CHANGE OF FORTUNE FOR PLUIMERS AND ECKSTEIN IN NUTRI-GRAIN BATTLE
February 7: It was a different day and different luck for Shannon Eckstein and Elizabeth Pluimers as they bounced back to take out their respective round four races in the Kellogg's Nutri-Grain Ironman Series at Alexandra Headland today.
The Northcliffe pair was disappointed with their results yesterday - Eckstein beaten by Ky Hurst's miracle last-to-first wave, while Pluimers struggled so badly she was ready to put her ski and board on top of her car and drive home.
But they were smiling after impressive wins in pounding two-metre surf today.
Eckstein used his surf skills and his speed on the ski to win a hotly contested men's round from Hugh Dougherty (Tugun) and Rhys Drury (Dicky Beach), while Pluimers was able to find a gap in the white water as the women were being smashed at the start of the ski leg to break clear and safely negotiate her way to the finish ahead of Hayley Bateup (Kurrawa) and Alicia Marriott (Mooloolaba).
Pluimers led by enough to be able to let big waves pass her by on the way back to the beach and wait for something less dangerous.
"I got a pretty sweet ride out on the ski which was kind of lucky and saw those big ones coming in at the end and decided just to wait until they'd all gone and try to sit and wait for a little wave at the end," the 23-year-old said.
"It was tough on every leg out there today, even the swim legs.
"After running these tough transitions just holding your breath going under the waves was really hard.
"Making decisions about what you want to do and where you want to go, the alleys you want to swim, are the things you needed to think about today."
It was a completely different Pluimers to the crestfallen competitor 24 hours earlier who trailed well behind the leaders and at no stage looked like winning.
"I was so angry with myself yesterday," he said.
"I made a few mistakes and had a lot of unlucky things happen as well.
"I had a sit down with everyone; even my mum and dad gave me the tough love and said ‘you've got to go back out there' so I'm glad I stuck around for today."
Luck was also on the mind of Eckstein, who had yesterday's race snatched from his grasp when Hurst bodysurfed past from the back of the field.
Eckstein again led around the final set of buoys today but this time kept his advantage despite the fast-finishing efforts of Dougherty, Drury and Dylan Newbiggin (Mooloolaba).
Despite losing the chance to go through the series undefeated yesterday, the defending champion was happy to be back on top.
"It hurts losing, so it's good to come back and win," he said.
"You never like losing but I've got a saying, ‘if you lose don't lose the lesson' because if you lose you might have made a mistake, but I don't think I made any mistakes yesterday.
"I get a little disappointed when I hear people talk about you getting a little bit of luck here and there but you've got to create your own luck to put yourself in the best position on the best bank, on the best ridge, and have the skills to overcome that luck."
It will be Eckstein's rivals needing the luck if they are to unseat the champion in the Kellogg's Nutri-Grain Series final at North Cronulla on February 21.
Yesterday's win put him on 79 points from a possible 80 and six points clear of Dougherty (73) with Hurst on 65, Drury 60, rising star Ali Day (Warilla Barrack Point) 56, Corey Jones (Met Caloundra) 52, Pierce Leonard (Northcliffe) 51, Nathan Smith (Northcliffe) 47, Newbiggin 45 and Matt Poole (Mooloolaba) 44.
The double points on offer in the final keep Dougherty and Hurst in with a chance of causing an upset, especially if there is good surf.
"If there's a wave on at Cronulla anything could happen," Dougherty said.
"A nice three or four foot of swell would be nice; it's more fun, it's better for the spectators and we enjoy it, too.
Bateup is in pole position to win her first Nutri-Grain series as she continues her super-consistent series.
She has had first, second, third and fourth placings in the four rounds to date to lead the pointscore on 74 points.
In an open Ironwoman competition, she is two points ahead of Marriott on 72, followed by Naomi Flood (Manly) 70, Pluimers (63), Courtney Hancock (Northcliffe) 61, Kristyl Smith (Northcliffe) - who led the series after round three but crashed to finish 18th yesterday - on 60, Rebecca Creedy (Met Caloundra) 49, Terri Sullivan (Northcliffe) 46, Bonnie Hancock (Northcliffe) 45 and Brodie Moir (North Burleigh) 43.