GOLD COAST PAIR TO LOCK HORNS IN OUTRIGGER MARATHON IN COFFS HARBOUR

Outrigger Canoe, December 9: Gold Coast pair Greg Long and Travis Grant are preparing to continue their ocean paddling rivalry when Australia's finest outrigger canoeists join a host of Hawaiians for the Australian Outrigger Canoe Racing Association's (AOCRA) National Marathon OC1 and OC 2 Championships in Coffs Harbour this weekend.

Defending champion Long, formerly from Cronulla but now firmly entrenched as part of the Outrigger Australia Canoe Club on the Gold Coast has again emerged as the man to beat after his wins over the 25km distance in 2005, 2007, 2008 and 2009.

But he won't arrive into Coffs Harbour until the last minute on Saturday morning after flying in from the North West Shelf where he works on the off shore gas platform via Perth and Brisbane.

 "I will drive down to Coffs Harbour on the morning of the race, jump on the canoe and see how I go - I'll be relying a lot on experience and cross training," said the 32-year-old former fitness instructor who is one of the world's most renowned paddlers.

Grant, 28, is the man most likely to cause an upset after finishing third last year to Long and Hawaiian ace Pat Dolan and second to Long in 2008.

"I have not beaten Greg since I last won the race in 2006 and I'm sure it's going to be on again when  the gun goes on Saturday morning," said Grant.

"It is going to be paddler who has the smartest race, particularly not knowing what the conditions will be like.

"But what is interesting about Outrigging, the uncertainty of the ocean - you never know what direction you will be travelling until the day of the race and whether it will be surf or flat water.

The 25-km OC1 downwind championship is set to start at 11.30 am on Saturday between Coffs Harbour and Woolgoolga, depending on the wind direction.

One of the world's most respected outrigger exponents, long-standing Gold Coast Lifeguard, Ocean man and  Currumbin surf coach Chris Maynard can't split the pair.

"It is going to be a great duel between Travis and Greg, a real toss of a coin; it's going to be a cracker of a race," said Maynard, a shock withdrawal from the race with an injured thumb.

"The Hawaiians, like Kai Bartlett will certainly be tough to beat again, as they always are and also keep you eye on Sunshine Coast's Todd Cohen."

Maynard, a paddler synonymous with Outrigging in Australia and around the world, returned from the Vaka Eiva event in Cook Islands two weeks ago only to damage his thumb paddling in big surf at Brunswick Heads last Saturday.

"Makes it a big hard when you can't hold the paddle, so I'll have to opt out this weekend which is a real shame, I love nothing more than getting out and mixing it with the boys," Maynard said.

The women's race will feature defending champion, Hawaiian Olympic kayaker and one of the world's finest Kai Bartlett and a host of Australians, including mother and daughter combination from Coffs Harbour, Gail Mills-Thom and 17-year-old daughter Jesse Mills-Thom.

Joining them will be Port Macquarie's rising star Lauren Grant, Sonia Adams (Mooloolaba) and veteran Andrea Polkinghorne (Coffs Harbour).

• The  majority of the open paddlers will then back up for the 12km Stand Up Paddle event on Sunday from 10am.
• The activities will get underway tomorrow Friday with a Stand Up Paddle Expression Session between 2 and 3pm at the North Wall at Coffs Harbour Jetty.

RACE INFORMATION

The 25km Long Course will remain a downwind race between Coffs Harbour and Woolgoolga, this race will take priority in relation to weather conditions.

The race is scheduled for the Saturday, December 12, however the program may be altered in the event of adverse weather conditions.

All age divisions will be eligible for National Medals in the Long Course (provided there are three participants or more in the division).

The Short Course will be a 12k downwind race between Sawtell and Coffs Harbour scheduled for Sunday.

All age divisions will be eligible for National Medals in the Short Course (provided there are 3 participants or more in the division).

(Please consult the Full Race Program on www.coffsoutriggers.com )

NATIONAL SELECTION EVENT

The 25km Iron event is a National Selection Event. The first 12 competitors for each gender over the line (including open/master/senior master/golden master) will qualify for the National Team training squad. AOCRA is supporting an Open Men's and Open Women's team to attend the Molokai Changeover races in Hawaii. Initially 24 paddlers (each of men and women) will be selected to train as the national squad via a selection process.