His two from two win proved that his victory at January’s Challenge Wanaka was no fluke as once he again he led from start to finish. The 27-year-old asserted himself early on, leading a competitive field by over three minutes out of the swim in 47:00 and never relinquishing his lead, taking the title in 8:16:21.

McNiece’s closest rival out of the water was Todd Skipworth (AUS), an Olympic rower-turned-triathlete and also a rookie in the professional long course ranks. Skipworth leapfrogged between second and third place throughout the bike course with Georg Potrebitsch (GER), eventually reaching T2 just ahead of the German with the fastest bike split of the day in 4:28:40. Within a few kilometers on the run Potrebistch managed to pull ahead and maintained his position to the finish line taking second in 8:27:06. Skipworth would ultimately drop back to fifth, passed by both Fredrik Croneborg (SWE) and Petr Vabrousek (CZE) who crossed the line in third and fourth respectively. But while Vabrousek’s finish marked an historic 125th long course race for the Czech athlete, Croneborg’s performance was equally remarkable. The smiling Swede was a swift yet silent achiever, working his way steadily through the men’s field and capping his stellar day with a race best run split of 2:52:33. Also of note in the men’s race was Guy Crawford (NZL) who, despite a debilitating mechanical issue on the bike fought hard to hold onto sixth place.

Typically humble, McNiece was disbelieving of his win. “I was running and I was at the front and I thought, ‘Geez I’ve been at the front all day again today. This is just what people are going to always expect of me!’ It really is a hard way to race. It’s a good way to race because you’re always in control and it’s your own race and your own pace, but today and in Wanaka both I suffered the last 10k. I was stopping and walking, I started cramping and my stomach was a mess.”

“It’s just like after Wanaka,” he continued. “I still don’t even know that I won. It takes a long time to settle in. At the moment I’m just happy to have finished, just happy it’s done. But in the next few weeks it will settle in and be a great feeling.”

The women’s race featured an equally dominant champion, with Challenge Family ambassador Belinda Granger (AUS) claiming her 15th title in 47 career long course finishes.

Fresh off of a two-week training camp in Phuket, Granger initially seemed too far in arrears to set the first women’s course record in Taitung. She exited the water 6:23 back from notably strong swimmer Hillary Biscay (USA) and 4:50 from fellow Australian Kate Bevilaqua. But the swim deficit only served to light a stronger than usual fire underneath the already powerful cyclist, and by T2 Granger’s 4:55:34 bike split propelled her to the women’s lead.

“My swim was shocking,” admitted Granger, “But sometimes that’s a blessing in disguise. It makes you kick it up a notch, where when you have a really good swim you can become complacent. So I had to chase from the start. Hats off to Hillary, she was having a storming bike and I didn’t catch her until 60k. Then she stayed with me, legally, until 90k. The only reason I got rid of her is because I knew she would stop for her special needs bag. I don’t use special needs on the bike so I took off like a maniac!”

Granger’s ride, followed by an equally strong run, built a comfortable buffer over Biscay, and she posting a winning time of 9:23:15. Biscay, who boasts an even more impressive long course resume with 59 finishes to her credit, held tough on both the bike and the run, finishing in 9:37:40 for second place. Kate Bevilaqua rounded out the women’s podium, despite struggling with stomach issues throughout the bike leg.

The Challenge Family celebrates the sport of triathlon through its global series of long distance events and festivals that are changing the face of long distance racing around the world with its focus on athlete experience. Featuring spectacular courses in iconic destinations, Challenge Family events focus on delivering the race of a lifetime to every athlete, and creating a memorable spectator experience that captures all the excitement and emotion of this inspirational sport. The Challenge Family series currently features 18 events around the world including the world’s largest long distance triathlon, Challenge Roth in Germany. Other Challenge Family races take place in Germany, Holland, Austria, Canada, UK, France, Spain, Italy, Denmark, New Zealand, Thailand and Taiwan.

For further information on Challenge Family, please visit www.challenge-family.com or follow on Twitter @Challenge_Famil or like on Facebook at www.facebook.com/challengefamily.

In the partnership, athletes will benefit from tailored training plans through MarkAllenOnline.com for each of the 18 Challenge Family races around the world as well as enjoy unique access to Mark Allen himself through a series of online video seminars.

Challenge Family CEO, Felix Walchshöfer, said the partnership with MarkAllenOnline would form an integral part of Challenge Family’s Athletes’ Journey.

