“Winning the NZ Junior National U14 Ironman on an epic sunny day at the Mount Maunganui main beach, surrounded by my family, friends and the older club members that I had trained with and looked up to, was a very special moment for me and I have been chasing that feeling, that high, ever since!”
With heavy rave music belting through his headphones ahead of last weekend’s Shaw and Partners Ironman Series, Race One’s Joe Collins was ready to execute what resulted in a perfect weekend.
Back-to-back wins, a spot in the series final and an inner belief that on his best day, he IS good enough to take the top spot, Joe may just be the series greatest threat.
“Back-to-back wins are absolutely massive for my confidence!” he said.
“Deep down I always knew I had it in me, however a perfect weekend like that really proves to myself that I am good enough on my best day, and there is no reason that I can’t knock off the top spot come the final!”
A little ripper nipper from the Fitzroy Surf Lifesaving club in Taranaki at the age of 6, now chasing the overall victory in the 2024/25 Shaw and Partners Ironman Series, Joe has endured a beautiful journey, that he can thank both his family and his sport for.
Since calling Australia home in 2019, the Collins family have witnessed Joe grow and evolve into one of the nation’s top Ironmen.
Training and racing under the maroon star of Northcliffe, with the support of Race One, his family and friends, Joe believes he has found the perfect recipe for success.
“It has been massive being surrounded by like-minded athletes that have nurtured, guided, and pushed me forward throughout my surf sports career.
“I truly believe that you are only as good as the people you surround yourself with and I found the perfect mix of good people here on the coast!”
With his circle of support, Race One surf craft and rave music blasting through his headphones present at each competition, Joe keeps things pretty simple.
“I like to think I’m pretty level-headed when it comes to racing and can perform under any conditions,” he said.
Driven by his natural competitive streak, he has learnt to leverage his personal superpower to push himself across all disciplines in training and racing.
“I have the deepest competitive need to win,” he said proudly.
“I’m known for being extremely competitive and biting at anything anyone tells me. I’ve learnt to accept it as a part of who I am and use Ironman racing and training as a way to release it!”
Continuing to chase that feeling, that high of victory, Race One’s Joe Collins will line up ahead of the Shaw and Partners Ironman Series showdown on Feb 1 & 2, confident, calm and driven purely by his personal desire to win.