Ocean Grove Surf Life Saving Club life member Bill Strachan completed his third Coolangatta Gold on the Gold Coast on Sunday 8 October.
The Coolangatta Gold is recognised as one of Australia’s most enduring and challenging surf races.
The 56-year-old finished in a time of 5 hours 47 minutes and 52 seconds.
He came sixth in the Over 50’s category with the Coolangatta Gold long course a gruelling 41.8km challenge.
Bill’s race involved a 23km ski leg, 2.1km run, 3.5km swim, 6.1km board leg and then finished off with a 7.1 km run along the soft sand.
“It involved four to five months preparation … the ski leg was my strongest leg,” Bill said.
Bill has completed in two other Coolangatta Gold events in 2010 and 2015.
The short course Coolangatta Gold saw Ocean Grove SLSC competitors Campbell Bohan, Jesse Coulson and Briely Wight took part in the Under 19 competition on Saturday 7 October.