Meeting with a legend! Simon Harris won 11 gold at the Aussies. He’s coaching several athletes, including Annah Abravanel.
What clubs have you been part of over the years?
I started surf life saving at Helensburgh Stanwell Park SLSC at the age of 7. I stayed there until I was 25 before moving to the Gold Coast and joining Surfers Paradise for one season, I moved to Northcliffe for 7 years before switching to Kurrawa for the last 6 years.
Why did you choose to specialize in beach flags in surf lifesaving?
I didn’t choose beach flags it chose me. I loved my rugby league growing up and played half back so the running short distances was complementary to beach flags so the sport chose me. Once I got that beach flags bug as a 7 year-old I knew I never wanted to do another sport.
What are your achievements in surf lifesaving?
– Aussies Titles: 11 gold, 4 silver and 1 bronze.
– I won 4 times world open beach flags champion (interclubs).
– 9 undefeated seasons worldwide.
Was inducted into the Australian surf life saving hall of fame.
Became the oldest person in history to win an Open Australian championship in an individual event (2016, 40 years old).
Have you ever been selected for the Australian team?
No I was never selected to represent Australia unfortunately they always chose sprinters over a beach flag specialist.
How did you become a coach? What is your profession outside of sport?
My full time job I am a project supervisor for a building company. Coaching was an accident, towards the end of my career I started helping out some other athletes and they started to get some really good results so decided to stay with it and help as much as I could.
What do you think of the European lifesaving athletes you regularly host?
The level of the European athletes is fantastic. I’m aware they need to do more than just focus on the one event like we can do in Australia (to win an Australian gold you really need to focus on that one event 6 days a week for 9 months of the year. There’s no time to do any other events if you want to be a champion) so I understand Europe is a bit different in that regard but from what I’ve seen you guys are fantastic.
You coach several athletes, including Annah Abravanel. What do you think of her progress?
I think Annah’s success is absolutely fantastic. I’m very proud of her. She works so hard and “lives the sport” and that’s what you need to do to be successful at the Australian championships and the world championships. I’m sure the French surf life saving is as proud as her as I am. I hope they realise what can be achieved by truly focusing on one single event.
Many beach flag athletes around the world are inspired by your technique and your career. How does that make you feel? In your opinion, what are the key ingredients to becoming a top beach flags specialist? Are mindset and nutrition essential factors?
It’s very humbling that other flaggers are inspired by my career. I try my best to give as much time as I can to anyone who wants to learn or has questions. I had heroes growing up, and they were all very kind to me, so I feel it’s my turn to help as many people as I can and give back to the sport
Yes, nutrition is very important, but the main ingredient is mindset. Be a pro in every aspect of becoming the best competitor you can possibly be. Become a true student of the sport — it goes a long way in helping you develop quickly and improve consistently.
From the age of 7, all I wanted was to become the Australian champion, as it’s the pinnacle of our sport. Winning ‘The Aussies’ is a far greater and more difficult achievement than winning a world tittle. So from the age of 7, I made the choice to train and become the best I could be.
Are you optimistic about the future of surf lifesaving?
I’m very optimistic about the future of surf life saving and the beach flags in particular. Hence why I’m coaching now, I’d like to give back and help build the sport.
Bruno Magnes & Soazig Morice-Noutary
Photo Kate Harris
