Massive generational shift and Ali Day reveals the secret to his incredible career ahead of the Summer of Surf at North Bondi
Piper Harrison has opened up about the generational shift she is at the centre of while Ali Day has revealed the decision a decade ago that put him on the path to becoming one of the greatest of all time. Read this week’s Shore Thing.
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The pointy end of the summer surf racing schedule is here and the biggest titles on offer are up for grabs.
The Summer of Surf will continue with a 10,000 point event at North Bondi this weekend before the Shannon Eckstein Classic double-header at Northcliffe from February 23-25.
The champions are standing tall but the next crop of superstars are knocking on the door and ready to take them down.
Discover the biggest news in the sport in the latest edition of The Shore Thing.
THE MIND MATTERS
Surf ironman champion Ali Day has opened up about his work with a sports psychologist that has made him a legend of the sport while he is still competing.
Day is fresh off winning his 17th major iron title, equal with Shannon Eckstein, after claiming top step on the podium in the 2023/24 Nutri-Grain Series.
The Surfers Paradise competitor now has five Nutri-Grain series, three Australian titles and nine Coolangatta Gold victories to his name.
In Day’s perfect world he could stretch that record out to 23 titles before he retires after next season given there will be two Aussie Championships, a Coolangatta Gold, a Nutri-Grain Series while the two Summer of Surf iron titles would widely be considered one of the sport’s top trophies.
Day is sitting atop the rankings in the Summer of Surf with two of the biggest events to come, the North Bondi Classic on Saturday and the Shannon Eckstein Classic from February 23-25.
But none if it may happened if not for his decision to link up with sports psychologist Lisa Martin in 2013 while living on the Sunshine Coast and training under Michael King, the man who suggested it.
“I have been working with Lisa for over a decade now,” Day said.
“She helped me win my first Nutri-Grain title the season I went to see her and it was the best decision of my career.
“Michael realised that maybe I had the talent but I just needed someone to slow my thought process down and help with how I approach race weekends. I think Michael knew the trajectory I was on but thought maybe I wasn’t handling the moments that well.”
Meet the moment is the personal motto Day has used this season and it is exactly what he did last weekend when he won rounds 5 and 6 of the Nutri-Grain Series to seal the title.
“We use some words and strategies to help regulate my system and do some breathing and grounding that brings me back to the present,” Day said.
“I’ll do some really simple things like breathe in for four seconds and out for four seconds, look at the horizon and rub my hands and feet in the sand. It keeps me in the present.”
It was a clinical display over the weekend but Day believes it was his second place in round 3 in Maroubra, NSW, when he was struggling and had his back was against the wall that ultimately led him to the title.
“When you are feeling your worst or manufacture a result when things are not going your way that will be the one that ultimately wins you a series, not the wins,” Day said.
NEXT GEN HAS ARRIVED
There is a generational shift happening in surf racing and Newport’s Piper Harrison is right in the middle of it.
The 21-year-old is part of a fleet of young surf stars inspired by the feats of their idols who are now threatening to beat them.
Harrison is currently leading the open women’s ski series and sitting fourth on the Summer of Surf ironwoman rankings going into the final two legs of the series while Maroochydore young gun Tiarne Massie sits in second behind current leader Georgia Miller while Newport teammate Lizzie Welborn is third.
“It is really exciting. We are seeing a massive shift at the moment and there seems to be a lot of young people coming through and challenging established athletes at the top of the sport,” Harrison said.
Harrison, who also finished 16th overall in her Nutri-Grain Series debut, idolised Miller growing up and is taking a similar path to one of the greatest iron athletes the sport has ever seen.
Both are Manly juniors and Harrison currently trains under Trent Herring at Newport, something Miller did before moving to Queensland to link up with Northcliffe.
“I was telling Georgia on the weekend that I have a photo of me watching her at one of the Newcastle rounds when I was about 12,” Harrison said.
“I’ve made huge improvements over the past year. I’ve put in quite a few years of hard work, slowly improving, but the last 12 months I have seen a massive jump up.
“Last year I didn’t make any of the 10,000 point Summer of Surf iron finals and I was two-from-two going into North Bondi this weekend.
MILLER MAGIC – ATTITUDE OF A CHAMPION
Georgia Miller could be kicking stones right now but the ever-smiling icon of surf sports is doing the exact opposite.
It’s why she is will be remembered as one of the greatest.
She could be forgiven for having a fair amount of self pity after battling enormous injuries and illness that could have ended her career in recent years.
Top that off with being forced out of the 2023 Coolangatta Gold due to blisters that took the skin off her feet while just two below par rounds in the Nutri-Grain Series cost her another title.
But through it all the athlete who won three rounds of the Nutri-Grain Ironwoman Series, the most of any athlete, Miller could only smile and reveal how grateful she was to be racing and to have the support team she does around her.
It’s the kind of resilience that is likely behind her career success and a template for any young iron competitor hoping to reach their own goals.
COREY CHASING MAJOR POINTS
Burleigh Heads Mowbray Park’s Corey Fletcher says he is relishing the battle with Northcliffe young gun Auden Parish as both chase the overall board title at the Summer of Surf.
Fletcher goes into the North Bondi event this weekend sitting atop the board rankings and just 2350 points behind Ben Carberry in the ski.
“I know I am in need of some good results to back up my recent win at the Maroochy Classic, and with Auden having only three results out of a possible 5, I know he will be coming for me,” Fletcher said.
“But, I love the challenge of trying to hold him (Parish) off and am looking to claim the board title as well as hopefully the MVP.”
Fletcher has been one of the busiest athletes this summer, travelling far and wide to compete and he has loved every minute.
“I always love travelling to race, especially when they’re new and exciting locations,” Fletcher said.
“Each competition is filled with such thrill and excitement and no two races are ever the same.”
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