Surf gods smile as Day retires with sixth Iron title
Murray Wenzel |
Ali Day was saluting the surf gods after the retiring champion clinched his sixth Iron Series title in a fitting Gold Coast farewell.
The 35-year-old sneaked through two tense elimination races to reach the eight man, winner-take-all series final on Sunday.
He shot to the lead group then benefited when Finn Askew was driven from his board on the ski leg in challenging Miami conditions.
Out in front, Day negotiated another huge set on his way back out for the final board leg, then caught a wave to shore that allowed him to soak up the victory lap to the finish line.
It was a worthy series title, given the Surfers Paradise star had won the season-opening Coolangatta Gold – for a staggering 11th time – and also won in Newcastle to arrive at the season finale equal first on points.
“I cannot believe that, that’s crazy,” said Day, who made his Iron Series debut 16 years ago aged 19.
“I didn’t think about winning today. I just wanted to get to the last race and when I was in that position I was going, ‘Please let me out, one more time’.
“And I just got out, turned around and thankfully got a wave to the beach.”
Maroochydore’s Tiarnee Massie buried some demons with an emotional women’s series win, having been in a winning position a year earlier only to crash out.
“It’s driven me a lot. It really hurt, getting so close, being out on my own on the ski and getting hit by a wave,” she said.
“Every single tough session I’ve done this year I’ve been thinking back to that moment and how much it hurt.”
AAP
