The stage is set for the toughest $200,000 Kellogg’s Nutri-Grain Ironman Series on record after Surf Life Saving Australia today announced the six teams to contest the 2008 Series, which kicks off at Kurrawa on the Gold Coast on February 2 and 3.

Defending champions the South Queensland Sunfish will be spearheaded by defending individual champions, Shannon Eckstein and Kristy Harris, 2006 winner Zane Holmes and 2007 final round winner Elizabeth Pluimers.

The awesome foursome have been able to sit back in recent weeks as more than 100 trialists went through their paces, gunning for the final spots in a Series which will showcase some of the best Ironmen and Ironwomen in the history of the sport as well as talented group of youngsters who represent an exciting future for surf sports in Australia.

Judging by the depth in the six teams announced for the 2008 Series there will be no place for complacency - even from defending champions the South Queensland sunfish.

“We are very excited about this year’s Kellogg’s Nutri-Grain Ironman Series which will showcase not only the current stars but a group of enthusiastic and very talented youngsters,” said Surf Life Saving’s General Manager of Surf Sports Grant Baldock.

“We have already seen this season at the International Centenary Challenge the likes of Eckstein and Holmes and Australian captain Nathan Smith, looking over their shoulders at Pierce Leonard – the current Australian Ironman champion, who will be out to end the reign of the elder statesmen of the sport.

“Throw in youngsters Corey Jones, Chris Allum and Jacob Lollback and hard heads like Dean Mercer, Wes Berg, Daniel Shade, Tim Peach and Drew Cairncross and 2008 could be anyone’s year.

“The women produced some of the best racing seen in years at Redcliffe last week, with former Australian champion Naomi Flood staging several neck-and-neck duels with rising star Courtney Hancock.

“Flora Manciet looks like she is in the best form of her career and sitting back watching were Harris, Pluimers, NIB Coolangatta Gold winner Alicia Marriott and 2007 under 19 winner Emma Wynne.

“We haven’t seen depth like this for many years,” he said.

Holmes, who has won everything there is to win in the sport from the Australian and World titles, to the Kellogg’s Nutri-Grain Series and the Coolangatta Gold, has again been named captain of the South Queensland team.

“I am happy with my team, it’s so strong especially with the inclusion of Elizabeth (Pluimers) this season and again I think we’ll be the ones to beat in 2008,” Holmes said.

“But looking at the team sheets on paper the Southern NSW Bluefins and the Northern NSW Hammers have a great mixture of youth and experience and along with North Queensland, could cause a big upset if we’re not at our best.”

“It’s great to see plenty of new faces this year which adds a bit of excitement and I think it’s going to be pretty hard racing in a program - you can’t really afford to have a bad race.”

Smith will lead a very exciting Southern Blue Fins line up which includes Berg and Cairncross and trio of the sports glamour girls in Candice Falzon and the Berg coached duo of Alyce Bennett and Chelsea McKenzie.

Falzon, Bennett and McKenzie were all impressive in the Suttons Beach Trial with Falzon again silencing her critics with her grit determination.

Flood, who has already had a celebrated career for Australia and NSW, will lead the Northern NSW Hammers and will be joined by her good friend Courtney Hancock and her sister Bonnie in the women’s rankings and a rejuvenated Shade and former Yamba pair Hugh Dougherty and Lollback.

“I am totally rapped with our team and just so excited that every member has their roots in northern New South Wales which is only going to build greater team spirit which hopefully we can turn into great results.” Flood said

“Looking at all the team lists for this year it’s definitely going to take the rivalry against everyone, , especially the South Queensland team, to another level.

“We have a group on our day that is good enough to win this thing and I will be having plenty or stern words to my team prior to racing to remind them of where they come from and what it means to represent New South Wales, both as an individual and even more so in the team events.”

Mercer, who has been a professional ironman for over 20 years, will again lead the Southern Ice team which includes Leonard, reigning NSW champion Allum and an exciting women’s trio of French champion Manciet, rookie Chloe Jones (sister of Corey) and one of the stars of the 2007 Series Sheree Merryful.

The North Queensland Lightning will be led by Peach, who had to pull out all stops to make the cut in last week’s Trial and he will be joined by the exciting talents of Corey Jones, the spirited wildcard Kyle “Spider” Garrett and former Australian and World champion Kristy Munroe.

The Western Waves will be captained by Emma Wynne who will be joined by WA stars Marriott and Brendan Sarson and qualifiers, South African Wade Krieger and wildcard Brodie Moir.

Rounds one and two at Kurrawa on February 2 and 3 will be followed by rounds three and four at Coolum on February 16 and 17, with the final scheduled for Coogee on March 1.

The Series will be televised on the Nine Network and Fox Sports.

North Queensland Beach House Fitness Lightning
Tim Peach (c), Corey Jones, Kyle Garrett, Allira Richardson, Kristy Munroe, Gemma Newbiggin

South Queensland Telstra Sunfish
Zane Holmes (c), Shannon Eckstein, Luke Nisbet, Kristy Harris, Terri Sullivan, Elizabeth Pluimers

Northern NSW Inner Health Plus Hammers
Naomi Flood (c), Jacob Lollback, Hugh Dougherty, Daniel Shade, Courtney Hancock, Bonnie Hancock

Southern NSW Yamaha Blue Fins
Nathan Smith (c), Wes Berg, Drew Cairncross, Candice Falzon, Chelsea MacKenzie, Alyce Bennett

Southern DHL Ice
Dean Mercer (c), Pierce Leonard, Chris Allum, Flora Manciet, Chloe Jones, Sheree Merryfull

Western NIB Waves
Emma Wynne (c), Brendan Sarson, Wade Krieger, Matt Poole, Alicia Marriott, Brodie Moir

For further media enquiries, please contact Lauren Ryan on (02) 9300 4000.