New Zealand surf lifesaver Mike Janes made a good fist of his debut in the lucrative Australian Ironman series on the Gold Coast yesterday, finishing 12th in the 20-strong men's field.
In the process, he headed home seven-time Australian Ironman champion Ky Hurst and was just a spot behind five-time serieschampion Zane Holmes.
The gruelling two-hour series opener was won by defending champion Shannon Eckstein, who headed home his younger brother Caine and Mooloolaba lifeguard Matt Poole, after completing the ski-run-swim-run-board-run course twice, racing out through the surf and in through the tricky conditions in the Currumbin River mouth.
Janes was delighted with his efforts.
"My runs were pretty good and I picked up a couple of places in the run legs, just trying to stay with Ky in the swim if I could.
"As the race wore on, around the hour mark, I started to feel fresh in the runs and started pegging back some of the other competitors," he said.
Mount Maunganui-raised Janes trains with Hurst at the Kurrawa Club, on the Gold Coast, under coach Phil Clayton, and the pair worked together for much of the race until Janes pulled ahead.
"I just tried to stay on his feet. He's phenomenal at catching waves, so the closer I could stay to him, the better - that was my goal really."
Eckstein continued his dominance that has already won him a world title this year, with not even his four-time Coolangatta Gold-winning brother able to keep pace.
"I came first and Caine came second because we train the hardest and I don't have a problem saying that," Eckstein said. "... that was one of the best wins of my career."
Elizabeth Pluimers, second overall last year, stormed home to beat reigning champion Alicia Marriott in the women's race, with Courtney Hancock third.
The series continues with round two at Bondi on December 3, with Janes already well aware of what he needs to work on.
"We'll be shortening and there's still a lot of work in the pool. The racing will be all about hanging on and finding a nice wash."
