YOUNG GUNS LINE UP FOR A SLICE OF GOLD AND GLORY

September 30: While all eyes will be on the big names like Caine Eckstein, Nathan Smith, Hayley Bateup and Alicia Marriott in the lead up to this year's nib Coolangatta Gold on October 18, spare a thought for some of the younger competitors.

HMG TV caught up with three of them on a recent visit to the Michael King Ironman Academy at Mountain Creek on the Sunshine Coast.

Mooloolaba pair Alex Tibbitts and Nic Anderson and visiting Currumbin Viking Jackson Maynard are just three competitors in the 40-strong under 19 field, as the countdown continues for Surf Life Saving's iconic endurance iron man event.

The under 19s and the women will race the 30km course between Surfers Paradise and Currumbin and return while the open men and masters will cover the full 46km course between Surfers Paradise and Coolangatta and back.

Watch HMG talk to three budding young iron men with the nib Coolangatta Gold very much on their minds. {youtube}AGb2hw_lXAs{/youtube}