Iron X: Northcliffe President David Shields is still opposed to Iron X despite five months passing

Five months on from the Iron X drama of the surf life saving off-season and some clubs remain strongly opposed to the event which divided their sporting community.

FIVE months on from the Iron X drama of the surf life saving off-season and some clubs remain strongly opposed to the event which divided their sporting community.

‘IT WILL BE THE DEATH OF THE SPORT:’ SHIELDS

In August 2019, the Bulletin revealed a wave of uprising from Gold Coast athletes and surf life saving clubs who were opposed to the exhibition event which will see traditional iron racing combined with stand up paddle boarding, underwater swimming, and Cross-Fit style beach obstacles.

BMD Northcliffe Surf Club members, Naomi Flood (Head Female coach), Kevin Morrison (Head male coach), David Shields (President), and Mark Williams (Manager of Surf Sport) strongly oppose Iron X. Picture: Jerad Williams

Despite Surf Life Saving Australia detaching the event from the Nutri-Grain series and confirming to clubs that the new-look format wouldn’t replace traditional racing in future elite series, BMD Northcliffe president David Shields said that his views on Iron X hadn’t changed.

“Our opposition to it has only strengthened seeing the resources and time that has been pumped into an event which we oppose,” he said.

“We hope it’s a flop so it doesn’t continue.

“It’s almost vulgar that they’re still running with it.”

BEHIND THE SCENES OF SURF’S UGLIEST FEUD

Northcliffe athletes Danielle McKenzie, Hannah Sculley, Kirsty Higgison and youth squad coach Caine Eckstein have all been confirmed to put their foot on the line for $25,000 first-place prize money, an unprecedented amount which proved too tempting for some Nutri-Grain series athletes who compete for $2,500 for a round win or $25,000 for winning the entire series.

“A few of our members are competing because the prize money on offer is too much to refuse,” said Shields.

“We don’t support them doing it but we accept that they’re doing it because the prize money on offer is nothing like they were competing for in the series.

“We will celebrate their achievement if they do win.”

XCITING: STARS PRIMED FOR IRON X

In addition to surf life saving athletes, the Iron X field is also set to include world stand up paddle boarding champions Michael Booth and Lincoln Dews as well as female Cross-Fit star Katherin Baker.

Lincoln Dews is primed to attack the inaugural Iron X event at Mooloolaba in January.

“There could be a situation where someone will win it who doesn’t even patrol our beaches,” Shields said.

Shields said he would refuse to watch the live telecast of the event and encouraged members of the public to seek out traditional surf life saving carnivals.

Iron X athletes Katherine Baker, Jackson Maynard, Courtney Hancock, Lincoln Dews and TJ Hendy. Picture supplied.

“Definitely not,” Shields said when asked if he’d be tuning in to the television broadcast of the event.

“We won’t have any of our coaches or trailers there.

“We’re going up for the Maroochydore Classic on the weekend but we will leave straight after that.

“Anyone wanting to watch a real surf life saving carnival with our traditional athletes should come down to the Shannon Eckstein Ironman Classic on February 14 and 15,” he said.

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