OLD MAN OF THE SEA
Scarborough, WA, March 20: Ironman legend Dean Mercer turned back time at the 2009 Whereis® Australian Surf Life Saving Championships, at Scarborough in Western Australia leaving even the most cynical on the beach daring to dream that perhaps there is a chance for a fairytale farewell.
At 39 Mercer, who first won the Aussie Ironman title 20 years ago, left a top class field in his wake winning his opening heat by more than 100 meters.
In his final shot at the title Mercer looked awesome, taking the lead in the opening ski leg, before putting the issue beyond doubt with a magical piece of body surfing that drew gasps from the crowd and left him well in front going into the final board leg.
"It's good to get a wave like that, makes you look a bit better than your are sometimes as well, but it was nice," Mercer said
As Mercer crossed the finish line with minor place getters Manly's Jonathon Stark and Northcliffe's Nathan Smith still at sea, his mind wondered to another day when the order was ski, swim, board.
"You know it's the same order as it was 20 years ago when I won, it's funny coming here and the perspective 20 years gives, there's no pressure, I'm just having a lot of fun."
A dual winner of the event, Mercer also won his quarter final putting him through to tomorrow's semi's at a beach that is likely to produce conditions which suit his strengths.
"There is not much of a run, once you hit the water you are straight into it because the bank isn't very long so it sets up well for me," he said.
Add to that the predicted two meter swells across the weekend and suddenly a Dean Mercer victory, while improbable, is far from impossible.
"Zane (Holmes) and Shannon (Eckstein) deserve to be the favourites but if there's surf then it opens things up. That said, the cream usually rises to the top and the better guys tend to make it through, I'd like to think I'm still one of the better guys."
Asked who were the best he has seen in 20 years Dean was definite "Trevor Hendy was the best ever in the shorter events, in the Kellogs Nutri-Grain you can't go past my brother Darren, over the years I managed to beat everyone else in those events but never Darren, he was too good."
The thought of the generational change taking place with Darren's daughter Jordan winning her first Aussie gold at these championships also bought a smile to her uncle's face.
"She's got the genes, fast over the sand and you know when she paddles a board she looks just like her dad, its uncanny how the style is the same."
Another "old timer" Clint Robinson was also proving that age isn't a barrier comfortably winning his first three rounds of the single ski.
The Barcelona Olympic Gold Medalist is 36 and has won exactly 36 National Surf Titles and while the ski area is perhaps the most competitive of all, another win wouldn't surprise.
In the Open boat defending champions North Cottesloe overcame a poor start in their opening round to stay in the race for an historic fourth successive victory.
Champion sweep Jack Allis made a rare mistake at the start that left his crew in last, several boat lengths being the leaders.
"It was just one of those things, completely my fault, I made a mistake, I thought the boys would want to throttle me, but gee they are good, I told them we were last and they just said, oh well we'll peg them back one at a time, and that's what they did."
By the time they turned at the halfway point North Cottesloe were second, the crew then rowed brilliantly to pull onto a small wave and win the round by five boat lengths.
The emphatic victory left spectators shaking their heads and further emphasised North Cottesloe's favoritism to make it four in a row, a feat which has never been achieved in the Open Boat.
In other results, Northcliffe's Pierce Leonard, Zane Holmes, and Shannon Eckstein combined to win the board relay, the same trio then joined Nathan Smith to take Gold in the surf teams, giving Holmes his third gold from as many events.
Earlier, Alexander Headland competitor Emma McKenzie won the Open women's belt race.