Eyes on the Prize - Braden Currie
Posted on Friday, 8 November 2024 under IRONMAN New Zealand
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We talk to champion IRONMAN® Braden Currie about his ups and downs so far in 2024, his determination to conquer Kona, and his enduring partnership with ANZCO Foods.
Q. Tell me about the IRONMAN Pro-Series you have been racing in this year?
2024 has been the inaugural year of the Pro-Series, which is a mix of full distance and half distance IRONMAN races across the world. Athletes earn points based on their performance with a prize purse of US$1.7 million to be split across the best of the best at the end of the year. To make it even better, the last race of the series will be the IRONMAN 70.3 World Championships at Lake Taupō in December, which will put a global spotlight on our own home of IRONMAN here in New Zealand.
Q. What has the Series meant for you in 2024?
The Pro-Series has been an awesome initiative from IRONMAN and super-exciting for the athletes and the sport overall, but it has certainly made the year more intense than normal. So far, I have competed in three IRONMAN 70.3 races in Australia and the US, as well as three full distance IRONMAN events in Australia, the US and Germany, and I am not done yet!
More racing and travel means added logistical challenges, which can be exhausting, and it also means I have needed to be really focused when it comes to my training and nutrition during the year.
To be honest, it has been a frustrating year in terms of results, with sickness ruining my chances of racing at ANZCO Foods IRONMAN New Zealand back in March, and then some mechanical and technical issues having an impact on other results.
Undoubtedly the highlight was a really satisfying second place finish in the IRONMAN Asia-Pacific Championship in Cairns back in May and knocking off two performances in my full distance races comfortably under the 8-hour mark, which gives me the confidence that I can still compete with the world’s best.
Q. You’ve got the IRONMAN World Championships in Kona, Hawaii, coming up at the end of this month. What makes that race so special?
From the earliest days of my career, it's been my goal to win in Kona. It’s an amazing venue and course and, in many respects, remains the ultimate challenge for any athlete in my sport.
It’s an iconic race that was first held way back in 1978 with just 15 competitors brave (or stupid!) enough to take on the challenge of the 3.8km ocean swim, 180km cycle and 42.2km run.
While the course in Kona is the same every year, each edition brings its own unique challenges related to the wind or the heat, it forces you to manage your race across the day, which makes for exciting racing.
New Zealand athletes have played a big part in the history of Kona over the years. Between 1987 and 1993 Erin Baker won the female title twice and came second three times.
Cam Brown, who won IRONMAN New Zealand an amazing 12 times, had four podium finishes in Kona. I still think I can write my own piece of Kona history, so it will be full gas come October 26th.
Q. What role does nutrition play when you’re competing in an environment like that?
You can’t overstate the importance of nutrition for a race like Kona, both on race day and in the lead-up to it.
During a hard training block, I burn a huge number of calories every day, so it’s vital I’m constantly refueling my body and providing it with the energy it needs to perform, and the nutrients it needs to recover.
I’m lucky that I’ve always had pretty good eating habits. I grew up on a farm in Canterbury, eating plenty of beef and lamb, which is still the foundation of my diet today – lots of quality beef and lamb for protein, iron, zinc and B12, combined with loads of fresh vegetables.
Q. ANZCO Foods is proud to support you on your IRONMAN journey. What does that support mean to you as an athlete?
Well, it certainly means I’m never short of quality New Zealand beef and lamb at mealtimes.
Of course, it’s much more than that. The support from ANZCO Foods is absolutely critical for me to chase my dreams and compete around the globe. They’re a fantastic group of people who share my love of endurance sport, as well as my passion for spreading the message about the importance of great nutrition.
Q. ANZCO Foods is also the title partner of IRONMAN New Zealand. How have they contributed to that event?
They’ve been massive for that event, and for the sport in general here in New Zealand.
Their commitment extends to even having their own race team, including staff and farmers, who get the support they need around nutrition and coaching to ensure they have a successful race day, which I think is great.
There’s such a great synergy between ANZCO Foods and IRONMAN New Zealand. All the athletes who take part in an IRONMAN event understand the value of great nutrition – and nutrition and good health is what ANZCO Foods is all about.
Q. Finally, what advice would you give the next generation of triathletes looking to emulate your journey as a professional athlete?
Something I’ve learned over my career, and which has definitely come in handy this year, is the importance of patience.
Take your time, respect your body, and build the foundational skills (both physical and mental) needed to compete at the highest level.
Then, make sure you have fun. It might be my job, but I love what I do and that makes the hard work far more enjoyable.
