Georgia Miller was the red-hot favourite for the Australian ironwoman title but a warm up fail left her nervous and doubting her ability

When Georgia Miller stepped onto the beach for the final day of Aussies last season, she did so as a Coolangatta Gold and Nutri-Grain series champion.

WHEN Georgia Miller stepped onto the beach for the final day of Aussies last season, she did so as a Coolangatta Gold and Nutri-Grain series champion.

But when it came to warming up for the Australian ironwoman final, Miller couldn’t even get her ski past the break.

Daunting swell pounded Kurrawa beach as the red-hot favourite attempted to paddle out past the break, only to be pushed back beyond the white water time and time again.

AUSSIES REVIVED: CAHILL CARVES OUT HER OWN PLACE IN HISTORY

AUSSIES ACCOUNTS: BEVILACQUA THE RING IN

“It was a really strange morning,” Miller recalls.

“To be honest, I was ready for the season to be over because it had been the longest, hardest but most challenging and rewarding season of my life.

“I was nervous and remember walking down to the beach thinking ‘this is not what I was expecting’ and seeing the big surf roll in.

“I didn’t get out on the ski during my warm-up and I was thinking ‘how am I even going to finish these races if I can’t even get out on my ski!’

“I couldn’t get out past the break and it made me so nervous.”

Ironwoman Georgia Miller completed a perfect season by winning at the Australian Surf Lifesaving titles at Broadbeach on the Gold Coast. Photo credit: Harvpix

As the starter’s gun sounded, Miller was overcome by a wave of calm.

Irony settled in as the Northcliffe star shot to first place during the ski leg.

Powering through the final swim leg, Miller put enough distance between herself and her competitors to sidle up the beach and soak in her newly claimed triple crown.

“It was such an awesome day from start to finish and I wouldn’t change anything about that day,” Miller said.

“I was actually feeling pretty relaxed during the race and took every moment as it came but it was pretty much the perfect race despite a few mistakes here and there.

“It was incredible to enjoy the finish and not have to sprint against anyone else and instead soak it in and look at the crowd and my handlers and see my family.”

AUSSIES REVIVED: DAY’S DREAM TEAM STANDS THE TEST OF TIME

Standing in the crowd was Miller’s mum Jenny who happened to be celebrating her birthday on the day her daughter wrote her name into surf lifesaving folklore.

“It was also my sister’s birthday on the same day and when I won the Coolangatta Gold it was nans birthday and she was there watching so hopefully more people in my family have birthdays on important race days,” Miller joked.

Ironwoman Georgia Miller completed a perfect season by winning at the Australian Surf Lifesaving titles at Broadbeach on the Gold Coast. Photo credit: Harvpix

Miller’s 2019 Aussies fairy-tale also included helping steer Northcliffe to gold in the open women’s taplin and getting to watch boyfriend and Olympian Riley Fitzsimmons take out the open male ski final.

AUSSIES REVIVED: THE DAY BREE WENT FROM ROOKIE TO MASTER

“I was more nervous for him (Fitzsimmons) than I was myself,” Miller said.

“I was standing there shaking because I couldn’t help him in any way

“The women’s taplin is the blue ribbon event so that was incredible as was getting to watch Shannon Eckstein in his last race so it was a great day to be part of Northcliffe.”