Jasmine Rayward will be lining up for her first-ever Coolangatta Gold on the weekend, but she’ll be missing a familiar face and rival in Cyra Bender on the start line.
This year’s Coolangatta Gold will open the Iron Series for the first time, and both Bull Sharks were expected to compete after qualifying.
But after sustaining medial tibial stress syndrome – a stress injury in both legs aggravated by running – Bender has been ruled out of this weekend’s iconic race.
It’s a brutal twist for the first-time qualifier, whose dream of a full Iron Series debut season has been delayed yet again.
“Obviously being the first round of the series and my first Iron Series, I’m really gutted that I can’t race,” Bender said.
“I wish I could be there to compete against the other girls.”
The decision to withdraw was made with her long-term health in mind.
The new Coolangatta Gold format features a gruelling 3km soft sand run to the finish, with a total of 5km of running across the course, which was considered a risk to her hopes of completing the entire series.
Rayward, the Bond University 2025 ADCO Sports Excellence Scholar, will return to the start line for her third Shaw and Partners Iron Series campaign. After finishing 12th last season, she automatically requalified for this season.
The 19-year-old admits the soft sand run has her a little nervous.
“Honestly I was feeling really confident until I realised that the last 3km run is all on the soft sand,” Rayward said.
“At the best of times I’m not a great runner, but soft sand will be particularly tricky.
“The running transition in surf racing normally is quite easy – it's not something we normally focus on.
“Our coach has been really good at preparing us. We have been doing a lot of Gold-specific training.”
The revamped race format and its inclusion in the Iron Series has consequently drawn one of the strongest talent pools for the event in the past decade.
“It’s going to be pretty epic. There's a lot of big names going into it so I’m just trying to fit in with that,” Rayward said.
While most competitors will be focused on 2024 series winner Lucy Derbyshire or seasoned competitor Lana Rogers, Rayward is keeping a close eye on her younger sister Bianca Rayward who is making her series debut.
“Bianca and I have been training together quite well. It’s been funny ... we do get pretty competitive,” Rayward said.
“My sister is my biggest competition. I’m not worried about her beating me, but I just want to remind her who's boss.”
The Bachelor of Commerce student has high hopes as she looks ahead to the rest of the Iron Series season which runs through to February.
“I’m excited to go back into doing some shorter stuff and some sprinting,” Rayward said.
“I’d love to finish in the top five this season – I think I can do it.
“I’ve been on the edge for a few years. In the series sometimes I’m up there but I’m not really getting any significant places.
“I feel like this year I want to move up into the territory of actually being competitive, not just a competitor.”