Posted: July 23, 2006

Adventure Racing: Beautiful Days greets the athletes for The North Face Peak to Peak

Athletes from across the South Island assembled in the Wakatipu for the thirteenth The North Face Peak to Peak multi sport race, yesterday.

After the Remarkables were closed due to inclement weather on Friday, Saturday dawned bright and clear with perfect racing conditions for the field of 76 teams and 64 individuals taking part.

Competitors traversed from the top of the Remarkables ski area across to Coronet Peak via downtown Queenstown. Competitors travelled using skis/board, mountain bikes, kayaks, foot and road bikes in teams or as an individual.

A great contest was on in the open team section with three teams racing to take the first place across the line. Browns Avanti plus / Ra Bar (Dn / Qtn), Outside Sport / Team Marmot (Qtn) and Top Sport Titans (Chch) made an exciting race for competitors and spectators.

The snow fall the night before race day offered the chance to use Homeward Bound and this run proved a great test for all involved. The transition to bikes at the base of the run was frantic as teams and individuals came in fast and furious before heading off on a muddy and exciting mountain bike ride down the Remarkables access road.

At the next transition for the paddle section, competitors were met by flat waters which allowed for a fast kayak leg in to Queenstown Bay.

At Frankton Beach the Outside Sports /Team Marmot team had a narrow lead over the other teams with the first individuals, Williams and Billoud just a minute off the pace. With a great paddle Finn O'Connor bought his team , Browns Avanti to the front by 3mins from their rivals and set the ground work for Eddie Smith and Tony Hogg. By this stage last years champion team Pulse Cycle Surgery had made ground and they held third through to the

Coronet Alpine Hotel changeover to the last stage, the uphill cycle to Coronet Peak.

Eddie Smith increased the gap for Browns Avanti and their lead had increased to 3 mins 30 secs at the transition to cycle. Local Queenstown road biker Leigh Chapman could do no more than close the gap to just 3 mins and 7 secs, so in the end Tony Hogg rode the Browns Avanti plus / Ra Bar team to a comfortable victory in the open division in a time of 2hrs 6mins and 50secs. Outside Sport / Team Marmot finished in 2hrs 9mins 57 secs with Top Sport Titans 3rd in 2hrs 11mins 28secs.

From the first transition to mountain bikes, seven teams held the lead over the first individuals as they were delayed in the change from ski boots to mountain bike shoes, but the strength of the two local athletes held off the challenges in the race to the finish line.

Mark Williams and veteran entry Eric Billoud raced neck and neck through the first 4 stages with William's only opening a one minute gap over his rival Billoud by the last transition. However the last stage was ridden in a great time by Williams and he crossed the line on the Coronet Peak deck in 2hrs 27mins and 37secs with a clear lead of over 11mins from his rival.

Williams is delighted with his win and encouraged by the number of people in the field competing.

"It is great to see the race so well supported. The weather was good for racing and the course was in a great condition offering a fantastic playing field" said Williams.

For the second year in a row, second place male went to Hamish Robb from Alexandra in a time of 2hrs 32mins 52secs followed by Cam Carter in a time of 2hrs 35mins 16secs.

Melanie Smith from Arrowtown improved on her second place finish from last year to win the female category in a faster time than her previous attempt in 2hrs 27mins 37secs, with the third place finisher from last, Sophie Hart (Dunedin) also moving up a slot to finish second in 2hrs 54mins 53secs. Third place went to Kim Williamson (Alexandra) in 3hrs 3mins 44secs.

After his battle with William's the first male veteran across the line was Eric Billoud from Queenstown in 2hrs 39min 05secs, only very narrowly beating Steve Norton (Queenstown) by 2 secs in a time of 2hrs 39mins 07 secs, with a further 7 secs back to Ray hope (Dunedin) in 2hrs 39mins 14secs.

First female team home was another team moving up a spot from 2nd last year. Topsport Hot As from Christchurch finished in a time of 2hrs 29mins 37secs, with in second place Wanaka Physio in 2hrs 43mins 43secs and third place WWF from Christchurch and Dunedin in 2hrs 46mins 36secs.

It is interesting to note that both the individual women and the womens teams improved their times from last year while every other division recorded slower times.

The hotly contested Business House section was closely fought between the Queenstown real estate company, Southern Lakes Real Estate 'the new black" in 2 hrs 40mins 13secs with 37 secs gap back to Serious fun Snow shuttles in 2hrs 40mins 50 secs with Big Al's snow Report 3rd in 2hrs 44mins 11secs.

First home in the mixed team category went to Christchurch PhysioMed Manipulators in a time of 2hrs 11mins 16secs. Fubar / R & R Sport Dunedin raced to second in 2hrs 22mins 51secs and 'PhysioMed Not Good Enough for the fast team' in third place 2hrs 31mins 08secs.

Warbirds over Wanaka flew again to a first place in the veteran team category in a time of 2hrs 31mins 25secs and second prize in this category went to a local Queenstown team Flying Sausage in a time of 2 hrs 56mins 38secs.

The North Face Peak to Peak receives great support from a dedicated group of associate and supplier sponsors who offer a fantastic line up of prizes for places and spot prizes including:

The North Face Peak to Peak is supported by the following sponsors: The Loaded Hog, Coronet Peak, The Remarkables, More FM, Queenstown Night 'n Day, R & R Sport, Queenstown Gym, Summerfield's Frankton Pharmacy, K2 Skis, Smith Eyewear, Kawarau Jet, Leppin, Peak Projects and New Zealand Multisport.

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