ECKSTEIN SURVIVES SKI SPLIT TO KEEP ZANE AT BAY

Coolum, February 7:Three-time Series winner Shannon Eckstein overcame a cracked ski and a tumble off his board to beat arch-rival and Sunfish teammate Zane Holmes in a thrilling and unpredictable Kellogg's Ironman race at Coolum today.

Eckstein's damaged ski filled with water, making it impossible to steer, and then when he came off his board within sight of the finish and while just metres ahead of Holmes he miraculously bodysurfed the same wave that caused him to crash, to open up a winning 10 metre break. David Moase Reports....

"I was trying to get away from Zane because I didn't want a sprint up the beach but I couldn't," Eckstein said. "Catching that wave after I fell was a miracle.

"I couldn't really see where I was going because of the spray but I knew if I didn't go for the wave, Zane would win so it was over or nothing."

Eckstein is the master tactician and knew that he had to be careful how he approached today's race.

"When the surf's up it's just about being smart," he said.

"Sometimes you can't just sprint out, you have to stop and wait. If there are three waves coming, you stop and wait for three waves.

"If someone catches up there is not much you can do about it so it's about being smart, picking the right spot every time and just going for it with your instinct.

"You can't paddle through waves, no-one can."

Eckstein has been battling a back injury and needed a cortisone injection to get to the start line today.

Former national Ironman champion Nathan Smith (Blue Fins) finished third today, with Luke Nisbet (Waves) improving on his previous efforts to place fourth and beat home Hugh Dougherty (Hammers) fifth, Matt Poole (Hammers) sixth, Corey Jones (Lightning) seventh and Berg (Blue Fins) eighth.

Eckstein (53 points) now has a two-point lead over Holmes in the Ironman series, with Poole (Lightning) third on 41.

The board rescue and Taplin relay events scheduled for today were cancelled because of the conditions, with Surf Life Saving Australia General Manager of Surf Sports, Grant Baldock, saying he expected a full program to be raced tomorrow when the Ironmen and Ironwomen compete in a two-race elimination format.

The fourth round of the Kellogg's Nutri-Grain Series will be raced at Coolum tomorrow, with the series final scheduled for Coogee on Sunday, February 22.