Coolum picture perfect for titles

Dee Johnson and Emmy Neil enjoy a bird’s-eye view of the Nutri-Grain series.

Mike Garry

AFTER dishing up some dismal weather for last year's Nutri-Grain IronMan and IronWoman series at Coolum Beach, the weather gods made amends on Sunday with a picture perfect day to showcase the town to a national television audience.

Thousands of spectators lined the foreshore to watch the nation's finest surf athletes do battle in the penultimate round before this weekend's final at Noosa.

Olympic swimmer Ky Hurst came from the clouds in a thrilling sprint finish ahead of Hugh Dougherty and Caine Eckstein to claim the men's event, while Candice Falzon produced the performance of her career to claim her maiden race win in the IronWoman Series ahead of Bonnie Hancock and Kristyl Smith.

Hurst also came from the clouds the day before when he took part in a tandem parachute jump as part of a weekend of activities to celebrate the event.

Other activities on Saturday included an "Ironkids" Breakfast with the Stars where local nippers got to meet the ironmen and women and enjoy a breakfast supplied by event sponsor Kellogg's, Maleny Dairies and Coles Coolum.

Local traders were delighted, with big crowds shopping and dining along the esplanade and staying in accommodation houses.