Some answers to some frequently asked questions

A

Accommodation - Challenge Wanaka has a number of accommodation partners – stay the night and enjoy the finish-line party and fireworks at midnight. Click here for more information

Aid Stations – there are nine aid stations on the bike course (every 20km) and seven on the run course (every 3km). Athletes use these to refuel on their long journey with water, electrolyte drink and gels, bananas, coke

Athletes – you can find an athlete list at the information desk in the Expo plus volunteers will be handing then out at the finish line area

B

Bags – each athlete has three transition bags which they use to store their clothing and footwear to change into during the race

Bike Course – the Challenge Wanaka bike course is 180km and the Lake Wanaka Half course is 90km long. Both head out towards Mt Aspiring National Park before heading back through the town centre and out Lake Hawea, through Hawea Flat to Luggate. Here the Half course turns back towards Lake Wanaa while the the Challenge Wanaka course heads down to Cromwell and a lap of Lake Dunstan. The course again crosses the Clutha River crossing (Red Bridge) at Luggate before heading back to Lake Wanaka.

C

Contact – if you have any questions regarding Challenge Wanaka, just email us at event@challenge-wanaka.com

Challenge Family – Challenge Wanaka is part of the global Challenge Family series of triathlons and is one of 12 events around the world. Other Challenge Family events are in Germany, France, Spain, Austria, Australia, UK and Denmark

D

Drug Testing – every year Challenge Wanaka works with Drug Free Sport New Zealand to ensure triathlon is a fair sport. The winning athletes are all tested, along with random tests throughout the field

E

Expo – located down at Race Central from Thursday, this is the perfect chance to do some shopping, buy some souvenirs and grab a bite to eat. On race day there’s also a bouncy castle to keep the kids entertained

F

Finish Line Party – celebrate the amazing achievements of these remarkable athletes. The party with music and fireworks goes on into the night until the last athlete crosses the line at around 11.30pm

Fun Run – be part of the action and enjoy a scenic charity 5km Fun Run/Walk along the edge of Lake Wanaka and through Rippon Vineyard – takes place on Monday evening at 6.30pm and fancy dress is strongly encouraged!

G

Gunn Road – the now infamous hill on the run course – it’s short and sharp and a great place to cheer athletes on as they use all their strength to get to the top

H

Help – athletes are not allowed to receive any outside help during the race. However, they are well looked after by the hundreds of volunteers and race officials

I

International – athletes travel from all over the world to take part in the most scenic long distance triathlon on the global circuit – over 30 countries are represented and 35% of the field come from overseas

J

Junior – even the kids are catered for with Puzzling World Junior Challenge Wanaka on the Sunday before the main event. All budding triathletes aged between 6 and 15 are welcome!

K

Kilometres – athletes will travel 226km in total for Challenge Wanaka and 113km for the Lake Wanaka Half

L

Lakes – Challenge Wanaka course takes in three of the region’s most beautiful lakes – Lake Wanaka, Lake Dunstan and Lake Hawea

Live Coverage – if you can’t be in Wanaka, check out the live race coverage on the web site, through TXT updates or via our SmartPhone app

M

Massage – every Challenge Wanaka athlete enjoys a well-earned massage at the end of the race

Music – listen out for the special Challenge Family song throughout the day

Map – you can find a map of the course at most Wanaka stores and at the information stand in the Expo

N

Numbers – every athletes has their name printed on their race number – make sure you shout out their name as they go past, it gives them a huge boost

O

Organisation – Challenge Wanaka is a charitable trust run by a board of trustees and a management team of dedicated individuals, all of whom are passionate about delivery the best iron distance event for athletes and spectators in New Zealand

P

Parking – additional parking is available in the Wanaka Showgrounds

Prize Money – professional athletes are competing for a share of a NZ$80,000 prize pool

R

Relay Teams – both the Lake Wanaka Half and Challenge Wanaka are open to relay teams of two or three people

Results – are available on our home page immediately following the race

Run Course – Challenge Wanaka athletes run a two lap course and Lake Wanaka Half athletes a one lap course which, from the centre of town, follows the edge of Lake Wanaka, along the Clutha River Outlet Track, up Gunn Road and through the outskirts of town before climbing up to Lismore Park and descending down to the finish line.

Roth – home to the first ever Challenge event, Challenge Roth, and the largest iron distance race in the world with over 5,200 athletes, 180,000 spectators and 4,500 volunteers

S

Swim Course – is in the crystal clear waters of Lake Wanaka – two laps for Challenge athletes and one for Lake Wanaka Half athletes

Swim Start – one of the highlights of the day – the early morning start is packed full of excitement and emotion as athletes and spectators prepare for the big day ahead

T

Transition – a great place to watch the athletes as they switch from swim to bike to run

Toilets – there are public toilets on Pembroke Park and in the car park by the i-SITE

Timetable – click here to see a timetable of events through the week of the Challenge Wanaka Triathlon Festival

V

Volunteers – over 650 amazing volunteers help every year to ensure the smooth running of the event and look after the athletes out on course

W

Wetsuits – wetsuits are compulsory at Challenge Wanaka due to the temperature of the lake which is usually about 17C on race day although it can be as low as 14C or as high as 20C