Coolangatta Gold historic moment for women as surf legends gather with 40th anniversary looming

She was once dubbed the fittest woman in Australia but there’s no going back to the race that made her famous for surf star Hayley Bateup - not even for a special anniversary.

Hayley Bateup at the finish of the Coolangatta Gold in 2006.

She was once dubbed the fittest woman in Australia but there’s no going back to the race that made her famous for iron star Hayley Bateup - not even for a special anniversary.

In a storied career Bateup won the iconic Coolangatta Gold endurance race three times, debuted on the professional iron series as a 14 year old and won 19 national titles.

But it was her advocacy for women to have the option to not just race the full distance 46km Coolangatta Gold but be rewarded with the same prize money as the men which she rates as one of her special achievements.

Last month Bateup joined champions of the Gold Guy Leech (1984, 85), Michael King (1991), Darren Mercer (1992), Caine Eckstein (4x champion), Rhys Drury (2007), Ali Day (9x champion), Matt Bevilacqua (2018), Courtney Hancock (4x champion), Brodie Moir (2012) and Carla Papac (2022) to launch the countdown to the 40th anniversary event on October 12-13.

While Leech won the first two men’s events back in 1984 and 1985, Bateup won the first ever women’s race in 2005 which was 25.5km and headed a crusade for the women’s race to be the same distance as the men and with the same prizemoney.

Caine Eckstein and Hayley Bateup were the kings and queens of the famous race in their day.

It took another eight years before women were racing the same Coolangatta Gold course as the men although their distance was increased to 30km in 2007.

“I enjoyed doing the shorter distance but I wanted to do the full distance like the men,” said Bateup, who rose through an era where women’s prize money was significantly less than the men’s in the iron series she raced. “I found the distance just as challenging, it was just at a higher speed.

“I put in the ground work to having it changed. It took a lot of good work and advocacy from girls of that era and I love seeing it there now.

“I think that’s all out the window now, all the sexiest and stuff.

“It’s awesome now seeing them (female athletes) getting the same money and opportunities and deals.

“It’s great. I’m chuffed that I was an advocate for that.”

In a world of pain in the Coolangatta Gold.

The iconic surf life saving race turns 40 this year with Surf Life Saving Australia gathering some of the great of the event together just over a month out from the 2024 race weekend.

And while other retired greats have returned to race either age group or team events, Gold Coast firey Bateup has stayed ashore.

“I have never gone back. I wouldn’t,” Bateup said.

“For me if you have raced at that level but have to drop down, then I wouldn’t. It’s not fun.”

However Bateup said while she won’t be enticed to ever race the event again as an individual she could be tempted to do a “fun” teams race.

She was also actively involved last year as a handler for Courtney Hancock before her retirement and said she wouldn’t miss watching the race - from shore.

Originally published as Coolangatta Gold historic moment for women as surf legends gather with 40th anniversary looming