Robert Kelly Slater can be an elusive man.

The eight-time world surfing champion was supposed to be making an appearance at the Tropicsurf Summit as part of the Noosa Festival of Surfing yesterday, but was nowhere to be seen when the “surf industry super session” got underway.

He also missed out on attending the launch of the Quiksilver Pro on the Gold Coast before going on to win the season-opening World Championship Tour event at Snapper Rocks during the week.

He’s pencilled in to surf in the Corporate Teams Challenge at Noosa this morning, but it’d be a brave person who’d bet all their money on it.

It seems Mr Slater, who hasn’t committed to contesting round two of the WCT, the Rip Curl Pro at Bells Beach, is a free spirit who is never too sure what he’s doing until the last moment.

Definite starters this morning are reigning world champions Mick Fanning and Stephanie Gilmore, who will arrive via a Rip Curl chartered helicopter at the Noosa Tigers’ AFL ground around 8.45am before jumping in a limousine to take them to the contest site at First Point.

A ripper of a race

The percentage of fit people on the Sunshine Coast has been boosted by a couple of points.

Many of the world’s best triathletes are already here ahead of the 2008 Mooloolaba ITU World Cup triathlon on Sunday, March 30, which promises to be a ripper of a race.

The national squads from Canada, US, France, Switzerland and Spain have been training on the Coast in the lead-up to the first leg of the ITU World Cup Series, which starts off the serious preparations for the Beijing Olympics in August.

For many, Olympic selection will be on the line at Mooloolaba.

The triathlon will again be the centrepiece of a three-day sport and entertainment festival.

Do your kids want to try hockey?

Sunshine Coast youngsters looking for an alternative to the traditional winter sports of football and netball have been invited to the Sunshine Coast Hockey Association’s Come and Try Day next week.

It will be on at the Ballinger Road, Buderim, hockey centre on Friday from 5-7pm and is open to boys and girls from the age of five and over.

Sunshine Coast regional director of coaching Greg Richards, who also conducts the Hook-in2-Hockey program, will be in charge and has a willing band of helpers to teach the kids the basics of hockey.

For further information, contact the Sunshine Coast Hockey Association on 54452117.

Wanted: one fast and flexible mascot

The Gold Coast Titans will unveil their new mascot next Friday night and they’re on the hunt for someone to do the job of wearing the two-metre tall costume.

There are big expectations on whoever wins the position. The Titans say that with “his agility, speed and tricks, he’ll dazzle the crowd and lead the Titans into battle”.

If you think you have what it takes, head along to the tryouts at Runaway Bay on Monday.

You can get all the details by contacting Ashleigh on (07) 5581 0150 or ashleigh.mcnamara@titans.com.au.