Coolangatta Beach, QLD | October 18-19 2025

In a thrilling display of endurance and legacy, surf lifesaving icon Ali Day claimed victory in the inaugural Shaw and Partners Coolangatta Gold 25.6, marking his final competitive race at the iconic Coolangatta Race. 

Day’s win in 2:23:39 capped off a storied career, as he held off fierce competition from Matt Bevilacqua and Cory Taylor in a repeat of the 2023 podium.

“This is 100% the last time I’ll do this race,” Day said, reflecting on the brutal soft sand run and the emotional weight of his final outing. “I still knew in the back of my mind I had one more in me, and I’m so glad I was able to win this one today.”

The women’s division saw a breakout performance from Electra Outram of Sunshine Beach SLSC, who surged in the board and run legs to secure her first major title. “I’m really elevated, really ecstatic,” Outram said. “It builds a lot of confidence being able to start with a win early.”

The revamped 25.6km format was introduced this year as part of a broader transformation of the Coolangatta Gold under the stewardship of Shaw and Partners Financial Services.  The company has committed over $2 million to surf sports through 2027. The shorter course and integration with the Shaw and Partners Iron Series have reinvigorated the event, attracting elite athletes and enhancing spectator engagement. 

Surf Life Saving Australia CEO Adam Weir praised the partnership: “The Coolangatta Gold is a hallmark event, and the changes we’re making are designed to provide more opportunities for more people to race. Shaw and Partners’ commitment at both grassroots and elite levels is helping drive the sport forward.”

Shaw and Partners CEO Earl Evans echoed the sentiment: “We’re proud to continue our partnership and help take surf sports to even greater heights. The Coolangatta Gold is iconic”.

The weekend’s prize pool exceeded $170,000, with Day and Outram each taking home $17,500. The event also featured youth challenges and community races, reinforcing its role as a celebration of surf culture and athleticism. 

As the surf sports season kicks off, the momentum from Coolangatta Gold 2025 sets the stage for a dynamic year ahead, with the next round of the Iron Series scheduled for Newcastle in December. With Shaw and Partners backing a new generation of athletes and events like the World Ocean Series and Hayden Kenny Classic, the future of Australian surf sports looks bright. 

A Dramatic Race Born from Film: The History of the Coolangatta Gold

The Coolangatta Gold is not just a race—it’s a legend born from cinematic imagination, forged in athletic grit. 

Its origins trace to 1984, when filmmakers Igor Auzins and Peter Schrek, envisioned an ambitious project in the sporting genre, containing a dramatic endurance race along Queensland’s Gold Coast. For the filming of the race, the producers decided to stage the race for real, rather than simulate it for the film.  

The inaugural event saw Guy Leech, a relatively unknown 18-year-old from Manly, shock the field to win. Leech would go on to win again in 1985 (coinciding with the film’s release) and again in 1989, becoming one of the race’s early legends. The event quickly gained prestige, attracting elite surf athletes and becoming a cornerstone of Australian surf sports.

Over the decades, the race has evolved in format. After a hiatus in the 1990s, it was revived in 2005 with expanded categories, including women’s and masters divisions. The following years saw fierce competition and dramatic finishes with many etching their names into the event’s folklore.Caine Eckstein, in particular, dominated from 2008 to 2011, winning five titles and setting race records. 

The first female champion was Hayley Bateup, who won three titles and helped pave the way for greater female participation.  Competitors like Courtney Hancock and Elizabeth Pluimers consistently found the podium for over a decade, continuing to elevate the womens event.  

From 2012 onward, Ali Day emerged as the modern-day king of the Coolangatta Gold, winning every race he entered and becoming a nine-time champion by the event’s 40^th Anniversary. His final victory in 2025, in the newly formatted 25.6km race, marked the end of an era and the beginning of a new chapter for the event. 

The shortened race has been integrated into the Shaw and Partners Iron Series, attracting elite athletes and enhancing spectator engagement. The new format features compact loops and soft sand transitions, designed for high-intensity racing and broader participation.

With its blend of tradition and innovation, the Coolangatta Gold remains a benchmark for mental resilience and physical endurance and a celebration of Australia’s coastal spirit.

Winners

Men

25.6km race

41.8km race / previous

Women

25.6km race

41.8km race

* Gold Coast Gold Results

In the Uncle Toby’s Super Series, a similar version of the race was held, called The Gold Coast Gold. While not officially recognised as the same, The Gold Coast Gold was essentially the same race, and utilised a similar course to that used today.

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