The leading contenders for the 2011 Coolangatta Gold are getting their last minute training in as the countdown begins for the staging of the endurance race on Sunday, September 25.

Surf Life Saving Australia's (SLSA) General Manager of Sport, Dave Thompson, said this year's race has attracted entries from all over Australia with 200 individuals and 96 teams signed up to participate.

"This year we will see more than 530 participants compete in the Coolangatta Gold, proving that the popularity of this event grows each year," Mr Thompson said.
 
And it's our Ironwomen leading the charge with a record 50 women lining up for this year's event, a 50 per cent increase in female entry numbers since the women's category was introduced in 2005.

"Female participation in surf lifesaving has been an ongoing area of growth for us over the past decade, so it's no surprise women are lining up to show what they've got for the Coolangatta Gold."

Five new categories have been added this year to cater for the growth in participation including individual categories, under-19 female, Masters Men 50+ and Masters Women 40+, as well as two extra team categories for Open Mixed Teams and under-19 Mixed Teams.