Mairangi Bay surf lifesaver Travis Mitchell outshone more senior competitors when he won the under-19 division and led home the open competitors at the inaugural Surf Ironman at Mission Bay.
The fields of open and under-19 men competed, along with the three-person teams' contingent in all three rounds of the Telecom-sponsored ironman competition.
Mitchell, aged 18, is an accomplished surf ski and malibu board paddler whose swimming has improved immensely this year.
He spent September to November on the Sunshine Coast in Queensland training with some of Australia's top ironmen, and brought that experience into Saturday's event.
"I was really pleased with the three ironman runs," Mitchell said. "I was fortunate to come into the contest with a solid fitness base after three months' training with the best Australians."
Mitchell did not expect to dominate the more senior ironmen.
"I was hoping to be up with the top guys after the base work I have done, but to lead them home in each of the three races was a thrill."
South Brighton ironman Ariki Pearson was the best of the competitors in the open men's event, finishing two points ahead of Auckland provincial representative captain Scott Pritchard, of Red Beach. Bay of Plenty import Mike Walker, who has joined the Muriwai patrol, came third.
Muriwai dominated the open women's event, with Amy Brookes-Peterson and Sarah Coster heading home Amber Taylor, of Bay of Plenty's Omanu club.
Sydney Olympic Games swimmer Steve Ferguson led his Muriwai team of ski paddler Paul Wilford and Chris Whitehead on malibu board to first place in the open teams' ironman race.
The trio won the first and third races and finished runners-up in the second. Ferguson pipped fellow Olympian Dean Kent, from Mairangi Bay, 80 to 78 in the Diamond individual event.
Ironman: Mitchell shows old hands how it's done
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