New Zealand ironman champion Daniel Moodie will be racing in his father's memory at this weekend's Kellogg's Nutri-Grain series in Australia.
John Moodie died suddenly two weeks ago in Hawke's Bay, leaving his 22-year-old eldest son struggling to focus on the lucrative series which heads into rounds three and four at Alexandra Headland on Saturday and Sunday.
"This has been an incredibly tough past fortnight and I've spent a lot of time with Mum and my brother and sister trying to get through it," Moodie said.
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| Daniel Moodie (Photo: Surf Life Saving New Zealand) |
"Obviously my training has suffered but I'll be racing for Dad this weekend for sure. Apart from everything else, he was a huge influence on my surf career and doing my very best will be the ideal way of showing how much he meant to me."
Moodie is competing with his mum Debbie's blessing, comforted by the incredible show of support from his Westshore club in Napier and the wider New Zealand surf lifesaving community, as well as the tight-knit community of Australian-based Kiwi athletes.
"It's really meant a lot to us. We've had so much support from so many people and I'd really like to thank them all, for helping me and my family. It's made me realise what a privilege it is to race on behalf of them and it's certainly helps my motivation."
Moodie is the first New Zealand surf athlete to compete in the Kellogg's ranks since Lucy Pengelly in 2007 and is one of only three Kiwi males – along with Cory Hutchings and Glenn Anderson – to break into that elite level.
This is his first season as a Kellogg's competitor and began the series with a promising start at Kurrawa Beach in Queensland three weeks ago, finishing 20th in the first round and climbing to 12th in the second round.
The four-time New Zealand ironman champion also confirmed he'll be heading home for next week's Lion Foundation Surf League in Mount Maunganui, named yesterday in the Hawke's Bay team for the inter-provincial show-piece.
He's shown a liking for the Bay of Plenty beach in the past, winning six consecutive ironman titles at the Surf League carnival and last year adding both surf races for good measure.
"I love competing for Hawke's Bay and I love the event so I'm really looking forward to it. First I've got some business to attend to this weekend though – hopefully I can return home on a high.
Moodie won't be the only New Zealand presence at Alexandra Headland on Queensland's Sunshine Coast, with Australian-raised Kiwis Maddie Boon and Aimee Berridge both competing for wild-card entries.
They'll need top-three finishes in tomorrow's qualifying race to guarantee a start in the elite 20-strong women's field over the weekend.
Saturday's third-round will see athletes divided into two sprint-length semifinals based on their ranking in the series after two rounds, with the first five home making the final, while Sunday's traditional finale will be based on qualifying times from the first of two races.
