SURF lifesaving is saying goodbye to one of the greatest athletes to enter the water, Alastair Day.
The Australian Lifesaving Championships, better known as ‘The Aussies’, kicks off at 10pm UK time tonight, and will be Day’s final event in the sport.
Taking on a 4-6ft surf forecast today, the swell is predicted to drop over the next five days of racing, with finals day starting Saturday night in the UK.
Day has put together one of the most luxurious careers in surf sports history, winning in the ironman event; four Australian titles, a World championship, six Iron series titles, two World Ocean Series, and 11 Coolangatta Gold victories.
The ironman event consists of a swim, board, ski and run legs between each discipline, the order of each discipline is randomly drawn at the beginning of the carnival.
Board, ski, swim will be the order this week, and according to Surf Fantasy data, the board first leg of the iron produces Day’s best results.
Day spoke to Solent Sports News in December after he announced he will be retiring at the end of the season, about what lies ahead for him.
“It’s pretty scary, knowing thats it, knowing you’re never going to be in this physical shape.
“Recently, I have just gotten into the New South Wales Fire and Rescue,” said Day.
Unfortunately, for many top lifesavers nowadays, retirement means full time work now lies ahead, and despite being so victorious, Day will be no stranger to that.
Day started his lifesaving journey as a nipper at six-years-old at Warilla Barrick Point in NSW.
In his late teens, Day moved to Mooloolaba on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast thanks to sponsorship.
Day said: “We always used to joke around at training, who are you sponsored by?
“M and D!
“Whose M and D?
“Mum and Dad.”
After a few years on the Sunny Coast, the Gold Coast came calling next, the illustrious Surfers Paradise cap became Day’s next home.
The titles came surfing in, then financial companies like Shaw And Partners came bank rolling in, Day’s face was printed all over cereal boxes throughout Australia, Day was a superstar.
But, in 2019 Day broke both of his wrists in a promotional event, which led to significant surgeries and sidelined from racing for two seasons.
However, in his first season back, Day won six from six races in the Iron Series, a feat that no one had done in its 40 year history.
Since then, Day has also won all four of his Aussie ironman titles.
In October, Day won his 11th Coolangatta Gold title, an event, he never lost, winning 11 from 11.
For one last ride, Day will be going up against over 250 other iron men to compete for the Australian title.
As only 16 people are allowed in each heat, 14 heats will go ahead in round 1, which will eventually be narrowed down to a final of 16 on Saturday night.
The 2026 Aussies will be taking place at North Kirra beach on the Gold Coast, and all the action will be live on YouTube across all five days.
