ECKSTEIN HAS TO BEAT PAIN BARRIER AS WELL AS KY HURST AND HUGH DOUGHERTY

March 18: The biggest name in surf lifesaving Shannon Eckstein will have to beat the pain barrier as well as Ky Hurst and Hugh Dougherty when he begins his quest for a fourth National Ironman crown at the Whereis Surf Life Saving Championships at Kurrawa tomorrow (Friday).

Eckstein, 26, lined up with his Northcliffe team mates in the Lifesaver relay, ski relay and board relay heats today conquering the testing conditions o help out his ailing Northcliffe team mates - despite a painful hip injury.

Australia's premier club have already lost two of their biggest names in former Australian Ironman champions Zane Holmes and Pierce Leonard - severely depleting their open teams.

Eckstein will sacrifice his individual events the board, the Restricted surf race and the open surf race to concentrate on the team events and the Ironman.

And it was Holmes who knows if anyone can overcome the injury it's Eckstein.

"If there is any athlete who is tough enough and determined enough to ignore the pain and still have a successful Championships it's Shannon," said Holmes.

"He's a big occasion athlete. He doesn't have a weakness, he can handle any conditions; he's good in the surf and he reads it well.

"Even with an injury he is more than a match for his rivals.

"Shannon has had some bad luck at past Aussies with injuries so he won't want to let this injury stop him."

Meanwhile due to programming and the conditions, organizers have revised the program and locations for tomorrow with the Open Female Surf Boats; 23 Female Surf Boats; 19 Male Surf Boats; the Surf Boat Relay, R&R and all U15 water competition moved to North Kirra from 8am.

All other events will be held at Kurrawa as per the program with events to commence from 7.00am.

Surf Life Saving Australia's General Manager of Sport, Grant Baldock, said it was disappointing that the testing conditions had disrupted the event, which has seen more than 8,100 competitors from across Australia and around the world come to the Gold Coast.

"We are keen to get competition in the water tomorrow and give everyone an equal chance to contest their respective events," he said.

"The safety of the competitors remains paramount, and this will be the priority for us as we move throughout the week.

"Carnival organisers are monitoring the situation around the clock and we are committed to providing the most accurate information to competitors, officials and spectators as soon as it is available."