Cereal Wars: Matt Poole believes the Nutri-Grain series should be run separate from Surf Life Saving Australia following the body’s commitment to Iron X
Surf life saving could soon have a new “Cereal Wars” as athletes back plans for the Nutri-Grain series to part ways with Surf Life Saving Australia and be run independently from the non-for profit organisation.
Surf Lifesaving
Don't miss out on the headlines from Surf Lifesaving. Followed categories will be added to My News.
SURF life saving could soon have a new “Cereal Wars” as athletes back plans for the Nutri-Grain series to part ways with Surf Life Saving Australia and be run independently from the non-for profit organisation.
‘OUR SPORT IS UNDER THREAT:’ LEADING ATHLETES PROTEST IRON X
Following the much criticised Iron X exhibition event on Monday at Mooloolaba, athletes have lost faith in the direction of their governing body after thousands of dollars were poured into an event which they claim strays from the core skills and values of their sport.
Kurrawa ironman Matt Poole, who has just finished his 13th year competing in the professional ironman series, believes that surf life saving would have a better chance of returning to its golden days in the hands of an independent organisation.
“The best thing for this sport moving forward, to have any chance of getting it back to the pinnacle is if the series ran independently as a profitable business away from Surf Life Saving Australia,” he said.
Poole, 31, originally put his name forward to be one of the 13 male athletes to compete in the inaugural Iron X race but withdrew a few weeks before the event on the back of what Iron X said about the future direction of surf life saving.
‘OUR VIEWS HAVEN’T CHANGED:’ CLUBS HOPING FOR IRON XTRAORDINARY FLOP
“I did put my name forward not because I supported or endorsed the event but because our sport is in a financial famine,” he said.
“It’s very hard for any athlete to say no to an event that boasts a $100,000 prize purse.
“In the end, I could not get my head around how frustrated I was by the idea and how much I hated the idea of me competing which outweighed it (the chance to win prize money) in the end so I withdrew from the event.”
Poole, who sat down to watch Iron X on Monday afternoon, believes that the event failed to meet its intended goal of luring new audiences to surf life saving on the back of integrating cross-fit and stand-up paddleboarding into surf sports.
In the female race, Cross-Fit athlete Kat Baker finished last while world SUP world champion Lincoln Dews also finished last in the men’s race.
BEHIND THE SCENES OF SURF’S UGLIEST FEUD
“I didn’t see one new sponsor brought to the beach which begs the question, have any of SLSA’s goals or objectives been met for bringing new athletes and audiences to the sport,” Poole said.
“All I see is a group of very disheartened members and clubs.
“A lot of the girls didn’t even attempt the monkey bars and opted for the penalty run instead.
“Some of the guys were paddling (on SUP boards) on their knees and catching waves on their stomachs so how much of an impression did we make on the SUP community?”
The 2016/17 Nutri-Grain series winner said that he accepted Iron X’s value as a novelty race but worried for the future of the sport if Surf Life Saving Australia decided to include the additional disciplines into the elite series.
“SLSA wasted no expense and cut no costs to make the Iron X package look good and it did look good to watch on TV and as a spectacle Spartan race but if you put that sort of time and money into something, it will prevail,” he said.
“I can’t tell you how many people I’ve spoken to who have said they can’t afford to keep their kids in the sport if they want to grow up to be like their heroes and buy a stand-up paddleboard, ski, board as well as pay for swimming and gym lessons.”
Coolangatta Gold: Ironwoman champion forced to withdraw in first leg
A young gun duo have claimed their first Coolangatta Gold Short Course titles, while a defending Ironwoman champion finds herself watching on from the shore after being forced to withdraw in the first leg of the main Long Course event. All the latest from the 2024 Shaw and Partners Coolangatta Gold inside.
Why world titles are key to life saving’s push for 2032 Olympics
Officials are moving to hold the Lifesaving World Championships on the Gold Coast twice in eight years as part of a push for the sport to gain entry into the 2032 Brisbane Olympics. Go inside the sport’s plans here.