Matt Bevilacqua has declared he is in the best shape of his life as the reigning Coolangatta Gold champion readies to defend his crown before shifting focus to the 2021-22 Nutri-Grain Ironman Series.

Bevilacqua, 29, claimed his maiden Gold in 2019 and retained the title last year as Covid forced its cancellation.

He finally gets to defend his crown on November 14, against a field featuring six-time champion Ali Day, who returns to his pet event for the first time since 2018. The Coolangatta Gold will usher in what Bevilacqua labelled "the biggest summer" surf sports has seen in a number of years, as it pushes for a return to pre-Covid normality.

"The Covid years have been pretty quiet racing-wise (but) I've been able to improve a lot," he said. "I'm definitely the fittest I've ever been and I'm going to take these opportunities, because you (learn to) really appreciate them more now, given the past few years."

The Nutri-Grain Ironman Series will return to the famous Bondi Beach for the first time in 11 years when the first three rounds of the 2021-22 season open on January 14-16.

Bevilacqua's former home club, Kurrawa, will host the final three rounds from February 4-6.

"When I first came to the Gold Coast I spent five years here, so I feel really at home here ... and I can't wait to race in some awesome Gold Coast swell," the Northcliffe athlete said.

Surfers Paradise ironman Day made history in February when he swept the 2020-21 Ironman Series, winning all six races at Kingscliff.

"Last (series) is something I don't think could ever happen again - to win six races, everything I guess fell into my hands with the pretty flat conditions at Kingscliff," Day conceded.

"It's great we get an opportunity to race at North Bondi and then Kurrawa -two iconic locations for ironman racing.

"My first race was at Kurrawa back in 2009 (and) I don't think I've done a series race there since then. It's very special for us to race on such an iconic beach (Bondi)."

Article source: Courier Mail, 29 October 2021