Reigning champions Ali Day and Lana Rogers have continued their dominance, taking out Round 1 of the Shaw and Partners Iron Series at Wanda Beach today.

It was a survival of the fittest, with the Eliminator format testing competitors’ endurance, speed and power.

After winning yesterday’s Endurosurf race, Day was determined to make his mark on the competition. Cruising through the first two races, it all came together in today’s last race for Day who crossed the line in first ahead of Joe Collins (Northcliffe) in second, and Conner Maggs (Newport).

A combined point score determined Day as the overall champion, Collins in second and Next Gen athlete Ethan Callaghan (Burleigh Heads Mowbray Park) rounding out the Round 1 podium in third.

“When there’s 28 blokes in the water and you’re all going to a can only 100m off the beach, there’s so many people (going over the top of) one another out there,” Day said.

“By the third race, you just have to give it all you’ve got. I wanted to get back on the plane tonight, heading into Christmas knowing I gave everything,” he said.

For the second day in a row, Day was pushed right up until the end by the next generation of ironmen.

“It was close coming in on that board. I thought Joe (Collins) and Conner (Maggs) were going to come over the top of me, but I got this tiny runner that took me to the beach and gave me enough. I’m stoked to get another win.”

“I want to carry some confidence into Newcastle and for the rest of the events of the season, so I’m stoked with that,” he said.

A grind from start to finish saw Lana Rogers crowned Round 1 champion in the Ironwoman race.

Rogers remained in the lead pack for the entirety of the last race, before coming together with Newport Ironwoman Lizzie Welborn on the last wave of the day…a sprint up the beach deciding the champion.

Rogers stood atop of the podium, with Welborn taking out second place in Round 1 followed by Maroochydore’s Tiarnie Massie in third.

“It’s so crazy. I didn’t expect it at all. I’m very optimistic about this Series and just wanted to go in and get back to what I do best and lock in and just refocus on what I have to do out there,” Rogers said.

“Things happen in strange ways. I wanted to lock in and see what I could do. I know I didn’t have a lot of confidence coming into this race, but I wanted to rebuild, and it’s just made me a little bit more resilient, so again, I’m really happy with the outcome,” Rogers said.

With a few weeks until the next race, Rogers said she’s not finished just yet.

“I’ve got one more carnival coming up next weekend at the World Ocean Series down in South Australia, so it should be a good last hit out for the year.

“Then I’m going to head up to Newcastle in January so that will be a lot of fun,” she said.

The Shaw and Partners Iron Series will move to Newcastle (NSW) for Round 2 on 11-12 January 2025.