Shane Hurndell
Dan Moodie's 2004 sporting resumé just blows you away.
The talented Hawke's Bay surf lifesaver and swimmer has won three national titles, one Australasian title and nearly 30 regional and provincial titles. As a coach the 17-year-old Napier Boys' High School year-13 student co-coached the Westshore Surf Lifesaving Club's under-14 team which collected 35 medals on the way to winning the New Zealand Ocean Athlete Championships.
By winning the under-17 ironman title at Surf Lifesaving Australia's XXXX Premiership Series on the Gold Coast, the national under-16 men's ironman title and by becoming the youngest winner of the trophy at the national championships it's no surprise Moodie has been ranked one of the top three lifeguards in the world in his age group.
It's also no surprise the finalist for the junior award at Friday night's annual Hawke's Bay Sports Awards function is continually being compared with Gisborne's three-time world ironman champion and 11-time national ironman champion, Cory Hutchings. Moodie doesn't let those comparisons affect him.
"I don't think about it. I just keep focused on my goals. But I would like to get a world title eventually," he said. And of the best male competitor award at the nationals? "I didn't think I would get it ... it was quite good," he said.
Moodie agreed his winning of that award at last year's nationals in Christchurch would add a bit more pressure to his campaign at next weekend's nationals in Mount Maunganui.
"I'll just block the pressure out and if I get the award again it will be a bonus. I'll be in the under-19 grade this time where I'll be up against older competitors and more competition," he said.
Another ingredient of Moodie's success is that he treats every opponent with the same amount of respect.
"Everyone on the start line is my toughest opponent. There are so many variables in surf lifesaving ... a freak wave can be the difference between finishing last and first," he said.
At the nationals he will aim for a win in the under-19 ironman, top-three finishes in the under-19 board and swim events, a top-three finish in the open ironman and a top-five finish in the open board.
The following weekend the Sonic Ocean Style-Surfline Paddles-sponsored athlete will travel to the Australian national championships on the Gold Coast where he will chase a top-three finish in the under-17 ironman and final berths in the under-17 board and swim.
At Easter, Moodie will represent his Napier Aquahawks Swimming Club at the national age-group championships in Wellington. He will race in the 17 years 200m and 400m freestyle events.
"A medal in the 400m freestyle is a realistic goal," said Moodie who collected a bronze in the 16 years age group last year.
Moodie started swimming for the Aquahawks as a five-year-old and took up surf lifesaving three years later.
"Being a competitive swimmer gives me the edge in surf lifesaving." he said.
While Moodie, a Surf Lifesaving New Zealand development squad member for the past three years, has plenty of natural ability he has been fortunate to have two top coaches - Chris Swain for the past three years and Ben Doggett before that.
"Ben got me started and because Chris has done everything himself he knows everything pretty well," Moodie said.
This weekend Moodie and New Zealand rep Nikki Cox will again co-coach Westshore's under-14 team as they attempt to retain their national title. The trip to Mount Maunganui gives Moodie an opportunity to check out conditions he is likely to face next weekend.
No doubt that will be another weekend when Moodie is compared with Hutchings. That won't worry Moodie. He'll be too busy attempting to make his 2005 resumé better than last year's.
SURF LIFESAVING: Moodie, 17, making waves
AdvertisementAdvertise with NZME.