Four-time Olympian Steve Ferguson tuned up for tomorrow's Mount Monster with a solid performance at last week's Whangamata Classic. Photo / Jamie Troughton
Four-time Olympian Steve Ferguson tuned up for tomorrow's Mount Monster with a solid performance at last week's Whangamata Classic. Photo / Jamie Troughton
You wouldn't expect a four-time Olympian and world champion surf lifesaver to be scared of much but the prospect of 5km on a kneeboard has Steve Ferguson decidedly nervous.
The 33-year-old will line up in tomorrow's inaugural Mount Monster - a long distance surf lifesaving event billed as Mount Maunganui'sanswer to the Coolangatta Gold.
It's got 25km of running, swimming, ski paddling and even a signature 10m jump off rocks into the water near the Moturiki Island blowhole, although it's the relatively innocuous final board leg that has Ferguson sweating.
"The 5km run should be sweet but I am dreading the board leg," Ferguson said. "I've got toothpicks stuck into an orange for legs and if they don't snap halfway through the board leg, it will be a miracle."
It's been a relaxing year for Ferguson, after 2012's twin highs of the London Olympics and New Zealand's win in the world surf lifesaving championships. For the first time in 33 years, he kicked back.
"I've been involved in sport pretty much since I was born and had my first-ever year off this year, which was really nice but I missed training and being fit. Multisport racing definitely interests me but I'm trying to make the surf lifesaving thing go as long as I can and this race really appealed - although it did take me about 20mins to click enter on the computer and commit to doing it!"
