Alexandra Headland club coach Jack Hansen believes Lana Rogers made a smart call to avoid the lucrative Shannon Eckstein Classic and focus on defending the Ironwoman Series title.
The 23-year-old is in prime position to become the first athlete since Courtney Hancock in 2014 to go back-to-back in the elite summer competition.
She is on 59 points and five points clear of Newport’s Lizzie Welborn midway through this season’s six-round campaign, with Rounds 4, 5 and 6 to be contested at Kingscliff from Friday until Sunday.
Rogers was ultra-impressive during the opening rounds, finishing 1st, 1st and 2nd among 20 competitors at the same break.
“Lana’s a very well-rounded athlete. She doesn’t really have a weakness,” Hansen said.
“With the way she races, Kingscliff suits her. It’s hard work in flat surf and she’s a workhorse.”
Hansen said the signs were “super promising” for Rogers, especially with a condensed series this season.
“With these rounds being a fortnight later, there’s not a whole lot of work anyone can do to make changes in between (with fitness and skills),” he said.
The formats are similar to the opening rounds, which should also suit Rogers.
“I think she’ll go on with what she’s started and finish the series extremely well,” Hansen said.
“Series wins are hard to get and this year you need to have a good race in each round.
“But the conditions suit her and that element of luck is taken out of it, so as long as there’s no issues or malfunctions or dramas she’s definitely on her well to becoming the Ironwoman Series champion.”
Rogers opted not to compete in the rich Shannon Eckstein Classic at Northcliffe last weekend.
“It was due to size of the swell and she didn’t want to risk injury,” Hansen said.
“It was discussed on the day (of the race) and I think it was quite a smart decision in terms of keeping herself right for her priority a week later.”
Rogers had initially put the event in her busy schedule.
“It’s one you weigh up but racing in more than six feet of surf on the Gold Coast is always difficult and it can become anyone’s race.”
Hancock wound back the clock to win the women’s classic while Jackson Maynard caused a boilover in the men’s race.
“They (the two races) came back to skills, but they also came with a percentage of risk.
“For Lana and some others, they would have looked at whether it was worthwhile.
“Lana’s got her priorities set on what she wants to do, and I think being successful in major events is extremely important.”
Rogers has won the Australian ironwoman title (2018), the Coolangatta Gold (2019) and the Ironwoman Series (2019/2020).
A selection of Sunshine Coasters will compete in the remaining rounds of the Iron Series at Kingscliff, including Tiarnee Massie, Electra Outram, Emma Woods, Tayla Halliday and Cooper Williams.
Tiarn Raymond withdrew from the series before it started, with Hansen saying she could not fully commit this season.
Standings after three of six rounds, leading into the last three rounds this weekend.
Lana Rogers Alexandra Headland 59 points, Lizzie Welborn Newport 54, Georgia Miller Northcliffe 52, Harriet Brown Northcliffe 48, Danielle McKenzie Northcliffe 46, Jemma Smith Newport 43, Courtney Hancock Surfers Paradise 41, Tiarnee Massie Maroochydore 40, Emma Woods Alexandra Headland 34, Naomi Scott Manly 32, Maddy Dunn Northcliffe 30, Hannah Sculley Northcliffe 28, Tayla Halliday Alexandra Headland 27, Maddie Spencer Newport 21, Brielle Cooper Burleigh Heads/Mowbray Park 18, Carla Papac Wanda 17, Emily Doyle Newport 14, Electra Outram Noosa Heads 13, Olivia Corrin Northcliffe 8, Jayde Hardstaff Burleigh Heads/Mowbray Park 5.
