Photo Credit: Stephen Baccon/Red Bull Content Pool

Hailing from a family of iconic ocean athletes, 24-year-old Jordan Mercer has blazed a trail in surf sports since the age of 16, running, paddling and swimming her way to Surf Ironwoman victory. A Surf Ironwoman Series Champion and ten-time World Champion, the talented Aussie has also won the gruelling 52km paddleboard crossing from Molokai to Oahu an incredible six successive times.

Here, Jordan talks surf sports, fuelling long-distance events, and how she balances a jam-packed training schedule.

Photo Credit: Brett Hemmings/Red Bull Content Pool

Coming from a family of surf-sports athletes (Jordan’s father, Darren, and late uncle, Dean, are legends in Aussie surf sports), were you interested in ocean sports from the get-go?
I did gymnastics and competed at an elite level until the age of 12 where I needed to make a decision whether to take up the offer of moving to Canberra, inland NSW, and train for the Olympics at the Australian Institute of Sport, leaving behind my family, the coastal lifestyle we had always shared, my running passion and Surf Life Saving. I decided I wasn’t willing to do gymnastics, and only gymnastics, and [instead] began to follow in my father and uncle’s footsteps in ocean sports.

At what point did you discover you enjoyed paddleboarding?
Up until I was 13 I preferred the beach and sand running events over the ocean events. I took a liking to board paddling at about 13 when I gained some confidence.

You compete in Surf Ironwoman (no relation to triathlon, readers!) – can you explain what this involves?
Surf Ironwoman is multi-discipline ocean racing. We train for four disciplines and race all of them.

Our racing disciplines include surf swim, paddle board, surf ski and transition runs between each ocean leg. We race in the ocean, swimming and paddling in the surf, and running on the sand.

Photo Credit: Brett Hemmings/Red Bull Content Pool

A foot fracture and surgery meant you couldn’t walk for 10 weeks. Have you fully recovered now?
It’s almost been a year since my foot surgery, and I am still working through aches and pains. The road to recovery has been such a testing time. Physically and mentally.  The first racing I could do was paddleboarding. I’m now racing Surf IronWoman events throughout our Australian summer. We have a professional series of IronMen and IronWoman racing events called the Nutri-Grain Surf IronWoman/Man series. It’s been running for 32 years. I first qualified when I was 16 and have been racing in the professional series for 7 years.

You’re a 10-time ISA World Paddle Board Champion. What does the event include?
It includes a 20km distance race and a 6km technical race in and out of the surf.

Photo Credit: Stephen Baccon/Red Bull Content Pool

Running, swimming, kayaking and paddleboarding – how do you fit it all in?
It requires a lot of passion and dedication, training full time at an elite level for four sports. Trying to balance the training workload, race travelling, working part-time and coaching young surf life-savers – the juniors in our sport – running my own paddle tours business in Noosa Heads, and studying… Motivation, goals and direction are crucial for survival. And success. Time management is important and trying to find a balance between, work, rest and play is an ongoing challenge.

What does a typical week’s training look like Monday to Sunday?
Monday:
5.30-7am pool swimming session. On average, 6km swim
7.30am Pilates
3pm: Running
4pm – 5.30pm: Board and Surf Ski ocean paddle session

Tuesday:
5.30-7am pool swimming session. Again, 6km average
10-11am – Gym
4pm – 5.30pm: Board and Surf Ski ocean paddle session

Wednesday:
5.30-7am pool swimming session. On average, 6km swim
3pm: Running
4pm – 5.30pm: Board and Surf Ski ocean paddle session

Thursday:
5.30-7am pool swimming session. On average, 6km swim
10-11am – Gym
4pm – 5.30pm: Board and Surf Ski ocean paddle session

Friday:
5.30-7am pool swimming session. On average, 6km swim
3pm: Running
4pm – 5.30pm: Board and Surf Ski ocean paddle session

Saturday:
6-8am IronWoman Beach session

Photo Credit: Brett Hemmings/Red Bull Content Pool

You’ve won the 52km Molokai 2 Oahu event an amazing six times. What’s the most challenging thing about competing in this long-distance paddleboard event?
The training! The training and preparation I’ve committed to six years in a row is just so incredibly physically and emotionally gruelling. Training for an open ocean paddleboarding race in a Channel known as one of the most treacherous bodies of water in the world required serious hard yards. It’s a race that – depending on conditions – could take anywhere from 5-6 hours. It is so unpredictable, but the lure of having a race between islands with dream conditions, favourable winds, swells and tides keeps me coming back year after year.

Do you cover the 52km race distance in your training in the run-up to the event?
Once or twice.

Photo Credit: Jianca Lazarus/Red Bull Content Pool

How do you fuel the 52km paddleboard event and manage to stay hydrated?
Electrolytes and my caffeine of choice, Red Bull. I also have peanut butter and honey wraps which I snack on. Small bite size pieces.

Whereabouts in your body do you feel the effects of such an immense effort? 
Neck for sure, arms, back… Almost everywhere by the time you finish.

What physical attributes do you need to be a successful paddleboarder?
Just a paddleboard and some practice. It’s a beautiful sport and it can be enjoyed in so many different conditions. Your arm strength will build quickly and with some technique focus you’ll be flying in no time. The open ocean and beach surf skills take time, but practice and experience will get you there! I am still learning, every day, in the ocean.

Photo Credit: Stephen Baccon

What are your favourite items of kit for training and competing?
My JM race paddle board, BOS Surf Ski, Ohana SwimWear, an ice cold Red Bull, Nike running shoes, Vertra Sunscreen, Oakley sunnies, INAMO CURL to make payments without carrying a wallet, and my Honda CRV to help cart me and all my toys from A to B.

Do you have days when getting out to train is a struggle or are you always highly motivated? 
I definitely have tough days. Finding motivation is an ongoing pursuit.

Which has been your proudest achievement to date?
Winning the Nutri-Grain IronWoman Series in 2016.

Photo Credit: Brett Hemmings/Red Bull Content Pool

Have you got any goals for the rest of 2017 and early 2018?
Get back to racing with an injury-free and fighting fit body! Continue to build on my performances and results throughout this season.

Who are you sponsored by at the moment?
Red Bull, Nike, Madill Honda, JM PaddleBoards, Ohana Swimwear, BOS Surf Skis and my paddling tour business, SeaNoosa.

Photo Credit: Brett Hemmings/Red Bull Content Pool

You can keep up with Jordan’s racing and training via social media on www.instagram.com/jordanmercer_1 and www.facebook.com/jordanmercerathlete