“As soon as an athlete signs up with Challenge to do one of our races, they are starting on the Athletes’ Journey and our goal is to support them each step of the way, providing them with the ultimate experience, not just on race day but in their preparation and recovery periods as well,” he said. “Our partnership with MarkAllenOnline.com provides Challenge Family athletes with access to race specific plans tailored to their individual needs by one of the most respected coaches in the world.”

As well as training plans, athletes will benefit from bi-monthly live online seminars covering key topics such as nutrition, mental tactics, training/life balance and race day preparation. Delivered by six time world champion and ESPN Greatest Endurance Athlete of All Time, Mark Allen himself, Challenge Family athletes will have access to one of the greatest minds in triathlon with Allen’s wealth of racing and training expertise.

“I am excited to have MarkAllenOnline provide coaching to the Challenge Athlete Family athletes,” said Allen. “It has always been our goal to support our clients in having the best possible experience in the sport of triathlons by helping them Train Smart and Get Results®. The Challenge Family embraces this same goal of bringing the best possible experience to an athlete through its events. This is an incredible opportunity to enhance the athletic journey for everyone from their first day of training all the way through the finish line at the races.”

Full details of the training programmes can be found at www.markallenonline.com/challenge.

The Challenge Family celebrates the sport of triathlon through its global series of long distance events and festivals that are changing the face of long distance racing around the world with its focus on athlete experience. Featuring spectacular courses in iconic destinations, Challenge Family events focus on delivering the race of a lifetime to every athlete, and creating a memorable spectator experience that captures all the excitement and emotion of this inspirational sport. The Challenge Family series currently features 18 events around the world including the world’s largest long distance triathlon, Challenge Roth in Germany. Other Challenge Family races take place in Germany, Holland, Austria, Canada, UK, France, Spain, Italy, Denmark, New Zealand, Thailand and Taiwan.

For further information on Challenge Family, please visit www.challenge-family.com or follow on Twitter @Challenge_Famil or like on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ChallengeFamily.

Crawford triumphed over a stomach bug suffered earlier in the week to set a new women’s course record of 9:24:31, bettering her previous record by about four minutes, while McNeice had a break through victory in his first long distance triathlon, after 10 years racing as a professional over the Olympic distance, finishing in 8:51:18

2011 champion Jamie Whyte (NZL) (8:55:43) and Chris McCormack (AUS) (8:58:05secs) were second and third respectively, with McCormack clawing his way into contention for the podium after a windy bike ride.

Candice Hammond (NZL) (9:44:22) ran down Joanna Lawn (NZL) (9:44:30) in the final 2km to finish second in the women’s race, with Lawn collapsing with exhaustion on the finish line in third.

The race started in a storm and finished in brilliant sunshine for former surfer McNeice, who showed his supremacy over the men in the extremely choppy Lake Wanaka by completing the 3.8km swim first in 47:56. He beat his closest rivals Bryan Rhodes (NZL) and Whyte out of the water by several minutes and slowly extended his lead throughout the 180km cycle.

Whyte got a foot in front after McNeice stopped to go to the toilet early in the 42.2km run, but McNeice quickly re-established his dominance and ran away from Whyte in the first lap of the two lap course.

“I just couldn’t believe it. I was out in front the whole time and kept expecting to be caught. The only time I was caught was while I was in the toilet,’’ McNeice said afterwards.

The dark horse of the men’s field admitted he had a race plan to run easy for the first 5km of the marathon and then do 5km hard and then repeat the pattern. “But I ended up running the whole thing hard. The course was awesome. There were people everywhere. I never thought I would race a long distance race. I never really wanted to and now I can see why!’’ he said.

McNeice described racing four-times world title holder McCormack as “cool’’ and had expected McCormack would run him down.

McCormack said the race was “absolutely spectacular’’ but he had cursed the wind and the hills many times.

“What an event. I will be back for this next year. I wanted to win it but I got stung by two very big guys out there today. I won’t be making that mistake again,’’ McCormack said.

Whyte was disappointed but philosophical about failing to get the measure of McNeice and he too vowed to return in 2014. “It reminds me of the race I had here in 2011, where I raced off the front all day,’’ he said.

Crawford was first woman out of the water in 59:14, with a 30 second lead on her rivals and had extended this to 10 minutes on Auckland’s Joanna Lawn by the 100km mark on the 180km bike leg.

“The swim was really slow. I think that was the first time I’ve done an hour in the swim. I didn’t think I had a chance of cracking the course record but then I had an amazing bike ride and held it together in the run,’’ Crawford told media after finishing her race.

