Up close with Clint Kimmins
Aussie age grouper Clint Kimmins is well known for his surfing prowess, but he is a fast triathlete now and stamped his ticket to Kona at Ironman Melbourne. Unlike the very impressive Dave Mirra who came from BMX after he retired, the still relatively young Kimmins could theoretically still catch a few big waves, but for now it is indeed all about triathlon.
Slowtwitch: Thank you for your time Clint.
Clint Kimmins: You are welcome and thanks so much for taking an interest.
ST: It looks like you have been busy the last few months.
Clint: It has been a busy couple of years. This triathlon thing certainly changes your life. Apart from work, training and surfing I've been lucky enough to race some great events and just recently get back to Hawaii and the U.S mainland, which has always had a special place in my heart. The past six months has been extra crazy. During the summer months I work 4-6 days a week on average. As all age groupers know trying to fit life in around training is extremely difficult. That being said I signed up for this lifestyle so my only choice is to embrace it and do the best I can to make it work.
ST: Many folks refer to you as Pro Surfer Clint Kimmins, but is that how you view yourself?
Clint: I wish I could say yes but a professional is someone who makes a living from that chosen activity. In the past certainly, but now my sole income is from lifeguarding. I would still like to think I surf at a professional level but at the end of the day it does not pay the bills so no. Although I am hoping to change that, I really want to chase big swells and focus on catching the biggest, best waves I can find. Many of my friends make a great living from doing just that. There is definitely an opportunity to chase swells and compete at a high level in Ironman triathlon. Unfortunately it all comes down to money. If I had a budget to chase swells and train full time I think it would be quite interesting at what could be achieved at each of the sports.
ST: When did you last compete in a bigger surfing event?
Clint: I have stepped away from the competitive scene in the past couple years due to my training commitments. Plus as a lifeguard we make most of our money on the weekends. It is a big risk financially to forfeit work and back yourself in a contest, especially when most of the events are in dismal waves. I think the last WQS (world qualifying series) event I competed in was well over a year ago. I miss competing.
ST: I think I have heard that you train 25-30 hours a week. What time do you still spend on a surfboard?
Clint: When I committed to triathlon I asked my coach to write me a program as if he were writing it for a pro. "Don't worry about the time restrictions, I will make it work". As age groupers that have to go to work know, finding time is by far the hardest part. My alarm has been going off at 3:30am some mornings so I can get the miles in that I want before going to work. With surfing it all depends on the waves. If the waves are small and blown out I may not surf in weeks especially if I am in the middle of a important training block. I have been surfing since I was three years old and as much as I still enjoy surfing small waves I would rather be out training. I know I can go out on my bike and hit a good session and come home completely satisfied with my efforts where as surfing… I would have to hustle for waves amongst an aggressive crowd only to do something that I have done ten thousand times before. When the waves are big its a different story. I could go out there and get the wave of my life, I can justify missing a session on the chance of catching the wave of my life.
ST: Your race in Melbourne this year was a very fine 8:42:35. I believe that is your quickest time to date.
Clint: I am only new to Ironman racing. Melbourne was my third Ironman and my personal best. My first was Ironman Cairns where I went 9:39 then later that year I went 9:05 at Ironman Western Australia. Being so new to the sport I think you improve very quickly given you put the work in. I know that I am going to plateau as time goes on but I still see so much room for improvement. My swimming sucks, I'm weak on the bike and my run needs lots of work. To be competitive I need to be stronger, I know it will come with time and miles in the legs. I just have to be patient and believe in the process.
ST: Many age group athletes would be thrilled to go sub-9 in an Ironman.
Clint: I hope that didn’t sound like I'm not thrilled to drop a time like that because believe me I am. If someone had told me three years ago I would go sub nine I would have laughed in their face. That’s why I love this sport so much, if you put the work in you will get the results. I so often overhear other triathletes at the pool or in the coffee shop talking about times or how hard they just rode and it's all BS. It is like the saying the loudest guy in the room is the weakest guy in the room. I think the same goes with triathletes walking around talking about themselves. We are all allowed to be proud of our efforts and achievements and we should be because it is tough ,but do we really need to write a blog about our four hour training ride? Who cares!!
