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Beach sprint stars Jake Lynch and Jackson Symonds will highlight the return of the world's richest race on sand, the Curl Curl 1000.
Jake Lynch was a nipper the last time Sydney hosted the world's richest beach sprint. It's back and he's now the best in the world.
Lynch opens his campaign for a fourth world title on Saturday in the return of one of surf lifesaving's classic events.
After a 16-year break, the Curl Curl 1000 has attracted a quality field for its comeback.
Lynch will be joined by four-time Australian champion and 2014 world title holder Jackson Symonds and NSW champion Michael Hanna in the 120-yard dash for the $1000 prize at South Curl Curl surf club's centenary carnival.
Although it's the first carnival of the season, the sprinters are deep into their buildup for the world lifesaving titles in Adelaide next month.
"It'll be a good hit-out for the world titles, you really want the best guys turning up to see where you're at. Everyone will be in good shape four weeks out from the worlds," Lynch, 27, said.
The Newport sprinter will also be managing a lingering knee injury as he tackles Curl Curl's extra distance for the first time, compared to the normal 90-metre beach sprint.
"That extra 30 metres doesn't sound that far but when it's on soft sand it can be massive," he said.
"You're not too sure if you have to use tactics or go all out like you would for a normal 90-metre race.
"Jackson has got such good finishing speed, it could suit him."
Symonds, 24, is crossing the country from Perth club Sorrento and is aiming for the 1977 race record of 13.7 seconds set by South Curl Curl's Ken Picard.
"It'll be a challenge. Normally I'm half decent at the back end of a race, so hopefully I can hold on. The start is not normally my strong point," he said.
"I don't know if that extra distance is going to hurt."
Lynch's father Marty coached Clayton Jones to win the last Curl Curl 1000 in 2002, so he's grown up knowing the history of the race.
"I was always pretty intrigued by it and heard lots of stories about it, so I was really keen when I heard it was back" Lynch said.
"It'd definitely be a pretty cool thing to win because it's such a unique race. It's like the Stawell Gift over 120 metres on grass, except it's on sand."
