Former Nutri-Grain series champion ready to attack ironwoman series

Harriet Brown admits it took her time to overcome a shattering series defeat last summer but she has regained the love of her sport.

Former Nutri-Grain champion Harriet Brown admits it took her time to overcome a shattering series defeat last summer but she has regained the love of her sport in time for a new Ocean6 assault.

Brown, the 2017 series champion seemed set to defend her ironwoman title when Brielle Cooper was knocked out in the early stages of the eliminator final in the last round at North Cronulla.

But when Brown was eliminated herself before the final race, the series title was decided on a countback, with Cooper’s two race wins over the summer elevating her to the No. 1 spot.

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Harriet Brown (left) lost the series to Brielle Cooper (right) last summer on a countback. Picture Mike Batterham

Harriet Brown ready for another season in the Nutri-Grain ironwoman series. Photo: Alannah Morton Photography

“It was such a disappointing end, just for it to be so close and not win,” Brown said.

“I was stoked to come second but with the circumstances of it being a countback, I was so close, one more point and I would have got there.

“But you can’t go on about would have, could have.”

Brown went on to race well at the Australian titles in Perth, winning titles including the surf teams and board gold, with her performances helping her “reset”. An off-season of racing may not seem the best way to gain a mental break but Brown said winning her second consecutive Molokai to Oahu paddleboard race, as well as racing in the US and Bali helped her remember why she loves the sport so much.

“I had a great off-season, I went to Hawaii and raced, I went to America and did some clinics and competed at the US nationals and then raced in Bali, so I had a really great time,” she said.

Harriet Brown wins the board title at the Australian Surf Lifesaving Titles in WA. Pictures: HARVPIX.COM

“I think it’s important because it makes you realise why you love the sport so much and how much you enjoy meeting like-minded people.

“In America, they just love the sport so much — most of them aren’t quite at our ability but they’re so passionate, so that’s refreshing and I enjoyed that more than I would have sitting at home training day-in and day-out, which might have got me better preparation but I enjoyed myself.”

Brown heads into one of the most stacked fields in history in today’s opening round of competition at Queenscliff on Sydney’s northern beaches, but said her preparation hadn’t changed significantly.

“I think every year you go in knowing it’s tough, there’s never any change to that,” she said.

Harriet Brown ready for action in the Nutri-Grain series. Photo by Richard Gosling

“There’s so many young girls coming through as well and there’s probably some of those girls that will give it to us who have been going around for a while now.

“Preparation doesn’t realty change.

“I’m always trying to do things slightly differently to get that little edge but it just needs hard work.”