ST: I think you patiently struggled in every discipline including swimming, since surfing is not as related as many folks assume.
Clint: It is so funny, people always say you must be a gun swimmer being a surfer and all but the truth is, when I first jumped into a squad I was so embarrassed I didn't go back for over a year. I swam by myself in separate lanes until I gained some confidence. I am still the only person in Australia that can swim a 56 meter lap in a 50 meter pool. Yep, I'm the guy the looks like a drunk crocodile trying to find home. I used to fall off my bike at busy intersections unable to clip out and I used to wear a fuel belt for a run around the block. It has certainly been a struggle. I think it is important for people to step out of your comfort zone and go out and embarrass yourself every so often. As long as you are out there having a crack, who cares what others think.
ST: You know, those black lines in the pool are there so you can swim straight.
Clint: Don’t you mean so you can try and swim straight. The day I swim straight without my feet kicking the guy two lanes over is the day I win the lotto.
ST: When did you first consider participating in a triathlon and what inspired you?
Clint: I always thought that triathletes were the fittest people on the planet and it was a cool sport. A friend gave me a helmet and said if I give you this I want you to wear it, not have it sit in the garage collecting dust. That helmet was a contract, which I wanted to honor. I signed up last minute to do an Olympic distance race. I had been doing a bit of running for exercise but had only ridden a bike a couple times and I didn't swim. I didn't get a chance to ride because my borrowed bike got a flat in transition. I was so upset but it gave me a hunger to go home and start training. I fell in love with cycling. The fact I could jump on a bike and get away from everything. It became a place to think. I have always loved nature and I got a kick out of powering myself to get somewhere beautiful. Inspiration is a funny one. I draw inspiration from so many weird places that are not related to sport. Since I started training I have always had a vision of myself in a aero helmet flying down the Queen K with a race number on my arm sweating my ass off racing the worlds best. This October I get to do that and I couldn't be any more excited.
ST: I think you were being mocked by some of your mates because of your new lifestyle. And I don't think it was just about compression socks.
Clint: My mates used to go to town on me for wearing lycra. I used to cop all the typical narrow-minded insults, but then I guess people started wondering why I was always walking around with a smile on my face. Before long I was inundated by emails and texts by friends and random people on social media – asking if I might know where I could find them a cheap bike. I love introducing new people to the sport. Most of my friends have gone out and bought a bike and are now training for various races.
ST: How different is your life now compared to 10 years ago?
Clint: 10 years ago today I would have been in France probably drinking red wine at a vineyard in-between events of the WQS tour and now I'm sitting here in compression socks drinking a protein shake recovering before my next session. I love my new life and when I put my head on the pillow at the end of the day I am satisfied with how I have spent my time. Triathlon has given me an appreciation for the simple things in life. I have met some incredible people and many of those people I am proud to now call my best friends.
ST: I would also think that party fights are less likely in triathlon unless you are late at night at Lulu's in Kona.
Clint: Not that they were ever likely, but I think it would be hard to get in a bar fight when your in bed at 7:30 on a Saturday night.
ST: Does that fight and subsequent prison term still hang over your head?
Clint: It has becoming more and more of a distant memory. I still can’t believe I went through what I did. I was pushed into a scary corner that I had to fight my way out of. It is a situation that I never thought I would be in. It is one of those I cant believe that happened to me sort of things. But it did happen and I accepted it. It is extremely scary that the system you have always trusted and turned to for protection, sentences you to prison. One minute your living your dream and the next your being strip searched in your prison cell. The system can literally break you and make you believe you are someone you are not. To this day, getting through that and coming out the other side is my greatest ever achievement.
