ALICIA STARTS HER BACK-TO-BACK CHALLENGE

Scarborough Beach, WA, March 19: Defending Australian Ironwoman champion Alicia Marriott says the chance to go ‘back-to-back' in front of her home crowd at the 2009 Whereis® Australian Surf Life Saving Championships in Perth is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

Marriott today moved smoothly through the first round of the Ironwoman, winning her heat in calm conditions which were in stark contrast to yesterday's pounding surf.

Surf legends Karla Gilbert and Kerri Thomas are the only athletes in history to successful defend the title and Marriott has the added incentive to do it at home.

"That would be an amazing feeling to go back-to-back with the Aussies but right now I'm just trying to take it one day at a time and get through the preliminaries," the 23-year-old said.

All the favourites progressed to Saturday's semi-finals without incident, with Marriott and City of Perth team-mate Candice Falzon both winning their heats. 

Falzon, had been ninth after the opening ski leg, second after a great swim and then hit the front and held it on the board.

Two of the main challengers to Marriott's title, Naomi Flood of Manly and Kurrawa's Hayley Bateup didn't need to compete having been seeded straight through to the semi-finals courtesy of their one-two finish in Wednesday's Interstate championships.

As for Marriot she is trying to keep expectations in check.

"There are so many girls who could win, the list just goes on and on," she said.

"Apart from Naomi, who's done a bit better, everyone else is quite level, but Naomi is definitely the one to beat."

Superstar Clint Robinson made a predictable winning start to the open single ski and then hinted the time may soon come for him to finally bring down the curtain on the most successful career in surf lifesaving history.

The Barcelona Olympic gold medallist, who has won a staggering 36 National titles (which just happens to match his age) lived up to his reputation leading from start to finish in his opening heat.

"It's just great to get in the water and get one under the belt without getting into any drama," Robinson said.

The man mountain from Maroochydore was professionally quick off the beach and never headed, easing up into the wave area before picking up a small swell to carrying him through to the next round.  

Asked how long he could go on winning at the highest level, Robinson was circumspect.

"Internationally I'm concentrating on the longer kayak races these days," he said.

"As for surf I just love paddling, love coming down and being with my mates but with other things like family and all that's important in life I will have to think about it."

Pressed on when that would be, Robinson gave a smile and suggested it may be "sooner rather than later".

He was accompanied into the second round of the ski championship by many of his Beijing Olympic Games kayaking teammates, including David Smith (Kurrawa), Tony Schumacher (Cronulla) and Tate Smith (Northcliffe).

Beijing gold medallist Ken Wallace (Tugun) did not make it to the start line today after injuring his back during last week's Australian kayak championships.

ENDS...