Posted: June 27, 2005

Adventure Racing: Top prizes up for grabs at Peak to Peak

June 27: All athletes competing in this year's element Peak to Peak will be in with a chance to win fantastic prizes including an Avanti mountain bike and nzski.com season passes.

The element Peak to Peak is a fun multi sport race which traverses a course from the top of the Remarkables ski area, through Queenstown and up to Coronet Peak.

Major sponsor element, stockists of Avanti, is offering a $600 mountain bike as the major spot prize as well as heaps of great gear to assist athletes in their sporting endeavors.

nzski.com who have supported the event since its inception is providing two season passes for the first man and woman across the finish line, many day passes will also be given out as prizes. Other sponsor offers include: 2 iPod shuffles, luxury accommodation vouchers for Outrigger at the Beacon, kayak technique training and much more.

Entries for this year's race on Saturday 9 July have been flowing in from teams and individuals across the South Island. There has been a good mix of entries from some renowned athletes as well as first timers rising to the challenge and seeing if they have what it takes.

"There are some impressive teams and individuals entered from Christchurch, Dunedin, Invercargill, and although entry is open right up until race day we would like to encourage athletes to get their entries in now," says race organiser Geoff Hunt.

The action starts at 12.00 noon high on the Remarkables ski field with a 2km ski or snow board to the Remarkables access road. A 17km mountain bike down the road takes competitors to the edge of Lake Wakatipu in Frankton for a 7km paddle in to Queenstown Bay. From downtown Queenstown the final two race stages are a 9km run to the new transition area at Coronet Alpine Hotel and then a 9km bike ride up to the finish line at Coronet Peak.

The race is exciting for spectators too, whether down in Queenstown Bay as the paddlers arrive to tag the runners before they sprint off towards Coronet Alpine Hotel, or on the finish line as the athletes happily reach the line after their grueling bike ride up Coronet Peak access road.

Part of the Lindauer Queenstown Winter Festival the element Peak to Peak is just one event of seventy that the whole family can enjoy during the 10 day celebration that winter has arrived in the resort. Supporters and family are encouraged to come along to Queenstown as there is sure to be something for them to enjoy during the festival.

Race categories for individuals include male, female and veteran. Teams can enter the open division or female, male, mixed, business house and veteran. Team numbers can be between two and five people.

Entries are available at all good sports stores, sponsor outlets and the Southern Traverse office or on their site www.southerntraverse.com.

The element Peak to Peak is supported by the following sponsors;
element, Back on Track Physiotherapy, Ground effect, Queenstown Night 'n Day, Queenstown Gym, Outrigger at the Beacon, Earth-Fit, Summerfield's Frankton Pharmacy, K2 Skis, Smith Eyewear, MoreFM, Coronet Peak, The Remarkables, Kawarau Jet, Alpine Gold, Leppin, Coronet Brasserie, MacAssist and New Zealand Multisport.