Coolangatta Gold king Ali Day will take the confidence from one his finest moments in lifesaving when he chases his first world oceanman title in Adelaide.
The 26-year-old spearheaded his club to a thrilling oceanman relay world crown with his Surfers Paradise teammates at Glenelg Beach on Saturday afternoon.
He used all his skill and strength to edge in front of Currumbin's Hayden White towards the end of the ski leg, giving his anchor sprinter Nathan Gray enough lead to sprint to the finish and claim the title.
Day and White are products of the Warilla Barrack Point junior nursery on the NSW south coast and are longtime best mates.
After paddling stroke-for-stroke around the choppy course, the six-time Coolangatta Gold champion paddled over a small chop to get the edge over White and a 10m advantage.
"It was pretty funny having to paddle around he course the whole way next to one of my best mates," Day said.
"They are probably the hardest races to win and to win it with it those boys, Max Beattie (board), TJ Hendy (swim) and Nath'. It just feels so special.
"I've never won an oceanman or taplin relay before and I'm so thrilled to do it here in Adelaide."
Day will line up in the individual oceanman on Sunday against reigning Nutri-Grain champion and Friday's individual board winner Matt Bevilacqua (Kurrawa) and James Lacey (Mermaid Beach), as well as his Surfers teammates.
Saturday also saw the continuing emergence of one of lifesaving and swimming's prodigies in Alexandra Headland schoolgirl Lani Pallister, who won the women's world open surf race title.
The 16-year-old daughter of Olympian and her stillwater coach Janelle Elford and former surf race and belt great Rick Pallister, Lani left behind the Northcliffe trio of National Teams surf race champion Georgia Miller, Margaux Fabre and former Australian surf race champion Courtney Hancock.
Pallister (swim) later combined with Olympic kayaker and Friday's world single ski champion Alyssa Bull (ski), Olivia Heaton (board) and Tiarrn Raymond (run) to win the oceanwoman relay.
The men's surf race went to Ollie Signorini (Newport), who edged out Day, while the beach sprint finals went to Olivia Eaton (Currumbin) and Jackson Symonds (Northcliffe).
