Two rising stars of the surf are poised to make their debuts in the Ironman Series, after emerging from a cut-throat qualifying event.
Maroochydore surf lifesavers Adam Palmer and Hayden Cotter claimed their berths in this summer’s elite six-round campaign, after finishing in the top seven of the trials at Tugun.
Both have overcome setbacks during the past year, to force their way on to the big stage.
“It hasn’t really sunk in yet but I’m super excited,” 19-year-old Adam said.
“I’ve grown up watching the Nutri-Grain Ironman Series on TV, and this was my third attempt at the trials, so it means a lot to be in the series and racing with the big boys, like Ali Day and Matt Bevilacqua.”
Adam first showed promise by winning the under-17 ski and board titles at the 2019 national championships.
He said he’d matured as a racer in recent seasons.
“Each year you get a bit more determined.”
“Last year, I did the Nutri-Grain Next-Gen Series and I ended up coming second by one point, so missed out on qualifying for the Ironman Series by one point.
“I then put my head down and I decided to train hard and make it through the trials, so I am pretty happy I was able to do that.”
Adam has been involved in the sport, at the same club, since he was six years old.
“Dad (Rob) chucked me in the ocean and I’ve grown up there,” he said.
He can credit his brother Matt, 21, for helping him earn a spot in the series.
“We’ve always been together in the surf from the get-go,” Adam said.
“Training with him, you don’t get a better training atmosphere.
“You get that aggression … and it has definitely helped me out.
“It’s been a bit of a rivalry. We just want to beat each other.
“But at the end of the day, we want to be in the series together, and racing together.”
About 90 men competed for seven qualifying spots at the trials in Tugun.
Adam finished fourth, while Matt reached the 20-man final.
“I think he’s a bit disappointed he didn’t get in,” Adam said.
“But he’s happy that at least one of us got in and he can strive for it next year.”
Adam, who hails from Mountain Creek State High School and lives at Maroochy Waters, will be busy in the new year.
He’s set to start to an electrical apprenticeship and he his brother will also have commitments as casual lifeguards at Maroochydore.
Meanwhile, Hayden’s qualification in the series helped ease the pain of missing out on an Olympics berth.
The 20-year-old from Currimundi just missed out being selected for a key Tokyo qualifying event, in open water swimming.
So he was pleased to rebound in surf lifesaving and he was looking forward to competing against the best ironman athletes in the country.
“I’ve known them all for a while now and I’ve looked up to a few of them too, so it will be good to actually get on the line and start racing them all,” he said.
Hayden started surf lifesaving at Mooloolaba, in under-8s, before switching to Maroochydore as a 14-year-old.
He developed a reputation as one of the best open water swimmers in the country and pressed serious claims for a place in the Olympic team for Tokyo.
“That was definitely the focus and I ended up just missing out by one spot to go to the Olympic qualifier,” he said.
“After that, I just started to focus on ironman racing.
“It’s good to have something to do as well as open water swimming, to have something to fall back on, or do at the same time.
“Instead of just struggling with being close to the Olympics, I was able to just dig in and do something else.”
And Hayden’s improved in surf lifesaving.
“I just learnt how to ski paddle, to be honest,” he said.
“I’ve just started to train on it and (Maroochydore ski coach) Glen Pickering has helped me a bit, so I’m getting better and hopefully I can keep improving.”
He claimed the seventh and last qualifying berth for this summer’s series, with a determined effort at Tugun.
Hayden will remain committed to open water swimming, with an eye on qualifying for the 2022 world championships.
He will also study business and commerce at the University of the Sunshine Coast and he has recently opened a cleaning business called Cotter’s Cleaning.
Other series entrants
Several Sunshine Coasters automatically earned berths in the Ironwoman Series, after faring well in last season’s edition.
They include Maroochydore’s Tiarnee Massie and Alexandra Headland’s Emma Woods, Tayla Halliday and Lana Rogers. The latter is the reigning champion.
Alexandra Headland’s Alyssa Bull looks to have secured a place in the series as a wildcard.
It’s yet to be announced, but her profile is already on the series website and a Surf Life Saving Australia official told sunshinecoastnews.com.au that she would compete.
Bull is coming off the back of an appearance at the Tokyo Games, where she featured in kayaking.
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The 2021/2022 Iron series will include stops at North Bondi for Rounds 1-3 (January 14-16) and at Kurrawa for Rounds 4-6 (February 5-7).
There is a total of $200,000 on offer for athletes.
All rounds will be broadcast live on the Channel 9 Network from 11am-1pm (AEDT).
In conjunction with the series, Surf Life Saving Australia will also run the Nutri-Grain Next-Gen Series for males and females aged U17 and U19, as a curtain raiser event, as well as a Super Surf Teams League event.
