|
Top adventure racers from around the country will gather in Queenstown on
November 4- 5th for the first running of the "24hours of southern traverse "
Entries for the race opened on September 7th, with more than 40 teams
already pre-registered for the event a large field is expected.
In a change from normal format the Southern Traverse this year is a 24 hour
race only, with the front teams expected to finish in 15 or 16 hours, while
the teams at the back should be able to make the finish in just on the
24hours.
"We expected that most of our teams would be drawn from the local area for
this 24hour event but in a surprise to us we have two teams from Australia
already registered" says event director Geoff Hunt.
"We also have had Richard Ussher (current ARWorld Championship winner) and
Nathan Fa'avae (2005 ARWorld Championship winner) expressing a strong
interest in coming down to Queenstown to race, so the local race teams will
be able to compare themselves with the best in the world"
Other international event competitors like Team Merrell competitors Jeff
Mitchell and Ian Edmond from Christchurch are also expected to race.
"The response to the shorter race format has been huge," says Hunt. "We
thought there would be a lot of interest in the shorter format as it makes
it much more achievable for many athletes."
Each athlete entered prior to the deadline for registration is the 15th
October will receive a distinctive Macpac Interwool body wear garments made
especially for the competitors. Macpac has been closely associated with the
Southern Traverse since the early 1990s and company spokesman Sara Webb says
they are delighted to support the 24hours of southern traverse.
"The New Zealand landscape, along with adventure racing individuals, has
provided inspiration for Macpac's innovative approach and its leading edge
designs."
The event will be held on the rivers, lakes and mountains surrounding
Queenstown over the weekend of the 4-5th of November and as per normal for a
Southern Traverse the course will remain a secret from the competitors till
the evening prior to racing. However in one departure from this the racers
have been told which maps they will need to bring with them, and may be now
designing their own course within these parameters.
Mr Hunt says that over the next two months the final checkouts will be done,
although most of the course checking was done prior to the winter months.
Only a couple of stages remain to be checked including the orienteering
style course that will help us separate the field in the first stage of the
event.
The course includes trekking, mountain biking and kayaking, with another
couple of disciplines being investigated.
Entries close for the event on the 15th Oct.
For further information: www.southerntraverse.com
| 
Know someone else who's interested in running and triathlon?
