A former Ironwoman prodigy, who left the elite ranks to pursue her Olympic dreams, has returned to her roots.
Alyssa Bull is ready to take on the nation’s best surf lifesavers again, seven years after she last appeared in the Kellogg’s Nutri-Grain Ironwoman Series.
The 26-year-old was awarded a wildcard entry into this summer’s competition, after impressing in trials.
The Alexandra Headland Surf Life Saving Club member was delighted to claim a berth in the elite six-round format, which will feature Australia’s top 20 Ironwomen.
“I’m really excited about it,” she said.
“I had to work (as a firefighter) on the second day of the trials, but I did what I could on the first day and I hoped they (wildcard selectors) liked what they saw.
“I feel very lucky to be able to receive the wildcard and I’m looking forward to the summer of racing.”
Bull will essentially rewind the clock to compete in the series.
She was one of surf lifesaving’s rising stars as a teenager, earning her place in the series for 2012/2013 and 2013/2014.
Bull won a round of the series, at Noosa, in her maiden season and she appeared destined for a huge future in the sport.
But she made the bold decision to turn her attention to kayaking instead.
She moved to the Gold Coast to train with national squad members and it didn’t take long for her to make an impact on the lake.
Bull earned a surprise selection for the 2016 Olympic Games at Rio de Janeiro, where she combined with fellow Sunshine Coaster Alyce Wood to reach the final of the K2 500.
She continued to impress in kayaking and claimed a berth at the 2020 Games in Tokyo, where she competed in K1 and K2 events.
But she had always yearned for a return to the top echelon of surf lifesaving and the summer of 2021/22 represented the perfect opportunity for a comeback.
“It (surf sports) is what I grew up doing and it was the beginning of my athletic career,” she said.
“I’m really excited to go back to where it all started.
“It (surf sports) is a great way to be fit and healthy, and I think it’s important to take a bit of time to do what I really love before the next Olympic campaign.
“It’s not that I don’t love kayaking, but I have just had a long five-year cycle for it and it was full-on. Now, I can have a bit of a mental break from it.”
Bull forged a passion for the surf as a youngster when her parents enrolled her as a nipper at the age of six.
Even after she switched her focus to kayaking, she competed in surf lifesaving events when she could, in ski and team events.
“But it’s a bit different lining up to do iron racing again,” she said.
“Getting back into the pool for a couple of training sessions a week has been interesting.
“I’m not sure that was an aspect I missed,” she laughed.
“I’m definitely not swimming the way I used to but I’m trying my best.
“I’m just happy to be back. I always wanted to have another crack.”
Bull is also juggling her surf lifesaving and kayaking with her work as a firefighter.
“I absolutely love my job, so it’s not a hard thing to get out of bed to come to work,” she said.
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She fits training sessions around work.
“It does get pretty busy and full-on but when you really enjoy what you’re doing, it’s not hard work,” she said.
She said there were some similarities with work and surf lifesaving.
“You’ve got to keep your brain switched on and do your best,” she said.
Bull is among a handful of Sunshine Coast athletes who are set to compete in the series.
Nutri-Grain Series details
- Sunshine Coast competitors – Ironmen: Adam Palmer, Hayden Cotter (Maroochydore). Ironwomen: Lana Rogers, Aly Bull, Emma Woods, Tayla Halliday (Alexandra Headland), Tiarnee Massie (Maroochydore).
- Nutri-Grain Series schedule – Rounds 1, 2, 3 at North Bondi Beach, January 14-16. Rounds 4-6 at Kurrawa Beach, February 4-6. Events will be live on the Nine Network
