CANDICE FALZON IRONWOMAN MADE OF MUSCLE

Whatever you think of ironwoman Candice Falzon, there’s no denying she’s been blessed with beauty, talent and determination. She may have copped some flak in her time, but she knows it takes more than just looks to win. Everyone you speak to says she’s a dedicated sportswoman made of muscle, not a party girl.

An Ironwoman competition is no easy feat. Competitors power through a surf swim, a board paddle, a run along the sand and the surf ski. The determination you need is mind bending for the average beachgoer.

Candice grew up near Maroubra beach and as a child competed as a Nipper; swimming and sprinting alongside her parents who were also keen competitors. A natural runner, she participated in the beach sprints and fl ag events as well as the swimming.

Combining the two skills of swim and run she began competing in ironwomen challenges. Her fi rst state level medal came at the young age of 13 and a year later she was selected to join the Uncle Toby’s Super Series Surf Life Saving Pro circuit, becoming the youngest ever professional Ironwoman.

Candice participated in the series for two years until its demise and at 16 she was a NSW state ironwoman champion. In January 2008 Falzon qualifi ed for a spot in the 2008 Nutri-Grain Ironman and Ironwoman Series.

Candice went from strength-to-strength and was crowned the NSW State Ironwoman Champion aft er winning four medals in both the board and Ironwoman events, including the relay races.

In her Ironwoman career, Candice has won over 60 medals in the Sydney branch titles, over 30 at State Titles and 9 Australian medals. She has also completed the Gruelling Coolanagtta Gold event three times fi nishing 8th in 2009.

The 2010 beach year was very successful for Candice. She captained the Western Australian Surf Life Saving team, winning a record number of 10 medals at the State titles and was name the competitor of the carnival. She was chosen to compete in the World Ocean Series in South Africa where she placed 3rd in the 6km ocean ski paddle and 1st in the swim where she was named Queen of Nelson Mandela Bay.

Despite being a regular fi xture of the national Ironwoman series over the last decade, being successful in your sport – and having a killer body – comes at a cost. No matter her success and the proof of her dedication, it never seems enough to silence her critics. “I don’t know whether it’s jealousy,” she says. “But there’s the tall poppy syndrome. All I ever want to do is help promote surf-lifesaving and, in particular, Ironwoman racing,” she insists.

Her story follows.

“I DON’T THINK ANYTHING CAN HOLD YOU BACK IN LIFE IF YOU WANT SOMETHING BAD ENOUGH.”

Tell us a little about your sport. What attracts ladies to this gruelling outdoor pursuit?
I think the sport of Surf Lifesaving is a great way to stay fit. You don’t have to be an Ironwoman, there is something for everyone. If you’re not keen on the water you can compete on the sand in the sprints or 2km run. For me it’s the water that is so attractive.
The training is hard but it’s also fun and you get to visit some of the most beautiful beaches this country has to offer.

How competitive is it?
The top level is very competitive and then when you throw in the unpredictable elements of the surf, any elite athlete can win on the day. Most athletes do the same amount of training and there isn’t much between everyone, so a lot comes down to nutrition and who wants it the most!

What other Aussie ladies excel in your sport? We know that recently you teamed up with Naomi Flood and Devon Halligan to produce a winning team.
Every club wants to win the Taplin relay so to win it at the recent Australian titles was incredible. Devon is a real star of the future and is going to go onto huge things in our sport; she’s handy at Netball too. Naomi Flood has done it all. I don’t think there is an event she hasn’t won. She currently has her sights set on the 2012 Olympics for Kayaking. She trains hard and is super competitive. She deserves all the success that comes her way.

What was your best ever day in competition?
It hard to pinpoint any day in particular. Of course winning gold at Nationals was a great feeling, but on an individual level winning eight medals at this year’s State titles was also a highlight and a record for me.

Have you had any scary moments whilst competing?
Touch wood I have been pretty lucky. I snapped my surf ski in half while I was training one afternoon in Perth. I wasn’t paying too much attention when all of a sudden a big wave broke on the reef and cleaned me up. I was about 5km out to sea. I was safe, but the worse thing was getting back to the beach and the fact I didn’t have a ski to train on for the next session.

What about diet? Is it an issue for you when in training mode?
I never really followed an eating plan or had any kind of diet until this season. Mum is really good at researching and keeping up-to-date with what foods I should and shouldn’t eat. I try to stick to raw foods before competitions. I know everyone has heard it before but nothing beats a balanced diet with plenty of fruit and vegies each day.

Where do you see your career taking you?
At the moment I’m really enjoying my training and racing so I’ll continue with it until I’m bored or worn out. I do some work at Sydney Harbour Kayaks teaching people to paddle, personal training and taking group sessions. This is something I love to do and that I’m extremely passionate about.

“SET GOALS AND NEVER LET THEM OUT OF YOUR SIGHT.”

What do you see holding women back from competition in Australia? Have you any encouraging words for budding competitors?
I don’t think anything can hold you back in life if you want something bad enough. Nothing beats hard work and dedication. Persistence is the key. However, success doesn’t always happen when you want it to. Success happens when you’re ready for it. Set goals and never let them out of your sight. Dreams come true but only if you believe them.

Finally, and we have to ask this, what is it like being exhausted in big surf while you race? Do you ever think about the danger/sharks or do you focus on the finish line? Or is it the competition that fuels your ambition?
When you’re racing nothing goes through your head except what you have to do and your race plan. In my sport there are so many things to concentrate on that the thought of sharks don’t even come into play. When the surf is big and you’re exhausted that’s when errors generally creep in, so it’s even more important to stay focused on the job at hand.