Ironman (surf lifesaving)
Encyclopedia
The sport of Ironman was developed in 1964 in Australia by Mr Valentine Trainor to combine the four main disciplines of surf lifesaving into a single race; swimming, board paddling, ski paddling and running. The sport should not be confused with Ironman triathlon
.
Perhaps the most famous ironman was Grant Kenny
, who in 1980 at the age of 16 made the event famous by winning the Australian Junior and Australian Open Ironman championships wdeithin the space of half an hour. Grant became a national hero, appearing on cereal boxes and television advertisements, and was seen as the pinnacle of Aussie sportsmen. The short Ironman event became famous and the centre of attention at all surf carnivals.
In the early 1980s a movie was made called "The Coolangatta Gold
", about an ironman event that required competitors to complete a 42km course along Queensland's Gold Coast. A circuit was then developed that mixed 10-minute Ironman races with the Coolangatta Gold, and a range of other professional Ironman events around Australia. The Coolangatta Gold
was resurrected in 2005. The format of the 2006 race was as follows:
In 1989 an elite group of Ironmen took the sport one step further and created the event for TV. The event was named the Uncle Toby's Super Series
and became one of the highlights of the Australian summer sports calendar but today has been replaced by the Kellogs Nutrigrain Ironman Series.
Ironman Triathlon
An Ironman Triathlon is one of a series of long-distance triathlon races organized by the World Triathlon Corporation consisting of a swim, a bike and a marathon run, raced in that order and without a break...
.
Perhaps the most famous ironman was Grant Kenny
Grant Kenny
Grant Hayden Kenny OAM is an Australian former Ironman, surf lifesaver and canoer.- Career :Kenny made headlines in 1980 when he won both the Australian Junior and Open Iron Man Championship on the same day as a 16 year old. Kenny then won the Australian Open Ironman Title for the following three...
, who in 1980 at the age of 16 made the event famous by winning the Australian Junior and Australian Open Ironman championships wdeithin the space of half an hour. Grant became a national hero, appearing on cereal boxes and television advertisements, and was seen as the pinnacle of Aussie sportsmen. The short Ironman event became famous and the centre of attention at all surf carnivals.
In the early 1980s a movie was made called "The Coolangatta Gold
The Coolangatta Gold
The NIB Coolangatta Gold is one of the premier events in the Australian sport of Ironman . The event is organised by Surf Life Saving Australia.-The Event:...
", about an ironman event that required competitors to complete a 42km course along Queensland's Gold Coast. A circuit was then developed that mixed 10-minute Ironman races with the Coolangatta Gold, and a range of other professional Ironman events around Australia. The Coolangatta Gold
The Coolangatta Gold
The NIB Coolangatta Gold is one of the premier events in the Australian sport of Ironman . The event is organised by Surf Life Saving Australia.-The Event:...
was resurrected in 2005. The format of the 2006 race was as follows:
| Leg | Discipline | Route | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ski | Surfers Paradise to Greenmount SLSC | 23.km |
| 2 | Run | Greenmount SLSC to Coolangatta SLSC | 0.65km |
| 3 | Swim | Coolangatta SLSC to Bilinga SLSC | 3.50km |
| 4 | Run | Bilinga SLSC to Currumbin SLSC | 4.00km |
| 5 | Board | Currumbin SLSC to Burleigh Heads SLSC | 5.50km |
| 6 | Run | Burleigh Heads SLSC to Surfers Paradise | 10.00km |
| Total 46.65km |
In 1989 an elite group of Ironmen took the sport one step further and created the event for TV. The event was named the Uncle Toby's Super Series
Uncle Toby's Super Series
The Uncle Toby's Super Series was a professional Iron Man circuit that ran from 1989 to 2001. It was considered by many to be the pinnacle of Surf Lifesaving and inspired many young kids to become involved in the sport...
and became one of the highlights of the Australian summer sports calendar but today has been replaced by the Kellogs Nutrigrain Ironman Series.