Claudia Slaven
Sport/specialty/profession
Surf lifesaving athlete, Surf Ironwoman
Socials
Introducing Claudia…
Meet Claudia Slaven, a 24-year-old powerhouse from the Gold Coast with a passion for surf lifesaving that's been burning bright since her nippers days at age four. Encouraged by her parents to embrace the surf, Claudia found her calling early on, inspired by the Nutri-Grain Iron Series races. Beyond the thrill of competition, it's the rigorous discipline of her daily training—morning swims, afternoon craft or iron sessions, and varied run workouts—that fuels her drive.
Claudia's journey hasn't been without its hurdles. The pandemic posed a significant challenge, temporarily dimming her competitive spirit. Yet, it was her profound love for the sport that reignited her determination, culminating in a triumphant Open Surf race win at 18 against some of the sport's finest.
Looking ahead, Claudia's eyes are set on excelling in both individual and team events at the state and Aussies championships, with the ultimate goal of qualifying for the Nutri-Grain Iron Series. When she's not dominating the surf, Claudia enjoys camping, road trips, and the occasional surf attempt during the off-season. A surprising fact about Claudia? Her brief stint as a flight attendant left her with an ironic fear of flying. Through dedication, resilience, and a deep-seated love for surf lifesaving, Claudia embodies the spirit of perseverance and ambition.
Personal Journey and Motivation:
How did you get started in surf lifesaving, and what motivated you to pursue it professionally?
My parents wanted to me to learn how to swim in the surf and loved the idea of nippers so I started when I was 4 years old. I haven’t looked back since!
As soon as I watched my first Nutrigrain Iron series race when I was 10 years old I knew I wanted to pursue the sport professionally! However I also love the fitness side of it as well. It keeps me motivated to get up and go to training everyday!!
Training Insights:
What does a typical training day look like for you?
How do you mentally prepare for competitions?
for me, a typical training day would be swimming in the morning, a craft or iron session In the afternoon followed by a run session (Depending on the day)
I get quite nervous before I race so I love to pop my headphones in and be in my own little world.
Overcoming Challenges:
What's been your biggest challenge in surf lifesaving, and how did you overcome it?
Can you share a memorable achievement from your career?
I think when covid hit and our main carnivals for the year were cancelled.. I found it really hard to find the motivation to come back the following season and get routine again. However, my love for the sport got me going again.
My first Open Surf race win when I was 18 was a memorable one as I was racing some of the best girls at the time.
Future Goals:
What are your goals for the upcoming season?
Where do you see your career heading in the next few years?
for the rest of the season, individually I would love to make the state and Aussies iron final and medal in the surf race. And also podium in team events!
My main goal for my career in Surf Lifesaving would be to make the Nutrigrain iron series.
Personal Interests:
Aside from surf lifesaving, what are your hobbies?
Can you share something about yourself that might surprise people?t
Surf lifesaving takes up a lot of my time! However in off season I love to go camping, go on road trips and attempt to surf haha
Something that people might not know about me is, I was a flight attendant for 3 months and now I have a fear of flying lol
