Georgia Miller knows the unpredictable nature of competitive surf life saving all too well – it’s what helped her clinch her first IronWoman title four years ago.
Now, with the roles flipped, she’s hoping she does not fall into the same trap as she leads the field ahead of this weekend’s final two rounds of the Iron Series at Kurrawa beach on the Gold Coast.
“I’d never lead the series until I won my first title back in the 2018-19 season,” she told Nine’s Wide World of Sport.
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“I hadn’t been leading at all and on the last round – I had to win the race and the girl that was leading had to place eighth or worse [for me to win].
“She ended up eighth so that’s how I won my first title.
“You never know how you’re going to go which is scary and nerve-racking but when it all comes together it’s such a relief.”
This season, however, the hunter is now the hunted.
“It’s very, very different to be leading the series and coming in [to the final] on top of the leaderboard. So, fingers crossed that doesn’t happen to me – what I did four years ago.”
Winning three of the four rounds to date, Miller has dominated the field this summer.
“The job’s not done yet but it’s been a great series and it’s also been great being a part of such an amazing group of girls racing,” she said.
“The point score is so tight it’s got to come down to the last race on Sunday. So it’s awesome to be a part of and hopefully, I can get the job done.”
Miller said going into the finale leading the pack brings with it “a different feeling”, but one she insists isn’t a hinderance.
“Some would say the pressure is on me, but I see it in a differently,” she said.
“I see it as I’m not the one chasing down the results anymore, I’ve just got to go out there, stick to my race plan and just do what I’ve been doing the past couple of weeks because it seems to be working.
“So that’s what I’ll be doing on the weekend, I’ll be going out there to win the races and not get too far ahead of myself thinking about the overall results – it’s just another weekend that I get to do something that I love.”
Heading into rounds five and six, the title is still anyone’s game. Only six points separate Miller from good mate Lizzie Welborn in second and then another 10 points to training partner Danielle McKenzie in third.
Remarkably, anyone in top five is within striking distance.
“It’s great to be in a field that is so tight and racing so well and so fast. It’s a privilege to be part of that – and then to be leading that group is really cool,” she said.
The 26-year-old has been involved in surf life saving most of her life – starting in under-six nippers at Freshwater SLSC – and could not be a prouder ambassador for the sport.
Coming almost full circle, Miller now works for Northcliffe SLSC where she runs their nippers program.
With the lifestyle forming such a central part of her identity, Miller explained how special it is to be around the future generation of IronMen and Women and to be able to show them first-hand what they can achieve in the sport.
“I just tell the nippers, ‘I’m a big nipper at the end of the day’. I run around and do what they do.
”It’s very eye-opening to watch them enjoying themselves and it makes me very, very happy.
“I hope I can inspire that next generation to keep at surf life saving – it’s such a great sport, such a great community and we also have the opportunity to give back by patrolling the beaches, which is something that no other sport does.”
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