Jasmine Rayward has opened her summer campaign in ominous form, completing a remarkable clean sweep of podium finishes at the Shaw and Partners World Ocean Series Burleigh 5,000.
The 2025 ADCO Sports Excellence Scholar student finished inside the top three in every race she contested at her home beach on Saturday, earning her the “Most Valuable Player” trophy on the women’s side of the competition.
Rayward led the women’s surf race from the start and looked to have the victory sealed before teammate Dakota Luke used her impressive body surfing skills to snatch the win late, with Rawyard relegated to silver.
Next on the program was the board race and though the pundits would describe the discipline as Rayward’s weakest, the Bachelor of Commerce student proved her ability as an all-rounder in nabbing bronze.
In what came as no surprise considering her status as a national representative in kayaking and ocean ski paddling, it was the ski race in which Rayward’s strength came to the fore.
As the northerly wind kicked up and the shore dump grew heavier, Rayward charged to the front in the final to establish an early five-metre lead in a stacked field which included Olympians Alyssa Bull and Ally Clarke.
Rayward looked in the box seat to claim the win before Clarke used her surf skills to pull over a runner and draw level on the way home, with the two hitting the beach at the same time.
Clarke edged out Rayward in the soft sand dash to the line, with Bachelor of Journalism student Bonnie Hancock taking bronze.
With three podiums to her name by the time competitors took to the line for the open ironwoman final, Rayward was in dangerous form to claim the blue-ribbon event.
Brilliant board and swim legs had Rayward in contention as she ran in for the final ski but teammate Luke, also a ski specialist, narrowly got the better of her once again.
Three silvers and a bronze in the opening stop of the World Ocean Series sets Rayward up for an incredible summer, with the next round to be held in Bonny Hills at the end of the month.
Before that, she’ll contest the Coolangatta Gold as the first round of the standalone Shaw and Partners Iron Series.
She’ll be joined by fellow Bondies Cyra Bender, Cory Taylor and Joe Collins, who chose not to compete at Burleigh to prioritise training for the iconic long-course race.