Lana Rogers is determined to take her stunning form to the Australian championships at her home beach in April, after clinching back-to-back Ironwoman Series titles.
The 24-year-old enhanced her reputation as Australia’s premier female surf sports star with a dominant showing on the professional circuit.
She won four of the six rounds and finished second in the other two, to finish on 118 points and 10 points clear of Georgia Miller at Kingscliff.
“It doesn’t feel real yet but it’s very special to me,” the Alexandra Headland athlete said.
Rogers is the first woman to claim back-to-back titles since 2012/2013, and Courtney Hancock called her after the final race on Sunday to congratulate her.
“That’s so cool,” Rogers said of the feat.
“I think I have grown as an athlete and I’ve grown up as well.
“I’m just starting to race smarter and understand the type of racing and training I need to be doing in order to win these races.”
She has now won the Australian ironwoman title (2018), the Coolangatta Gold (2019) and successive Ironwoman Series (2019/20 and 2020/21).
She’s intent on ticking off more big wins in the sport.
“I want to win titles multiple times,” she said.
“The Coolangatta Gold is my favourite race. Then I try not to put too much pressure on myself for the series, because it is very tricky. I’ve never stressed about winning a series title but they’re kind of coming to me unexpectedly so I’m happy with that.”
She’s eager to keep the good times coming at the state championships on the Gold Coast in March and then The Aussies, which will be held on the Sunshine Coast at Maroochydore, Alexandra Headland and Mooloolaba.
“We’re at the back-end of the season now but it’s also the most crucial part of the season,” she said.
“It’s local, so it’s huge for me. The Aussies doesn’t happen too often on the Sunny Coast.”
Rogers knows the battle for the Australian ironwoman title can be volatile.
“You can race well all week, but it sometimes doesn’t happen. The surf tends to pick up randomly … so you never know what you’re going to get.”
“But I’m very eager to get it (the Aussie ironwoman title) because I’m trying to tick off goals to make the history books.
“All the titles I have hold a special place in my heart and I want to keep going as best I can.”
Despite an already arduous summer, Rogers expects to be in great shape physically and mentally for the championships.
She’ll take a deserved week off now before preparing for states and Aussies.
Rogers is originally from Cronulla but spent a chunk of her youth in Rockhampton with Emu Park Surf Life Saving Club.
She and her family moved to Noosa five years ago and she spent four years at Noosa Heads Surf Life Saving Club, where she emerged as a star.
The Peregian Springs resident linked with one of the top clubs, Alexandra Headland, last off-season.
Several other Sunshine Coasters were involved in this summer’s series.
Maroochydore’s Tiarnee Massie showed her potential by finishing fifth and Alexandra Headland young guns Emma Woods and Tayla Halliday were sixth and eighth respectively.
Former Coaster Maddy Dunn was 11th and Noosa Heads’ Electra Outram was 17th.
In the men’s field, Alexandra Headland’s Cooper Williams was 20th.
Nutri-Grain Ironwoman Series final standings: L Rogers 118, G Miller 108, L Welborn 108, D McKenzie 90, T Massie 81, E Woods 78, J Smith 77, T Halliday 69, N Scott 68, C Hancock 58, M Dunn 57, M Spencer 56, H Sculley 43, B Cooper 43, C Papac 35, E Doyle 33, E Outram 26m J Hardstaff 12, C Cross 12, O Corin 8, L Derbyshire 1.
Nutri-Grain Ironman Series final standings: A Day 120, J Timperly 11, J Collins 93, M Bevilacqua 90, C Taylor 90, J Borg 86, M Poole 84, D Collings 77, Z Morris 77, J Maynard 67, W Gould 53, F Askew 49, T Hendy 43, J Furniss 40, N Gray 39, I Smith 32, K Kinsela 30, H White 28, C Verco 21, C Williams 18, T Lyndon 11.
