How Lana Rogers refound her groove and rising stars biting at Ali Day’s heels in Iron Surf Series

A trio of teens threw down the gauntlet to the established guns of ironman while Lana Rogers revealed what went wrong in the Coolangatta Gold - and how she fixed it for the series opener

Lana Rogers on her way to victory at Wanda.

Champion ironwoman Lana Rogers has finally revealed what went wrong in the Coolangatta Gold and how she fixed it to claim her first win of the new-look Shaw and Partners Iron surf series at Wanda Beach on Saturday.

As a trio of young guns gave Ali Day a fright in the ironman racing, Rogers sent shockwaves through the ironwoman field with her clinical triumph on the opening day of the 2024/25 professional iron series despite “feeling sick and having a headache’’ in the high heat.

The win came after Rogers was a shock early retirement in the Coolanagtta Gold in October with illness.

Rogers revealed on Saturday she had actually suffered a panic attack in the endurance race which had forced her to the sidelines.

“I had never had one before and I really had to learn how to regroup and refocus after that,’’ Rogers said.

“I ended up speaking to a sport psychologist and they helped me through it.

“This, today, has been a real boost of confidence for me.’’

At the start of a cut-throat weekend where six women and six men will be dumped from the fields after Sunday’s second leg of the opening round at Wanda, Rogers claimed victory in her 45 minute iron race from Lucy Derbyshire, Tiarnee Massie, Lizzie Welborn and Electra Outram.

Lana Rogers and the ironwoman field at Wanda.

While defending champion Day ended up running away with the victory he had to do it by overtaking one young gun and then holding off another two for his hard-fought win.

Day, who won his 10th Coolangatta Gold crown in October finished ahead of Ryley Harland and CJ Brennan with early leader Ethan Callaghan finishing fourth and Joe Collins fifth.

Ali Day on his way to victory at Wanda.

Ali Day on his way to victory at Wanda.

The race result signalled a changing of the guard may be on the cards this season with veteran Many ironman Kendrick Louis forced out of the racing with injury.

Harland said his motivation prior to the racing was simple.

“I just wanted to get a podium and went out for it,’’ he said.

Callaghan, who won the under 19 Next Gen series last season to earn his spot in the field, said he wanted to show “no fear’.

“I love all us young guys giving it to the old boys. It’s what we love to do,’’ he said.

Results from todays racing will be added to results in Sunday’s race with the bottom six in both the women’s and men’s field dumped form the series.

WANDA IRONWOMAN RESULTS: .1. Lana Rogers (Northcliffe), 2. Lucy Derbyshire (Surfers Paradise), 3. Tiarnee Massie (Maroochydore), 4. Lizzie Welborn (Newport), 5. Electra Outram (Sunshine Beach)

WANDA IRONMAN RESULTS: 1. Ali Day (Surfers Paradise), 2. Ryley Harland (Northcliffe)

3. CJ Brennan (Currumbin), 4. Ethan Callaghan (Burleigh Head Mowbray Park), 5. Joe Collins (Northcliffe)

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Originally published as How Lana Rogers refound her groove and rising stars biting at Ali Day’s heels in Iron Surf Series