DEFENDING CHAMPION SMITH TO MISS ICF WORLD TITLES

Since stepping into the world of ocean ski paddling, Jemma Smith has won almost everything that she’s entered. 

Last year she broke new ground by becoming the first woman to claim multiple ICF World Championships, with back-to-back victories in 2022 and 2023.

But there’s still one surf sports title missing that Smith found herself wanting to make her own.

The Coolangatta Gold.

And as a result, she won’t be defending her ICF Ocean Racing crown in Madeira next month.

“It was a super tough decision,” she told The Paddler.

“It’s something I thought long and hard about. We were lucky enough to have ICF Worlds here in Australia last year, then obviously the year before was in Portugal.

“They were both amazing experiences. I got a lot out of them both as a paddler and as a person.

“But with the timing of Worlds being the week before the Coolangatta Gold, and being in Madeira, which from Australia is a bit of a challenge that would impact my preparation for the Gold, I made the tough call to miss it this year.”

Surf lifesaving was Smith’s first surf sports love.

She burst onto the elite Nutri-Grain Ironwoman Series as a 17 year-old and scored immediate success, winning her first round while still studying for her Higher School Certificate exams.

That talent saw Smith pulled into the world of sprint kayaking, but after missing selection on Australia’s Olympic team at the start of the year, she started to reflect.

The Gold was front of mind.

“I’m really excited to line up again.” She says. “It’s something I haven’t done in a little while, taking the step away from iron racing and swimming five years ago.

“Jumping back into that arena, I’ve been trying to get back in the pool and get back all of that muscle memory after a few years off. 

“It’s been a really good challenge but I’ve loved it. I really enjoy all of the training for the longer distance races. It’s been a challenge, but regardless of the outcome, I’m really glad I decided to take it on.”

Smith’s previous attempt at the iconic, yet gruelling, endurance ironperson race produced one of the most dramatic finishes in the sport’s history.

After leading the entirety of the 42 kilometre, four and a half hour course, a then 20 year-old Smith was ran down in the final 200 metres by Lana Rogers, finishing three seconds short of victory.

It was a stunning debut for Smith, and doubling as the first round of the Nutri-Grain Series that year, she was ecstatic.

But, in the five years since, her desire for the title hasn’t waned.

“I always wanted to do it again,” she says. “I trained for it again in 2020, but obviously because of COVID the event didn’t go ahead. That’s when I shifted my focus into kayaking and paddling.

“I just thought this year was better than ever. To have the time and the chance to jump back in and challenge myself with that kind of training has been really rewarding.

“The last time I trained for it I was still at Umina [surf life saving club] doing a lot of the work on my own.

“Now that I’m at Newport, it’s really rewarding to have such a good group of people around me. 

“To have them day-in, day-out, pushing me to get in the best possible shape has been absolutely awesome. It’s been a really great experience so far.”

A lot can change in five years.

Smith laughs as she reveals that she’s even found a new love for swimming since she’s been away.

“It was definitely something I didn’t think I would enjoy, and not having done the work for a couple of years I knew it was going to be a challenge, but I have absolutely loved it.” She says.

“I think too, because I’ve been able to see such big improvements in a short amount of time, it’s kept the motivation and momentum building. I’ve enjoyed it much more than I thought I would.”

Her decision looks to have arrived at the perfect time, as well.

Shaw and Partners Financial Services has again expanded its astounding portfolio of event sponsorship to include the Iron Series, replacing long-time naming rights partners Nutri-Grain.

Under a revamped format and in an expanded field, 15 athletes are set to progress from trials through to the sport’s biggest stage.

Smith admits she’s seriously considering making a return.

“I always really enjoyed being a part of it,” she explains. “It was such a dream of mine since I was a young nipper to be involved.

“At this stage, I’m not 100% confirmed. But after doing all of the work for the Gold, I think I may as well line up and give it a crack at the trials.”

“I think being a bit older now, a bit more mature and having a different perspective, it’s just really enjoyable for me.

“I used to get super nervous when I was racing, but lining up in a couple of iron races over the past 12 months, I just have fun. I don’t put that same pressure on myself like I did when I was younger.

“It will be fun to line up with that new mentality and just get back out there.”

That’s not to suggest she’s leaving the world of downwind racing behind.

After claiming victory at the third round of the Australian Ocean Racing Series last month, The Chucky, Smith will again be making the trip up the coast for the Shaw and Partners Forster Race Weekend.

Although the hard work won’t stop at the finish line on Saturday – she’s eyeing off a Gold run-through.

“I think that is actually the plan Morri [coach Luke Morrison] has set.” Smith laughs.

“I did something similar after The Chucky. I went home then did a 10 kilometre run in the afternoon and I was in all-sorts after it.”

On the other side of the world, the ICF Ocean Racing World Championships will be feeling her absence.

Smith joins 2019 World Champion Danielle McKenzie in opting against making the trip, and although neither athlete has said the event’s prevalence is part of their reasoning, it’s again put the Championships in the spotlight.

On The Paddler’s Pod with Sam and Macca, host Sam Djodan, a four-time Australian representative, took aim at the ICF’s 2018 decision to make the sport’s showpiece race an annual event, rather than the biennial approach that was in place since its launch in 2013.

Smith says this new yearly running of the race wasn’t a factor in her decision, but admits it would have an influence over other athletes.

“I only came into the sport when it started running every year.” She says.

“When it is in such difficult places to travel to, it probably does present itself as a bit of a challenge. I haven’t really thought about it too much.”

“I’ll do all of the domestic races in Australia. I’m going to do 20 Beaches and the Shaw and Partners WA Race Week. 

So I’ll still be doing plenty of downwind racing, just not overseas.”