Debbie Tanner and Kris Gemmell are the leading hopes at the opening ITU World Cup triathlon on Australia's Sunshine Coast this weekend.
While it is early in the season, both have shown good form in limited outings so far this summer and are keen to test themselves against World Cup quality opposition on Sunday.
Conditions are warm and humid on the Sunshine Coast and water conditions are expected to test the athletes with a swell bringing strong surf to Mooloolaba in recent days, something both Gemmell and Tanner are looking forward to on Sunday.
"Bring it on," said Gemmell after an early morning swim today (Friday).
"This is what it is all about racing here in Australia, a few waves on the way out and a bit of body surfing if you are good enough on the way back in," said Gemmell.
"Mooloolaba is a race that's always been a great place to kick my season off. I really enjoy the conditions over here and it's one of the toughest courses we have on the World Cup circuit.
"Of course my focus is more towards the new World Championship series, where I'll be looking to peak in a couple of months time in Korea for the first event. But never the less this will be a great test to see how my training is going currently and what my fitness is like over the Olympic distance. It's a big ask to have your first standard distance race as a World Cup event but I always look forward to battling with the best in the world so there is no better place to do it than here in Mooloolaba this weekend."
Likewise Tanner is not concerned about a surf swim on the weekend.
"I'm heading out this afternoon to check it out but a bit of surf won't worry me and I'm sure it won't worry the Aussies. It will make for an interesting swim and maybe lead to an early break on the bike. Conditions are what they are though; I'm looking forward to it."
Gemmell and Tanner are not the lone Kiwis in the field though, with Beijing Olympian Shane Reed also racing after finishing 6th at the recent nationals in Wellington. Also in the men's field are Clark Ellice (New Plymouth), Graham O'Grady (Hamilton), Martin van Barneveld (Wellington) and Ben Pattle (Auckland).
In the women's much interest will focus on Tanner and Nicky Samuels (Wanaka) but Kate McIlroy (Wellington) tastes World Cup triathlon for the first time as the former world mountain running champion and track athlete looks to build on her impressive debut season this past New Zealand summer.
The Kiwis are not alone in looking forward to some good surf conditions, with the Aussies Emma Moffatt and Brad Kahlefeldt also keen on mixing it up.
"I'm looking forward to it," said Moffatt, who has a surf life saving background.
"I grew up in these sorts of conditions so no, the waves don't bother me. If anything it mixes the race up a little and changes the complexion of the race a little.
"I think it is part and parcel of racing on the World Cup circuit, you travel to different places and experience different conditions. We are used to the waves down here but have to go to some places in Europe and face flat freezing water."
Kahlefeldt similarly was upbeat when talking about the possibility of ‘catching a few waves' back into the beach.
"Bring it on; I'd love to see a 5 metre swell to be honest. I am not a great pool swimmer; I'm better suited to open water so these conditions are probably better suited to us Aussies.
"Every swim on the World Cup circuit is different in some way and this is part of what makes this race so tough, you never get an easy swim. I wish every race was like this."
Elite Women - Ones to Watch:
- Emma Moffatt (AUS) - 2008 Olympic Bronze Medallist, 2-time World Cup winner, 2006 Under23 World Championships silver medalist
- Felicity Abram (AUS) - 2006 World Championships bronze medallist, 4 career World Cup medals
- Annabel Luxford (AUS) - 2005 World Championship silver medalist, 4-time World Cup winner, 2005 overall World Cup series champion, 2004 Under23 World Champion
- Debbie Tanner (NZL) - 2008 Olympian, 2006 Ishigaki World Cup winner, 4 career World Cup medals
- Daniela Ryf (SUI) - 2008 under23 world champion
- Kiyomi Niwata (JPN) - 3-time Olympian, 4 career World Cup medals
Elite Men - Ones to Watch:
- Brad Kahlefeldt (AUS) - 2008 Olympian, 2006 Commonwealth Games Gold Medallist, 5-time World Cup winner, 2002 Under23 World Champion
- Courtney Atkinson (AUS) - 2008 Olympian, 5-time World Cup winner, 2008 Australian National Champion
- Kris Gemmell (NZL) - 4-time World Cup winner, 2008 Olympian, 2002 Aquathlon World Champion
- Shane Reed (NZL) - 2008 Olympian, 2-time World Cup winner, 3-time Aquathlon World Champion, 2008 Oceania Champion
- Laurent Vidal (FRA) - 2008 Olympian, 2002 Junior European Championships silver medalist
- Stuart Hayes (GBR) - 3 career World Cup medals
- Andreas Raelert (GER) - 2004 & 2000 Olympian, 3-time German National Championships runner-up; budding long-distance star
