Sun, surf and sand – the ingredients of a typical Aussie summer day; add serious exertion and sweat to the recipe and you have the
Coolangatta Gold. The 10th anniversary Coolangatta Gold will take place on 7 November 2010.
The Coolangatta Gold is one of Australia's toughest surf lifesaving races. Competitors take part in a four hour marathon of swimming, kayaking, knee-boarding and a run along the Gold Coast beaches. Male athletes race a 46.65 kilometre looped course starting at Kurrawa with a turn around point at Tweed Heads Surf Life Saving Club. Female competitors race a 30.5 kilometre looped course starting at Kurrawa and turning at Currumbin Surf Life Saving Club.
The concept for the Coolangatta Gold comes from the
1984 movie of the same name featuring Colin Friels and ironman legend Grant Kenny. The race scenes in the film were taken from the inaugural event won by then unknown Guy Leech. The event was raced in 1984, 1985, 1991 and 1992. After a hiatus, a reformatted version of the Coolangatta Gold commenced in 2005. The new Coolangatta Gold features the traditional men's race plus female, teams and masters events.
There are plenty of vantage points to enjoy the spectacle of human endurance that is the Coolangatta Gold. Race start and finish takes place at Kurrawa which is in the heart of the Gold Coast at Broadbeach. A playground, picnic area and barbecues are available at Kurrawa as well as plenty of parking. The ski leg and run can be seen from Northcliffe, which is walking distance to Surfers Paradise. Café lovers can view the swim and run legs at any of the beachside cafes at Bilinga Beach, between Tugun and Kirra surf clubs. Full details of the viewing areas for the Coolangatta Gold are available on the event's
website.
As well as ironman events, Kurrawa Beach will host the Sandstorm Beach Volleyball Tournament featuring members from the Great Britain and Denmark Olympic teams and Australian Olympic Gold Medallist, Natalie Cook.
The Coolangatta Gold starts at 7am on Sunday 7 November at Kurrawa Surf Life Saving Club. Medal presentations for all races will take place at 1:30pm at Kurrawa. If you live in Brisbane, driving is probably the best way to get to the Coolangatta Gold. While you can catch a
bus and train combination to get to the Gold Coast, the first service of the day arrives at Surfer's Paradise 34 minutes after the start of the men's race.
Images & Video
Coolangatta Gold Courses
Start Finish Line at Coolangatta Gold
Ski leg of Coolangatta Gold
Starting the Swim Leg
Coolangatta Gold movie trailer
Video of 2010 Coolangatta Gold launch
