Siblings star in the surf
Sun 01 June 2008
Mary Saville, Journalism
Some people move to the Sunshine Coast for work and some for the lifestyle, but for Caloundra’s star siblings it is the surf life saving.
The Jones siblings, Corey, 22, and Chloe, 20, moved to the Sunshine Coast eight years ago to pursue their love of the ocean and their talents in the surf.
“After a year of travelling from Brisbane to the Coast, we decided to move up and haven’t looked back since," Corey says.
However, many other surf life saving competitors re-locate from the Sunshine Coast.
“The Sunshine Coast isn’t very competitive because the clubs lack funds,” Chloe says.
“Everyone moves to the Gold Coast where the clubs are bigger and where they have more money.
“I’m inspired by Kristy Munroe. She is one of the best competitors yet she has stayed loyal to the Sunshine Coast and the Alexandra Headland club.”
The siblings’ latest success was at the 2008 Kellogg’s Nutri-Grain Ironman and Ironwoman Series.
Corey won the third round and was placed seventh overall out of 18 competitors.
Chloe got the wildcard into the series. All she wanted to do was prove to the selectors they made the right choice. She did that by coming in tenth place overall out of 18.
“Corey is my biggest inspiration,” Chloe says.
“He is the one who makes me get out of bed early in the morning to go to training.”
Corey says Chloe is his biggest rival.
“When I see Chloe do well, I know I have to pull out a big one.”
Caloundra’s John Wallace is their swimming coach and Rhett Collie coaches them for board, ski and ironman events.
Mr Wallace and Mr Collie have coached many athletes at national level and both competed in surf events when they were younger.
“Our coaches are a big motivation,” Chloe says.
“We train with these guys 10 times a week, we really need someone that we get along with and who is going to bring out the best in us.
“ We couldn’t ask for anyone better.”
Surf life saving has always been a family affair with the Jones clan.
The siblings’ mother, Debbie, just wanted her children to learn surf safety.
Their father, Gary, is an official for Surf Life Saving Queensland.
Brothers Zane, 25, and Aaron, 24, still do surf patrols at Caloundra after giving up competition a year ago.
There is little time for a break between training sessions for Corey and Chloe.
Chloe works full time as an education officer for Surf Life Saving Queensland and studies sport and exercise science part time at the University of the Sunshine Coast.
She is involved with coaching surf on the Sunshine Coast and in northern Queensland.
When Chloe retires from competing, she hopes to become a high school teacher or a surf coach.
Corey works at the Caloundra pool which he one day hopes to manage.
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Submitted Comments
Very informative article! Good luck to them both!
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