The changing of the Iron Series guard has arrived, with defending champions Ali Day and Lana Rogers upstaged by a pair of young guns in the "grand final".
Teenage talent Conner Maggs claimed his maiden title in Sunday's North Burleigh race after a last-gasp effort against Joel Piper.
Another first-time winner, Lucy Derbyshire, won the women's event.
Maggs had celebrated early after building what appeared to be an unassailable lead across the swim and board portion.
But disaster loomed as he neared the shore, the 19-year-old tipping over and getting stuck in his surf-ski.
Maggs was able to get on his feet just in time and successfully fended off a bolting Piper, despite a desperate jump at the finish line from his rival.
His win on Sunday, completed within 10 minutes and 11.3 seconds, is his first victory in the Iron Man series.
Five-time champion Day was nowhere near the contest and finished sixth, with Zach Morris third.
"I got a bit too excited," Maggs said.
"My whole foot was stuck between the foot pedal and the strap
"I just couldn’t get it out. I was saying, 'oh s***'."
Rogers was eliminated ahead of the women's final, finishing 10th in the second of three races on Sunday.
She fell short in her bid to join Kristy Cameron as the only four-time title-holders since women began racing in 1990.
South Australian Derbyshire started the final ski leg sixth but read the swell best to chase down the lead.
The 21-year-old finished with a time of 11 minutes and 53.3 seconds after also hitting the sand at the shore.
Tiarnee Massie was second, with Lizzie Welborn rounding out the podium.
"I can’t even find words," Derbyshire said.
"I always wanted to win an Iron Series title - I just didn’t think it’d be so soon."
