By Margaret Maccoll
Noosa local Nick Sloman and Alexandra Headland’s Lani Pallister are the newly crowned Arena Noosa 1000 Ocean Swim champions, with stunning displays of controlled open water swimming in front of a packed Noosa Main Beach.
It was fifth time lucky for Sloman, the 19-year-old Noosa Aquatic Centre swimmer, finally taking out the coveted Noosa 1000 title considered one of the most prestigious races in Australia. The pace was on from the gun but Sloman was able to use the conditions to his favour delivering the final blow at the last buoy and heading for the finish line to record a stunning victory.
“It was definitely fast. It always is and I just tried to stay as easy as possible for the first 500m and try and gas them at the transition. That is exactly what I did.”
“The run in the middle of the course is what makes it so hard because it is a different type of cardio and it really gets the heart rate up. It was also a little bit choppy and that makes it difficult, especially when you are trying to pick up the pace. You hit a chop and slow right down, so it is hard to maintain pace but they are also good conditions to break the opposition.”
Fifteen-year-old USC Spartans swimmer Lani Pallister made short work of the 1km swim dominating the open female race despite not enjoying the choppy conditions.
“I thought it was going to be a lot smoother and because it was choppy I swallowed a lot of water. It was a great race but a little bit over what I normally do with 800s but I really enjoyed it.”
“I was nervous the whole way through but once I crossed the line it was a great feeling. this is the second year I have done the swim so it was great to improve on that result. It is fantastic.”
