SURVIVAL OF THE FITTEST IN KELLOGG'S NUTRI-GRAIN IRON MAN ELIMINATOR

Coogee, February 18: Thirty-six of Australia's fittest surf sports athletes will line up in Sunday's $200,000 Kellogg's Ironman final at Coogee to determine who will be crowned the Series king and queen for 2009.

 In the opening four rounds there has seen crashing at Kurrawa and carnage at Coolum - it's now a case of survival at Coogee.

 The 18 men and women will battle it out over three gruelling elimination races as the fields are reduced to 12 and then to six for the grand finale - a double points round that will determine this year's winners.

Last year it was Zane Holmes (Telstra Southern Queensland Sunfish) who pulled out the big guns in the men's final to win the coveted crown from Series leader and team mate Shannon Eckstein.

 In the women's Australian champion Alicia Marriott (Jeep Western Waves) edged in front of Series winner Elizabeth Pluimers (Telstra Southern Queensland Sunfish) in a thrilling women's final.

 But who will be crowned the king and queen of Coogee in 2009? Can Eckstein regain the men's title from Holmes or will a young gun rule the waves and in the women - can Series leader Naomi Flood (Inner Health Plus Northern NSW Hammers) hold the field at bay?

 They are just some of the questions to be answered when the gun fires at 1pm this Sunday.

 Round four winner Matt Poole is hoping a host of friends and family will lift him for his return to Sydney for the big race.

 The former Dee Why and Queenscliff junior has made his name on the Sunshine Coast this season but will represent the Inner Health Plus Northern NSW Hammers - who are currently leading the coveted team pointscore.

 "My sister Eliza and her friends and some of my mates will all be dressed in NSW colours - I'm sure you will notice them," said Poole.

 "It is exciting to be racing in Sydney where I grew up and knowing there will be heaps of support - I'm really looking forward to it."

 Meanwhile Chelsea MacKenzie (Express Glass Southern Blue Fins) and Hayley Bateup (DHL Southern Ice), who were both carried from the water in separate incidents over the Coolum weekend, have both declared they are definite starters.

Bateup suffered a burst eardrum when she rolled her board under a three-metre wave, snapping it in two in a treacherous round three.

 But true to form, Bateup returned to the water with her head covered to tame the wild surf and finish third to Flood and Courtney Hancock in round four.

 She put the finishing touches to her preparation on the Gold Coast today, with a craft session in Currumbin Creek, her head still covered with two silicone swims cap.

 "I felt a little shaky for a few days after the race but eased my way back into training and this week I have felt much better, I'll be ready to race," said Bateup.

"I tried to paddle out through the Currumbin Alley earlier in the week on my board and had to roll so I have restricted my training to the Creek but all I want to do is survive until the final six and then have a real crack."

 MacKenzie was carried from the surf during round four after her foot was caught in the foot-straps of her ski, wrenching the upper part of her foot and also chipping a bone in her big toe.

 "I only started running on Tuesday - that's the first time I've felt comfortable enough to run and although I started in shoes, I actually felt better running without the shoes on the beach," said MacKenzie.

 "I have been able to do everything else, swim and paddle my craft so that's been fine - although I was a little tentative in the surf."

 The beach activities start at Coogee from 12 noon with racing due to begin from 1pm.