Jasmine Rayward will be hoping to convert career-best form into a maiden professional ironwoman win in the second leg of the Shaw and Partners Iron Series in Thirroul this weekend.
The 2025 ADCO Sports Excellence scholar will compete against the world’s best ironwomen in the enduro on Saturday before contesting her favoured super sprint format on Sunday.
Rayward’s form in the early part of the 2026/27 season has been ominous.
Just last week, she claimed a commanding victory in the open women's ski at the weekend’s Shaw and Partners World Ocean Series Bonny Hills 7,000, producing a masterclass in speed and surf skills to control the race from start to tape.
The victory followed the Bachelor of Commerce student hitting the podium in every race she contested at last month’s Burleigh Heads 5,000 event.
In both carnivals, Rayward showed maturity beyond her 20 years to master the blustery, fickle conditions, with the weekend’s early forecast looking similarly challenging.
“On a day like today when it's so windy, if you've got even got one person next to you and they take one wrong stroke, you can get held up and it’s a chance for everyone to catch up,” Rayward told World Ocean Series commentator Ty Dowker after the Bonny Hills race.
“If you’re ahead and you can get around quick, everyone else is getting slowed down and you have an opportunity to get a wave by yourself.”
A national representative in kayaking, Surf Lifesaving and open water swimming, Rayward has established herself as one of the country's most exciting young paddlers, with her flatwater speed beginning to translate into results in the surf.
The Shaw and Partners Iron Series competition at Thirroul will be broadcast live on Channel 10 at 12-2pm this Saturday and Sunday.