Electra Outram is savouring back-to-back wins in a famous surf sport race, after a disrupted lead-up.
The Sunshine Beach local, who is a member at Noosa Heads Surf Life Saving Club, clinched her second straight win in the iconic Coolangatta Gold.
Outram ran away from Charlotte Hart to win by more than one minute, in in 2hr47min2sec.
“There’s always a little bit of pressure when you are the defending title-holder,” the 25-year-old said.
“However, I was sick last week so I kind of went back to ground zero and went out there to race without any expectations on myself.
“I think that really helped me push through at the end.”
The shortened 25.6km course – about half the length of the traditional event – introduced last year proved a spectacle in what also served as the opening event to the Iron Series.
It was also a taste of what could be to come in 2032, with lifesaving among the sports bidding to be part of Brisbane’s Olympics.
“I’m really excited to be able to defend my title,” Outram said after the event, which included ski, swim, board and run legs.
“It’s such a hard race and it’s tough going out there.”
“My run and my board are my strongest legs so my race plan was to conserve energy early on and not spend too many biccies, and then come on really hard at the end when everyone else is starting to fall apart.”
Matt Bevilacaqua won the men’s event in 2hr28min15sec, 14 seconds ahead of Sean Rielly.
His win came after runner-up finishes in the past four years behind Ali Day, who retired after winning for the 11th time last year.
The Iron Series next moves to Thirroul in NSW for rounds two and three next month.
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