KELLOGG'S NUTRI-GRAIN IRON MAN SERIES MAKES 2009-2010 SUMMER A WHOLE LOT HOTTER
November 18: The summer has just got a whole lot hotter with Surf Life Saving Australia's announcement today of an exciting shake up to the Kellogg's Nutri-Grain Ironman Series, following the renewal of its sponsorship deal with Kellogg Australia for the next three years.
The 40 best Ironmen and Ironwomen in the country will race off for a Series record $250,000 in prizemoney throughout an exciting, new-look, re-vamped five-round series starting in earnest at Kurrawa Beach on the Gold Coast on January 16 and 17.
It will feature 12 athletes (six men and six women) who qualified from last season's Series - including the sport's biggest names - Zane Holmes, Shannon Eckstein, Matt Poole, Naomi Flood, Kristyl Smith and Elizabeth Pluimers.
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They will race against 22 athletes, including the likes of Hayley Bateup and Dean Mercer, who will have to qualify for the Series at the Kellogg's Nutri-Grain Iron Man Trial at Tugun, on the Gold Coast on December 5 and 6.
The new-look Series will be broadcast on the Seven Network and will culminate in the final at Sydney's North Cronulla Beach on February 21.
In a Series that will feature some of the most exciting Ironman racing ever seen:
- Competitors will revert back to individual competition.
- Wildcards will be added to the competitor line ups with a special qualifying round before each of the major weekends, including the final.
- Formats will be even more cut throat than ever with: "The Dash For Cash", The "Accumulator", "The Sprint" and the "Athletes Choice" making up the first four rounds before the traditional "Eliminator" round in the final
- Alexandra Headland has been added as the Sunshine Coast venue with North Cronulla to host the final.
Competitors will not only have their chance to secure prize money up for grabs at each round, but will also earn points, with the overall series champions crowned at the final round.
They will be pushed to the limits, with the cut throat racing designed to test their ability as well as create exciting racing for the fans and television audiences.
This year will also give competitors even more opportunity to qualify for this elite series, with a "wildcard" shoot out to take place the Friday prior to rounds one and three, and the Saturday before round five. They will need to fight it out to secure the final two male and two female spots on offer in the series, and then back up on Saturday and Sunday to mix it with the best of the best.
SLSA Grant Baldock, General Manager Sport, said the extension of the partnership between Kellogg and the SLSA was the key to what will be an exciting future for the sport.
"We are excited to announce that Kellogg Australia have resigned with SLSA for another three years, extending the great partnership both organisations have built up over more than 25 years," Mr Baldock said.
"As part of the renewed partnership, both organisations have been working to take the Kellogg's Nutri-Grain Ironman Series to new heights and we believe we are on track towards regaining prominence in the sporting landscape.
"This comes on the back of the recent success the series has experienced, including increased television ratings, media profile and crowd attendance with this season featuring exciting new changes designed to continually grow the series.
"The expansion will see new race formats, new locations, a wildcard qualifier and a renewed focus on building heroes through individual racing.
"The introduction of the ‘wildcards' is also a new initiative designed to give competitors more opportunity than ever before to compete in the elite series which not only allows us to open up the competition, but also allows more local competitors in the host regions the chance to take part in the Series," said Baldock
Defending men's champion Shannon Eckstein said he is itching to get back to racing after a long winter.
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"I didn't do the Coolangatta Gold so come mid January I'm going to be ready to go," said Eckstein.
"Professional Ironman racing has gone ahead in leaps and bounds in recent years so this new format will really invigorate the sport.
"I'm sure we are going to see some really exciting racing and hopefully the public can get to know us and get to know the racing as well.
"The iron man racing is all about the individual racing and the Kellogg's Series is all about man-on-man and woman-on-woman racing, that's what the public wants to see."
Eckstein said that although he may be the defending champion, he knows there will be plenty of challengers who will be trying to take his title.
"I have looked at a few weaknesses from the last couple of years and hopefully I've improved them and I'll be making it very tough for them to come at me, " Eckstein said.
"Zane (Holmes) is training really well and hurting that I took the series off him last year so its going to be a ding dong battle again I'm sure.
"In saying that, young Matt Poole won a round last year and Pierce Leonard won the Australian title again so that's going to give them more confidence.
"We've been waiting for them to break through for a couple of years but this year might be the year with these new formats."
Five-time Series winner and last year's runner-up Zane Holmes said news of the re-vamped series was "fantastic with dedicated iron men and iron woman racing."
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" It's what we've wanted for a few years now with new formats and more prizemoney and Kellogg's signing on for another three years, the future's looking really bright.
"We've got something to really aim for and we know what formats we've got to train for as well.
."Shannon is the defending champion and is the one to beat and we'll all have our work cut out to try and knock him off and I'm sure there will be some really close and tough racing.
"I want the crown back, I'm not going to make any secret of the fact so as soon as I put the front foot on the line I'm there to win."
Last year's runner-up in the women's series Kristyl Smith said she was looking forward to what was going to be a great series this year.
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"More prizemoney, new venues, new formats, the competition is going to be fierce," said Smith.
"The final round is back at my old stomping ground at North Cronulla so it is going to be great for me to have the backing of a home town crowd but Liz Pluimers is always hard to beat in that final round.
"I'd like to continue where I left off last year at the Australian championships. I have been the runner-up five times in the Kellogg's Series but maybe this year will be my year."
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Dates and locations
Trial 5-6 December 2009 Tugun (Gold Coast)
Round 1 16 January 2010 Kurrawa (Gold Coast)
Round 2 17 January 2010 Kurrawa (Gold Coast)
Round 3 6 February 2010 Alexandra Headland
Round 4 7 February 2010 Alexandra Headland
Round 5 21 February 2010 North Cronulla (Sydney)
Seven network broadcast schedule
Sunday 17 January 2010 12-2pm
Sunday 31 January 2010 12-2pm
Sunday 7 February 2010 12-2pm
Sunday 14 February 2010 12-2pm
Sunday 21 February 2010 TBC
*Check local guides for more details