Kellogg's Nutri-Grain Ironman Series
The 'Kellogg's Nutri-Grain IronMan and IronWoman Series is a professional iron man and iron women racing series, born out of surf live saving.
The 2013/2014 season will be televised on Channel 9's Wide World of Sports on Sundays, consecutive Sundays starting from January 19.
This year's series will visit 3 destinations in search of bigger surf and more exciting racing. Rounds 1 & 2 of the series will be held at Smiths Beach in the Margaret River region of South West Western Australia. Rounds 3, 4 & 5 will be raced in Newcastle at Newcastle Beach. The sixth and final round will be held at Coolum Beach on February 23.
IronMan legend Shannon Eckstein will be the man to beat in the IronMan Series as he looks for his 8th series title. Chasing him down will be veteran competitors Ky Hurst, Wes Berg, Nathan Smith and Shannon's brother Caine Eckstein, as well as a host of young guns lead by Kendrick Louis, Matt Poole and Tanyn Lyndon.
The IronWoman Series will be headed by reigning champion and two time series winner Courtney Hancock. Hancock will be challenged in this series Liz Pluimers and Kristyl Smith, both returning to the sport after a year off. Jordan Mercer, Maddy Dunn and Rebecca Creedy will also mount strong challenges for the series title.
History
Professional ironman racing was born out of the movie The Coolangatta Gold which featured multiple Australian Ironman champion Grant Kenny and was won by Guy Leech. With significant media attention beginning to grow, Surf Life Saving Australia established the ‘Kellogg’s Nutri-Grain Grand Prix’ in 1986. The aim of the series was to generate a high public profile and showcase for the sport, the athletes and the surf life saving movement.
Over the years the Kellogg’s Nutri-Grain IronMan Series has evolved, testing and challenging athletes through different formats and styles of racing. While the Series has continued to evolve with varying formats, competitors and venues, one key element of IronMan and IronWoman racing has remained – the surf. The Kellogg’s Nutri-Grain IronMan Series puts Australia’s top multi-discipline athletes through their paces, forcing them to take on the best and worst mother nature has to throw at them.
For almost 30 years, Kellogg’s have partnered with Surf Life Saving Australia to deliver this sporting event that has not only produced some of Australia’s finest and fittest athletes, but has also helped drive membership for Surf Life Saving. The Kellogg’s Nutri-Grain IronMan Series and IronWoman Series has grown to become the world’s elite surf sports competition and one of summer’s most iconic events – where only the best of the best have their chance to claim the prize pool, the glory and the prestige of being the crowned the Series Champion. It is survival of the fittest.
Formats
The Nutri-Grain IronMan and IronWoman Series is contested over a various race formats which help to create an even playing field for the competitors.
Loop Format
Description: A continuous race over a conventional IronMan course, swim, board, ski and run. Each 'Loop' consists of one lap of each discipline. A race may consist of three Loops for men and two loops for women, depending on conditions and the course. The order of the disciplines in the race will vary depending on the event.
Eliminator
Description: An exciting three race format, where the last five finishers are knocked out and don't compete in the next race. Each race is a traditional race, on a shorter course, over the three disciplines. E.g. Race 1: 16 Competitors, 5 eliminated. Race 2: 11 Competitors, 5 eliminated. Race 3: Final 6 competitors. Points are awarded to all competitors in the finishing order.
M-Shape
Description: A continuous race over a modified course, where the competitors round 3 markers, two beyond the swell, and one on the beach. A race may consist of three loops for men and two for women, depending on conditions and the course.
Points
Since 2011/12, the following points awarded for each competitor are as follows:
| 1st | 20 |
| 2nd | 17 |
| 3rd | 15 |
| 4th | 13 |
| 5th | 12 |
| 6th | 11 |
| 7th | 10 |
| 8th | 9 |
| 9th | 8 |
| 10th | 7 |
| 11th | 6 |
| 12th | 5 |
| 13th | 4 |
| 14th | 3 |
| 15th | 2 |
| 16th | 1 |
Series results (top five)
| Season | Competitors | Winner | Second | Third | Fourth | Fifth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 (men)[1] | 25 | Shannon Eckstein | Hugh Dougherty | Ky Hurst | Rhys Drury | Corey Jones |
| 2010 (women)[1] | 23 | Alicia Marriott | Liz Pluimers | Naomi Flood | Kristyl Smith, Hayley Bateup (tied) | |
| 2010/11 (men)[2] | 21 | Shannon Eckstein | Matt Poole | Zane Holmes | Caine Eckstein | Hugh Dougherty, Wes Berg (tied) |
| 2010/11 (women)[3] | 21 | Courtney Hancock | Liz Pluimers | Alicia Marriot | Kristyl Smith | Gemma Newbiggin |
| 2011/12 (men)[4] | 21 | Caine Eckstein | Alastair Day | Shannon Eckstein | Ky Hurst | Zane Holmes |
| 2011/12 (women)[5] | 21 | Liz Pluimers | Kristyl Smith | Courtney Hancock | Jordan Mercer | Brodie Moir |
| 2012/13 (men)[6] | 17 | Shannon Eckstein | Kendrick Louis | Alastair Day | Matt Poole | Ky Hurst |
| 2012/13 (women)[7] | 17 | Courtney Hancock | Naomi Flood | Brodie Moir | Jordan Mercer | Rebecca Creedy |
In the 2010/11 series, Pluimers won four of the five rounds, but her 17th-place finish in the fourth round meant she finished second in the series, six points behind series winner Courtney Hancock.[3]
See also
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 2010 series results.
- ↑ 2010/2011 Kellogg's Nutri-Grain Series Men's Results.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 2010/2011 Kellogg's Nutri-Grain Series Women's Results.
- ↑ 2011/2012 Kellogg's Nutri-Grain Series Men's Results.
- ↑ 2011/2012 Kellogg's Nutri-Grain Series Women's Results.
- ↑ 2012/2013 Men's Results.
- ↑ 2012/2013 Women's Results.