ST: What lessons were learned?
Clint: I have learned to take the positive road. I don't care what situation you're in you can always find a positive approach and turn even the worst nightmares into a dream. The glass is always half full.
ST: Back to triathlon. You came to the USA to race XTERRA in Vegas. Was that race just opportune while you were here for other reasons, or was that a target race?
Clint: Come race XTERRA Vegas he said, it will be fun he said. Luke [McKenzie] stitched me up a doozie there. After not sleeping for two nights due to travel from Hawaii to Vegas I arrived the night before the race at 8pm. I had never ridden a MTB until 20 minutes before the start. The brakes were on opposite sides, the gears were backwards and I went into the bike course completely blind having never seen the course. I was one of the first age groupers out of the swim and I swear the entire field went past me on the bike. When it comes to racing I am a pretty gun-hoe competitor but in this race I was like it is ok, you go through, sorry. I am sure people were racing for points and a spot at Worlds and I didn't want to slow them down by being in the way any more then I already was. I am by far the biggest kook to race a XTERRA. I kept saying I will smack them on the run but I could barely lift my legs, and I was forced to walk certain parts. I had never walked in a race before. To all those who were there, I'm sorry for getting in your way. I was the guy in the blue and white Giant kit. Actually you can thank Luke McKenzie for making me do such a silly thing.
ST: Like so many fine other Aussies you are helped by Giant. Did you also have help with the bike fit?
Clint: The guys (and girls) at Giant are the biggest legends and some of the nicest people ever. I was introduced to Marty and Ruddy (marketing team) at the expo when I was riding for a team at IM Melbourne on a borrowed bike. They have been helping me out with my equipment since I did my first IM. I often pull my bike out of the garage just to stare at it in the living room while I eat my dinner. I can’t believe I get to ride the bikes I do. Bikes like that deserve to be ridden well so that is what often drives me to become a better cyclist. I also get asked many questions about my equipment by strangers on social media and I do my best to reply to all of them. I love helping others get on such great bikes, I love hearing people have gone out and bought one because they saw a photo of my fluro trinity on Instagram. I have never had a bike fit. I really need to look into that one because I could be robbing myself of free speed and power. I once saw a mate get fitted and all the guy said is you want to be comfortable. If you want to be comfortable go sit on the couch. Slam that puppy and start chewing the tape I say. Haha
ST: Who else is working with you?
Clint: If I don't say my girlfriend she will kill me. She has to put up with all my whinging not to mention my saddle sores. I have so many people to thank. Obviously my coach Marcus, the people who help me out with my equipment, nutrition etc. I work closely with Sam Steven who is a gifted massage therapist. He could fix the debt crises by a bit of dry needling. Also Luke Mckenzie has been like a brother to me. Always there with words of advice and he has been there for me when I need a understanding mate. Brett Carter is another brother like figure in my life. We have a special bond and share the same thoughts on not only about triathlon but life in general. Without the help from these people I simply could not do what I'm doing. That is the truth.
ST: Coach Marcus?
Clint: Marcus Altmann, he has been there for me 100% of the way. From writing my programs to changing a tube when I didn't know how. He speaks the truth and isn't afraid to tell it how it is. He has been involved in the sport for many years and without his help I would still be falling off my bike at the traffic lights. I also bounce ideas off Luke and my good mate Brett Carter but at the end of the day I have full faith in Marcus and his theories.
ST: In your view and as far as you know, which Pro triathlete is the finest surfer?
Clint: Hmmmm…. now that is a tough one. I met Chris Lieto in Bali last year and I think he surfs well. Luke surfs ok too. It is definitely not Tim Van Berkel because he loves bodyboarding. You can often find Timmy in his sluggos bodyboarding in Byron Bay.
ST: Is there anything else we should know?
Clint: Just that I'm very appreciative of everything I have and Luke Mckenzie's nose is being used in this years X games as the mega ramp.
