Hayden White, a former teammate of Day at Warilla-Barrack Point, is back in the series for the first time since 2018-19.

Both South Coast products clinched their spots for the 2021 series at November's two-day qualifying event at Kingscliff.

"Anytime you step up to the start line, especially in a trial like that, you expose yourself to criticism from your peers and the general public," White, who has been on the professional circuit five times since his debut in 2013, said.

"You're competing against the top athletes in Australia and mother nature, which is tough, hard and stressful all at the same time.

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"You know you're going fast enough but sometimes that's not enough - you need luck because one wave can change your whole fortunes in the blink of an eye.

"Having a familiar face like Ali on the line next to me helped, especially as he pushed the pace all weekend, which made it harder and suited my style.

"Thankfully, I made it into the top eight and secured my spot back on the pro series, which was a massive relief."

Now 31, the former Lake Illawarra High School student first started his time at Warilla-Barrack Point as a five-year-old.

After 17 years at his junior club, he moved north to Mooloolaba for two years, before ending up at Currumbin, where he is today.

All three of these clubs have helped him on his ironman journey, which has led to him once again making it on the circuit.

"It's a combination of everything that has gotten me to this point," he said.

"Growing up on the South Coast as an aspiring young ironman, I was lucky enough to have an established group of veterans to look up to at the club who guided me, such as London Olympic kayak gold medallist David Smith.

"Those guys taught me the importance of hard work and that you only get out what you put in - all that training well and truly toughened us up.

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"Then seeing what Ali, who was the first of my era from Warilla to make the move north and excel, definitely inspired me to pursue my athletic goals, just as the likes of Caitlin Foord and Alex Volkanovski from our area did.

"Then at Mooloolaba, I trained with Michael King and Ali for two years, where the emphasis was adding that finishing touch to my ironman art - the structured environment was about polishing that extra one per cent.

"The past six years I've now been at Currumbin, which is a very family orientated club, not unlike the ones back on the South Coast - which has been exactly what I needed at this stage of my career.

"Especially training with fellow Warilla boy Ben Carberry, who is unfortunately out of this year's series with an injury, and all the young kids coming through, which keeps me on my toes and motivates me to keep improving."

All this has him ready to produce his best series to date, as he believes the triple-header format suits him.

"In my first year of the series, we did a triple-header weekend and it was a tough challenge," White, who believes the ski and board are his strengths, said.

"It's not a foreign concept and I know how hard it's going to be.

"The key is to stay focus across all three days and not let an early result, be it good or bad, get the better of you.

"The beauty of it, whatever happens on Friday, you still have two more days of racing to prove yourself.

"There will be plenty of change, from the standings, conditions and result over the three days, so the only thing I need to worry about is myself and how I can get across the line as quick as possible."

A strong performance at Kingscliff this weekend would set White going into the second triple-header, as the same beach, from February 26 to 28.

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"I'm completely confident I've done all the necessary training and I'll be leaving nothing in the tank," White, who was the 2016 Australian board champion, said.

"I'll be racing to win just like everyone else - anyone who says they're not is lying.

"Realistically, I know Ali, even though he missed last year's series, is still the one to beat, so a couple of podium finishes over the next few weeks would be unreal.

"Then bigger picture, I'd love to secure a top-five finish, especially as it would lock me in for next year's series too."

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