MERCURIAL MERCER EARLY FAVOURITE FOR 2008 nib COOLANGATTA GOLD

COOLANGATTA, September 9: Twenty years after winning his first Australian Ironman championship, the mercurial Dean Mercer will start an early favourite to take out the 2008 nib Coolangatta Gold crown when the iconic event is staged on the Gold Coast on October 19.

The absence of surf life saving's big guns Zane Holmes and Shannon Eckstein and the retirement of last year's winner Rhys Drury has opened the door for a number of the surf sports rising stars and a more agile Mercer to claim Ironman racing's test of the toughest - 46.65 kilometres of paddling, swimming and running from Surfers Paradise to Coolangatta and return.

But it could be the 38-year-old Ironman stalwart Mercer, who this season celebrates 20 years since he claimed his first Australian Open Ironman Championship back in 1989, who could well be the one to beat.

Training on the Sunshine Coast, the wiser father of three has admitted that the return of the iconic event back in 2005 and the chance to finally win "the big one" has kept him motivated and in the sport.

He finished fifth to Michael King in 1991, third to brother Darren back in 1992, fifth behind Caine Eckstein in 2005, third to Holmes in 2006 and fourth to Drury last year - maybe 2008 will be Deano's year.

"For me, the nib Coolangatta Gold is the event I love, the ultimate Ironman race," Mercer said.

"The profile of the event is wonderful and it's something the public and sport people can relate to. It's the event I am so passionate about and its re-birth has been the driving force behind bringing back the true essence of Ironman.

"It's such a physically and mentally demanding race and people have such a respect and passion for what it takes just to finish."

A long summer season that ended with the World Life Saving Championships in Germany last month is the main reason behind the absence of Holmes and Eckstein.

The World and Australian champion, Eckstein had been left with no option but to withdraw to resolve an ongoing artery compression complaint in his legs that will see him sidelined for the next month.

Throughout his illustrious surf career Mercer has unfinished business with the Coolangatta Gold as he prepares for his fifth tilt at the event.

"In the past I've had the wear and tear on my legs but I feel fantastic and a new training program has made me even more desperate to really want to win and if I don't I've always used it as a reason to come back and try again," said Mercer.

"The favourite tag means nothing in a race like this with so many factors and with no disrespect to Shannon or Zane but even if they were racing there would still be a mixture of youthful and experienced athletes in the field who could win this race on their day and I am just one of them.

"Never in my wildest dreams did I ever think I'd still be going 20 years on and for me I just love the racing and the adrenalin rush to show yourself and the world what you're capable of......bring it on."

Official entries for the 2008 nib Coolangatta Gold close this Wednesday 10th September.

The nib Coolangatta Gold is Australia's ultimate Ironman and Ironwoman endurance race. The event will take place on Queensland's Gold Coast and surrounding beaches on 19 October 2008.

For the second year running, the nib Coolangatta Gold will be open to entries to all elite athletes, not just members of surf life saving clubs.

For more details visit http://surfsports.slsa.com.au/

FAST FACTS....

nib Coolangatta Gold

WHEN:                    October 19, 2008

WHERE:                  Surfers Paradise, Gold Coast

START                       FROM 7am                    

OPEN MEN, MASTERS & TEAMS

Leg     1 SKI (Surfers Paradise to Greenmount 23km)

            2 RUN (Greenmount to Coolangatta 0.65km)

            3 SWIM (Coolangatta to Bilinga 3.50km)

            4 RUN (Bilinga to Currumbin 4.00)

            5 BOARD (Currumbin to Burleigh Heads 5.5km)

            6 RUN (Burleigh Heads to Surfers Paradise 10.00km)

            TOTAL 46.65km

OPEN WOMEN, MASTERS & U/19

Leg     1 SKI (Surfers Paradise to Currumbin SLSA15km)

            2 RUN (Currumbin SLSC to Currumbin Creek 1km)

            3 BOARD (Currumbin Creek to Burleigh Heads SLSC 4.5km)

            4 SWIM (Burleigh Heads SLSA to North Burleigh 2.5km)

            5 RUN (North Burleigh to surfers Paradise 7.5km)

            TOTAL 30.5km