Originally nothing more than a plot device for the iconic 1984 film with which it shares a name, the Coolangatta Gold is now widely regarded as the world’s premier endurance surf lifesaving event.

The brutal race sees athletes paddle, board, swim and run their way around a 41.8km course over four gruelling hours.

And this weekend Bond University Bachelor of Commerce student Joe Collins has his sights firmly set on a top three finish.

It’ll be the second time the New Zealand-born and now Gold Coast-based surf lifesaving champ has lined up for a shot at Gold glory.

“I finished fifth at my first go last year which in hindsight was pretty good, but I definitely made a couple of silly mistakes that set me back at crucial times,” he said.

A miscalculation on the ski leg cost Collins most. Locked in what he describes as the perfect wash spot behind eventual top two placegetters Ali Day and Cory Taylor, Collins was bumped off his line when he lost focus for a split second. He battled on all the way to the finish, but that one small error was all it took to keep him from properly challenging the race leaders.

“As soon as I crossed the line at the end I just wanted to do it all again. I knew straight away that I could have done a bit better.”

Collins, part of Bond’s Elite Sport Program trains out of the mighty Northcliffe Surf Life Saving Club. He’s been putting in the hard yards with training partner Matt Bevilacqua, the 2016 Coolangatta Gold winner, in an effort to ensure history doesn’t repeat.

 The lengths to which the pair push themselves in preparation is mindboggling.

“The race itself involves about four hours on the water, so we have to put the work in,” Collins said. “It’s a long, tough twenty week block leading up to race day.”

A regular training week involves three specialist ski sessions no shorter than 12 kilometres long and multiple race simulations involving each of the event’s sporting disciplines in various combinations.

“It’s all about time spent pushing yourself. You can’t avoid the grind. You absolutely have to spend the hours on the ocean.”

This year Collins has been pushing particularly hard on the ski in training and a fresh focus on fuelling himself properly is paying dividends.

“I was pretty skinny last year, so I’ve been concentrating on my nutrition more. It can actually get pretty dangerous and you can get really run down if you’re not eating properly,” he said. “And to finish top three you really have to stay in the mix on the paddle leg, so I’ve also been concentrating on getting stronger so I can pull the ski better. That should hopefully set me up to lean on my strength in the swim and run.”

Fellow Bondie, Archie Vernon (Bachelor of Business), will also compete in the elite long course race.

The Coolangatta Gold starts at 7.30am at Coolangatta Beach this Sunday.

For more information, contact: Bond University Media Team +61 7 5595 1376 +61 420 927 941 [email protected]

Program and Admissions Australian: 1800 074 074 International: +61 7 5595 1024

In the spirit of reconciliation, Bond University acknowledges the Kombumerri people, the traditional Owners and Custodians of the land on which the university now stands. We pay respect to Elders past, present and emerging. Read more