Kyle Faces Nervous Wait For Ironman

Newcastle Herald

Thursday January 31, 2008

Renee Valentine BREAKING NEWS

NERVES are the biggest hurdle Kyle Garrett will have to get over when he lines up for the first time in the national ironman series this weekend.

The Newcastle-bred surf-lifesaver has wanted to compete on the professional circuit as long as he can remember to test himself against the sport's best.

And now his debut is upon him, the 24-year-old cannot help but feel a touch edgy.

"I've been training hard. It's just a matter of getting my head right, especially racing these guys, because you can't be stuffing around and can't afford to make little mistakes," Garrett said.

"I've always raced against them in other competition, but they reckon this is the hardest racing you can do for ironmen, so it's going to be tough, and I'm a bit nervous."

Garrett moved to Maroochydore in July to pursue his ironman career and will compete for the North Queensland Lightning in the national series.

The born-and-bred New South Welshman admitted he would feel strange in Queensland attire.

"I'm not disappointed because I'm glad just to be on the series, but I would have rather been putting on a Northern NSW jersey and racing with [Avoca's] Daniel Shade," Garrett said.

"We have been best mates since we were kids and have always wanted to compete on the series together.

"It is still going to be good racing against him.

"I can't wait for that because both of us competing on the series that's something we've wanted to do for years."

Garrett was handed a wildcard by series organisers after a string of mishaps prevented him from qualifying through the trials at Redcliffe's Suttons Beach in Queensland last month despite some strong performances.

He was disqualified in one race for missing a swim buoy, and a mix-up with his handler resulted in his craft not being ready for one of the transitions in another.

The opening two rounds of the series will be staged at Kurrawa this weekend.

Rounds three and four will be at Coolum on February 16 and 17, and the final will be at Coogee on March 1.

© 2008 Newcastle Herald

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