Steppy Redbond | Aussies Diary

Life Member & Titans founder Steppy Redbond travelled to Queensland to support our competitors and members who were competing at Aussies25.

Below is Steppy’s day by day recap of our crew in action!

Monday

I arrived and the champion lifesaver event was already underway. My biggest regret was not seeing Monte compete in this event which he loves. I found out that after Saturdays competition was cancelled (due to wild weather) Monty wanted to go home and study for the champion lifesaver theory section. Probably while the others were out having fun or watching movies Monty put in 3 hours of study. He went on to win by 9 points the first club member to win a Champion Lifesaver Gold medal at the Aussie Titles.

And prior on the Sunday he is finished 6th in the Australian Under 14 Surf Race, incredible.

Tuesday

Monty is now competing for the Western Suns in the surf race and surf teams. Another courageous performance placing and helping WA get 3rd in the Surf Teams. A very quiet, humble, focused and driven youth that knows where he is going. WA and Cottesloe we are lucky.

Wednesday 

This was our wettest day and the biggest and dumping surf. We only had the one competitor competing today and that was Tara in the under 19 ski race. Tara was a bundle of nerves, but Wayne stood beside her the whole time. When the gun went in the first round Tara got on quickly and punched strongly through the surf. Once out she continued to paddle strong finishing second and on the same wave as the winner. Round two was like the first a strong start. Coming home she was in the mix to easily go through, but mother nature got the better of her and the ski sluing her sideways and missing out on the third round. Great paddling.

Thursday

An early start with the 2 km beach runs at the southern end of the beach. Both girls very nervous and Bella was up first in the under 17. When the gun went there was a quick break away pack of 6 which Bella was one. Halfway through the 2 km the front pack was now only four and Bella was still there. With a lap to go (500mts) Bella was in third place then she kicked going down to the turning flags to get into second. She tried everything in the last 200mts to catch the leader only to fall short by 10 to 15 mts. Silver and this young girl has got a heart of Phar Lap

Sienna is up and it’s the Open 2 km run. A very strong field of, a three times winner, last years gold medallist and a few new unknowns. Like Bella’s race there is a quick break away pack of four and Sienna is in it. Tactics and changes happening all the time in the first three laps. The only dominator was the three times winner who was not letting anyone lead. With a lap to go the pack of three dropped last years winner and Sienna was in second place. With 150 mts to go an unknown wore Sienna down and crossed in front of her. I’m not a runner but you could tell Sienna was giving it everything and her third place was lifting and courageous.

After the beach runs it was down to the ski area to watch Tom in the Open Ski. Tom was hyped, nervous and goal driven. This guy has only been paddling skis for less than 12 months and is taking on Olympians. Tom got away well at the start had a good line and paddling well. Once again in the mix for the next round and with a pack on the same wave he pumped it across the line to qualify for round two. Roud two was similar to Tara’s , a good start, strong through the middle but mother nature ended his hopes of going any further. A real credit to a first-year paddler.

In the afternoon it was the start of the Sandpit where the beach sprint and flags are being held. It was now Ash and Emma’s turn. The amount of warming up and drills these girls do to get ready is so interesting to watch. Ash had her first run in the Quarter Finals and narrowly missed out to go through. Emma was running extremely well even with an injured knee. She cruised through the Heat, Quarter and Simi final to make the final later today. As you would expect a very strong field and Emma finished with a very creditable 5th. Once again both girls’ great dedication.

Friday

Early morning start in the 2km beach relay. Bella being U/17 and Sienna Open, they had to compete in Open. Bella was running up two age groups or 3 years different. Bella was the first runner and once again we saw a breakaway pack of four and Bella was in it. With about 400mts of Bella’s leg to go she kicked and hit the lead. The older and stronger component did catch her right at the end to tag only about 10 mts ahead. Sienna took off in pursuit of last years open winner getting in her footsteps very quickly. There was a bit of cat and mouse going on with different tactics. With 200mts from the finish Sienna went for it, and ran to almost exhaustion, collapsing over the line in gold position. What these two girls did was beyond sensational, did I have tears in my eye and a lump in my throat, I would be lying if I said I didn’t.

In the afternoon it was the sprint relay time. With three being under age competitor and one open they had the run the open relay. Ash, Emma, Bella and Sienna lines up, remembering Bella and Sienna ran the 2 km earlier and were not sprinters. I heard on 2 km runners say “I don’t want to do this, I’m tired, I’m not a sprinter but I’m doing it because I love Cottesloe”. Emma and Ash had great runs in the first two legs and Bella and Sienna gave everything they had to finish off. Great to see Cottesloe get 5th in the Open Beach Semi Final.

Saturday

Another early start to watch Kate in the 2km Ocean Swim. It was hard to pick her during the race, but I found her coming in near the finish. You need to see the video. Kate came out of the water in fourth, but she ran like an Olympian sprinter, and she wanted 3rd place more than anyone else. Inspirational

Later in the morning the flags started. Emma really was flagging so well even though after each round you could see she was in pain with her knee. A week ago, she wasn’t going to compete because of her injured knee. Emma makes it through to the final, top 8.

Tom steps forward to the open flags and like his ski races he is focused, goal driven. Round one easily through, round two another flag and lining up for round three. He then gets a tap on the shoulder saying Surfers protested and got DQ. Tom may not have won the semis and got through to the finals, but he was quick and doing so well. He was robbed.

The afternoon we saw Emma come back out for the finals of the U/17 flags. The first race Emma and another club member grab the same flag so there needs to be a runoff. Two competitors one flag and the break from the morning racing and knee injury did not go Emma’s way. The Top eight in Australia, unbelievable.

Sunday

The last day of competition and all finals.  The surf has dropped and bigger banks and gutters. Kate was our only competitor left, and it was in a field of 32 in the U/17 Surf Race. You could tell how focused she was and when the gun went her sprint start was again inspiring. A very packed bunch the whole race and a hot field. Katie crossed the line in 24th but it was not that far behind the winners, Gutsy effort.