KY HURST WINS SEVENTH AUSTRALIAN OPEN SURF RACE CROWN

Olympian Ky Hurst has claimed his seventh Open surf race crown despite swimming off course at today's DHL Australian Surf Life Sabing Championships at Kurrswa on the Gold Coast.

The washing machine conditions even threw Australia's greatest surf swimmer into a spin.

He trailed fellow Ironman Shannon Eckstein by 15 metres as they rounded the string of turning buoys.

"I am normally pretty good with my directions but I ended up way off course and I looked up and saw Shannon way out in front," Hurst said.

"I had to make sure he wasn't that far in front when we got into the wave area.

"I knew I was swimming well and just had to catch him."

Hurst,30, managed to bridge the gap and he pulled down a wave that did not break kindly for Eckstein.

Hurst then pulled down another wave after Eckstein and Mooloolaba's Josh Minogue found a wave of their own on the southern end.

But it was Hurst who bodysurfed his wave on the northern end to a winning advantage to claim his seventh gold from Eckstein and Minogue.

Meanwhile Maroochydore's Miranda Bell won her first Australian open womnen's surf race title from Northcliffe pair Courtney Hancock and Harriett Brown.

In other events Tugun's Ironman star Hugh Dougherty has anchored Tugun to a dramatic open ski relay gold medal at the DHL Australian Surf Lifesaving Championships at Kurrawa on the Gold Coast today.

Dougherty went into the final leg behind Trigg Island and Avoca and used all his surf skills to bring home the victory.

As the leaders paddled towards the beach in messy one metre surf, Trigg Island's Brendan Sarson slewed his ski and had to Wade through the gutter while Dougherty stayed on his craft.

He was first to the beach and held off Sarson and Avoca Beach in a frantic sprint to the finish to win Tugun's first ever ski relay title.

Tugun's Olympic gold medallist Ken Wallace came out of the water sixth after being hit by two waves early.

He handed over to outstanding surfer Sam Hamilton who reveled in the tricky conditions to hit the beach third.

Sarson was smashed by three waves and it was North Burleigh who took

over but wiped out on the paddle back to the beach leaving Trigg Island, Tugun and Avoca to fight it out.