The full field for the 2022/23 Nutri-Grain IronMan and IronWoman Series has today been confirmed, with a massive summer of surf sports set to unfold.
Carla Papac (Noosa Heads), Grace Harris (Alexandra Headland), Jay Furniss (Cronulla) and Cory Taylor (Northcliffe) were awarded wildcard spots following last weekend’s Trial, to confirm the final field of 20 ironmen and 20 ironwomen.
Forty of the fittest and fastest athletes from across the country will go head-to-head across three of Australia’s most iconic beaches in the six round Series, live and free on SBS and Fox Sports.
Defending Nutri-Grain IronMan champion Ali Day (Surfers Paradise) said he is excited for an action packed summer.
“I’ve been doing it for a long time now but the excitement to come back year after year is obviously still there,” said Day.
“It was great to see so many kids wanting to qualify for the Series at the Trial on the weekend, it shows the sport is in such a healthy place at the moment and it is going to be a super competitive season.
“I think it’s really cool that we get to go and race at some different beaches this year. I love racing in New South Wales, I’ve got a connection to that place,” added Day who grew-up and began as a nipper on the South Coast of New South Wales.
2021/22 Nutri-Grain IronWoman champion and current world champion Harriet Brown (Northcliffe), is also looking forward to the summer ahead after recently returning from the 2022 World Lifesaving Championships where she co-captained the Australian Lifesaving Team.
“I’m really excited for this year, I just love racing and I look forward to every summer,” said Brown. “It always gets exciting when it starts to roll around and even now with the Trial on the weekend… everyone is starting to get nervous, I think the build-up is really cool”.
Local Manly ironman Kendrick Louis is excited to kick off the season on his home turf on Sydney’s northern beaches.
I’m really excited to be racing on my home beach in Manly. I’ve got a lot of family and friends, the surf club and local supporters who will come and cheer us on. I really hope the local community get around it and activate the event,” said Louis.
“It’s always amazing having rounds in Sydney. Last year we had a couple of rounds at Bondi, this year we have Manly and Maroubra.
“I have competed at Maroubra around 15 years ago now, so it’s been a long time between drinks and I’m looking forward to getting back down there…hopefully it throws up a few waves,” he said.
Nutri-Grain Iron Series Broadcaster SBS and major sponsor Kellogg are equally as excited about the upcoming season.
SBS Director of Sport, Ken Shipp said, “SBS is proud to bring the Nutri-Grain IronMan and IronWoman Series to Australian audiences this summer. As part of SBS’s ongoing commitment to invest in a diverse catalogue of sports, we can’t wait to give audiences a front row seat to all the action of this exciting, grueling and iconic Australian event.
“The series will see some of the biggest names in surf sport, and heroes of our beaches, put their passion, dedication and training to the test and battle it out on sand and sea,” he said.
“It’s an inspiration to see these amazing young lifesavers, taking on all conditions and so determined to achieve their dreams” added Natasha Sunderland, Kellogg Australia Marketing Manager, Core Breakfast.
In just over one month, Round 1 and 2 will be held at the iconic Manly in Sydney’s Northern Beaches, on the 17-18 of December 2022.
The Nutri-Grain Series will then head to Sydney’s eastern suburbs, with Rounds 3 and 4 to be raced on the sands of Maroubra Beach, from 14-15 January 2023.
It will all come to a head on the Gold Coast’s Kurrawa Beach, with the final two rounds to be held on 4-5 February 2023.
The 2022/23 Nutri-Grain IronMan and IronWoman Series will be broadcast LIVE on SBS and Fox Sports.
Round 1 & 2 | Sat 17 Dec + Sun 18 Dec | Manly Beach (NSW) | 12.30pm – 2.30pm AEDT
Round 3 & 4 | Sat 14 Jan + Sun 15 Jan | Maroubra Beach (NSW) | 1pm – 3pm AEDT
Round 5 & 6 | Sat 4 Feb + Sun 5 Feb | Kurrawa Beach (QLD) | 1pm – 3pm AEDT
To view the full field of athletes for the 2022/23 Nutri-Grain IronMan and IronWoman Series – CLICK HERE.
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