

ONE half of the duo behind the Ocean Premier League ironman series held under lights in Bali last year said the return of the highly successful event is not ‘out of the question.’

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Former Nutri-Grain series champions and Kurrawa clubmates Matt Poole and Matt Bevilacqua turned race promoters last year to stage and compete in the unique event, then known as the World Ironman Series, pitting Australia’s best ironmen and women against each other in twilight racing at Finns Beach Club in Canggu.

Lizzie Welborn competing at the World ironman series in Bali last year. Picture supplied.

Bevilacqua, who poured his own money into the event alongside Poole, said that the series was slated to go ahead again for this year but a number of speed bumps meant the duo were forced to abandon the 2019 iteration.

Ironmen racing in Bali at the 2018 event. Picture supplied.

“We were really keen to get it going again and we rebranded it to the Ocean Premier League but there were a few financial problems which made it too difficult to happen,” the 2019 Coolangatta Gold champion said.

“It was a fantastic event and we were so close to doing it again.

“Finns Beach Club are really supportive of the idea and want it to come back so they’re just waiting on us.

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“Both Matt and I were obviously competing in the Nutri-Grain series and then there was a bit of stuff in the off-season with all the changes and the Coolangatta Gold becoming part of the series as well as my international commitments in Hawaii (Molokai 2 Oahu paddleboard race) and in New Zealand with Nutri-Grain.”

Matt Bevilacqua competing in the world ironman series in Bali last year. Picture supplied.

Bevilacqua said acquiring a naming rights sponsor would be crucial in overcoming the hefty craft shipping container transportation fee.

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“If we’re going to do it, we want to do it well,” he said.

“The athletes were really keen and supportive of the event.

“They’re in the same headspace as us in that they’re excited by it but we have to do it right.”