RACERS from across the country descended upon the Myall Coast for the 2024 fisiocrem Triathlon Hawks Nest on Saturday 16 November.

As a king’s ransom in cycling equipment lay in wait upon the parking lot at Providence Bay Park, the Tea Gardens Lions barbeque team set up to feed the masses a high protein menu, before they took off to swim, cycle and run all around paradise.

“We have more than 700 racers, coming from North Queensland, Victoria, Canberra, even Darwin,” said Christie from organisers Elite Energy.

“[It was] a much broader interstate turnout than previous years.”

Christie said people take on the intense physical challenge for a variety of reasons.

“There are some amazing stories why people are running,” she said.

“Some run for charity, some for personal reasons, like one Mum whose daughter lost her battle with breast cancer. “She was a regular at this race, so her Mum is here to race in her honour today.”

Swarms of spandex-suited swimmers were led up the hill to Bennetts Beach, where they fully confronted the utterly treacherous conditions awaiting them.

Relentless onshore winds whipped up two-metre waves, there were numerous rips, and the waterline was dotted with washed-up blue bottles, giving plenty of warning of what they were literally diving into.

Two of the marker buoys had to be hauled in as race conditions changed.

“We have 22 volunteers from Tea Gardens Hawks Nest Surf Life Saving Club (SLSC) looking after water safety today, armed with a jet ski, IRBs and our new tractor,” explained SLSC President Rebecca Curtis.

“Many are from the youth section, stepping up more into the water safety environment.”

Due to weather conditions, the scheduled ‘Try-a-Tri’ event had to be cancelled.

“The conditions were just not great for untested triathletes to have their first go out there,” Club Captain Wayne Bower said.

This year’s event commentator, Nat Heath, whose voice could be heard across Hawks Nest, was the CEO of TriMob, a 100 percent First Nations-led organisation committed to empowering Indigenous Australians to improve their health and wellbeing through the sport of triathlon.

“It’s good to have an event in the Barrington Coast area,” said Nat, who grew up in Forster.

“The range of events provides something for everyone, and we have good female participation.

“It’s good for the local economy too.”

Many more locals and their clubs volunteered at the event, marshalling and directing the racers, or keeping them hydrated along the way, including the Pindimar-Bundabah Community Association, Pearls of Port Stephens, and the Myall Park Tennis and Pickleball Club, to name a few.

By Thomas O’KEEFE