DYNAMIC DEAN EYES WINNING FAREWELL AT COOLUM

Coolum, February 6: Ironman legend Dean Mercer hopes to farewell his home fans with a blast from the past in rounds three and four of the Kellogg's Nutri-Grain Series at Coolum Beach this weekend.

Mercer, at 39, the grand old man of the Kellogg's Nutri-Grain Ironman series, today confirmed this will be his last season of top-line competition. DAVID MOASE REPORTS...

After more than 20 years of racing against some of the biggest names in surf sports, the relentless competitor has decided to spend more time with his growing family - wife Reen and sons Brayden, Rory and Lachlan.

"This will be my last year and it's only just crossed my mind that it will be my last time competing in the Kellogg's Nutri-Grain Series at home here on the Sunshine Coast," said Mercer, who is racing the series as part of the Citizen Northern Queensland Lightning team.

"I'm very happy with the decision and as a result I'm now a bit more relaxed and less intense when I'm competing.

"I still have a burning ambition to train and to race but the work and maintenance needed to keep your form that comes naturally when you are 21 is harder now.

"When you get bashed in the surf these days it takes longer to get back up and dust yourself off."

Mercer is a two-time Australian Ironman champion and completed his first Kellogg's Nutri-Grain Ironman race at just 15 years of age.

More than two decades later he is still immensely tough to beat, finishing ninth in round one of the series at Kurrawa last month and fifth in round two.

Heading into this weekend's rounds he is in fifth place in the series, seven points behind series leader Shannon Eckstein (Telstra Southern Queensland Sunfish).

While many of his rivals weren't even born when Mercer's face first appeared on Kellogg's Nutri-Grain packet, he still has hopes of farewelling the home crowd with a win.

"It would be great for a Sunshine Coast local to win and it would be great if it can be me, I'd take that," he said.

"There is some great young talent coming through the ranks and the young guys are starting to show that they will be a big threat to the established stars.

"I'd like to continue to contribute to the series in some way but for now I'm happy to step away for a while."

Round three on Saturday will be raced on an extended M-shaped Ironman course, with Sunday's round four raced in the exhausting eliminator format.

Big waves are predicted for Coolum this weekend, making things even tougher for the sport's elite competitors - and thrilling for the spectators.

The conditions are sure to prove particularly testing for the competitors in the Ironwoman series but the prospect has Mercer's Citizen Lightning teammate Allira Richardson grinning with delight.

"It's going to be carnage out there if the waves are big - it'll be great!" Richardson said.

"I grew up in a small coastal town where the surf was always big and I love it."

Richardson needs to make home beach advantage work in her favour this weekend if she is to make up ground on the leaders of the women's series, Kristyl Smith (Express Glass Southern NSW Blue Fins), who won rounds one and two, Naomi Flood (Inner Health Plus Northern NSW Hammers) and Terri Sullivan (Telstra Southern QLD Sunfish).

She will be lifted by the support of local surf fans, especially the ranks of the sport's Nippers who have been lining the course in each round.

"It will be great to have the Nippers here supporting us, along with our family and friends," Richardson said.

"Having the Nippers cheering us on really lifts your spirit."

Mercer and Richardson will be looking for big efforts from Citizen Lightning teammates Gemma and Dylan Newbiggin and Chloe and Corey Jones to lift them up the teams points score.

The Citizen Northern QLD Lightning are in fifth place on five points after the first two rounds, trailing the Inner Health Plus Northern NSW Hammers and Telstra Southern QLD Sunfish (10 points), Express Glass Southern NSW Blue Fins (9), DHL Southern Ice (6) and Jeep Western Waves (2).

This weekend's rounds will be followed by the climax of the Kellogg's Nutri-Grain Series at Coogee on Sunday, February 22.