Crawford was uncharacteristically emotional on finishing to an enthusiastic crowd and apologised for crying. “It was great running down the finish. It meant so much. Thanks so much,’’ she said.

Crawford said she had entered the race feeling uncertain about how it would go after being sick earlier in the week. She had felt weak in the latter stages of the run but had pushed through it. Winning for the fifth time was “really, really special’’, Crawford said.

Race director Victoria Murray-Orr was delighted with the event, which attracted up to 1500 athletes competing in the full iron-distance race and the Lake Wanaka Half (1.9km swim, 90km swim, 21.1km run).

“A course record broken, record crowds, record field, a career-changing victory for Dylan, a fifth win for Gina – and the world’s top athletes experiencing this spectacular but tough and honest course – what more can you want!” she said.

As the countdown to race day begins, attention turns to the last little things that need to be taken care of in order to line up on the start line in the best possible shape, physically and mentally.  All the training has been done and by now you will have your race nutrition sorted for the day, and have a schedule laid out for what you will be eating and when.  In addition to this, most of you will also have a tried and true breakfast that you know will sit easily in your stomach and provide enough energy to get you started.

The Challenge half or full iron-distance events require a CHO (Carbohydrate) loading strategy that enables you to replenish your glycogen stores (muscle storage form of CHO) for race day. That, and being fully hydrated, are your two important nutrition goals.  Endurance events require the typical athlete to CHO load for three days out, but there are a couple of common mistakes that leave athletes lining up on race day feeling heavy and lethargic.  While you want to ensure you get in a substantial amount of your energy from CHO, this does not mean you eat a substantially larger amount of food.  Do not forget that you are tapering at this point too, and that in itself acts as a CHO loading tool given your glycogen stores are not being depleted to the same extent.  As your appetite will obviously diminish at this time it is against your best interests to eat beyond your appetite in an effort to CHO load.  The best thing to do is to eat proportionally more of your energy intake in the form of CHO as opposed to fat or protein.  While it’s still important to include these two macronutrients in your diet (and, let’s face it, basically impossible not to!), ideally you will increase your serving sizes of CHO in relation to fat and protein, so the relative volume and energy of your meals are not substantially increased and possibly lower in response to your lower energy requirements.

The second mistake that people make is to choose food types that are high in CHO but are also highly processed and of poor nutrient quality.  Foods such as potato chips, biscuits, chocolate, baked goods and many different types of crackers fall into this category.  While there is nothing wrong with including small amounts of these in the week leading up to the race, to actively eat a significant amount more of these foods might not be so helpful as the overall goal is to increase energy from good sources of CHO. While these foods do contain a substantial proportion of energy coming from CHO the downside of this strategy is that it leaves less room in your diet to get in valuable sources of CHO which are also nutrient dense.  Basing your meals around kumara, corn, potato, fruit, pasta, rice and vegetables is a better option.

Energy dense sources of CHO are important at this stage to help maximise your intake but not leave you feeling bloated after each meal or snack.  Juice, milk, smoothies and dried fruit all provide useful sources of CHO yet take up minimal stomach space.  Obviously the liquid CHO help you meet your fluid goals too, and the other sources can be utilised as spreads (such as jam or honey), snacks and included in meals (such as the addition of fruit to your cereal) so you barely notice you are eating more.  In the days leading up to an Iron-distance event it can be useful to follow a low residue diet, particularly for those who suffer from nerves and find it difficult to eat.  Focusing on low fibre options can prevent bloating that can occur with foods that are typically recommended in a healthy diet.  The days leading up to an event are not the time to focus on increasing your fibre intake!  Three or so days of going light on the vegetables will help move food through your digestive system and minimise stomach issues associated with a full stomach, but is certainly not enough time for you to develop a nutrient deficiency.

Being fully hydrated is another key nutritional goal particularly for Challenge Wanaka where the weather is typically hot!  The best thing to do is to include a drink with a source of electrolytes to consume throughout the day.  These include water with an electrolyte tablet, coconut water or a sports drink. Include a drink such as juice, milk or a fruit smoothie at meal times in the two days prior to the event to top up glycogen stores and hydrate at the same time.  While caffeine-based drinks will not dehydrate those who typically consume them, minimising these to reduce water loss is a sensible idea provided this doesn’t lead to caffeine withdrawal symptoms!  Another option is to have a glass of the aforementioned fluids for every cup of coffee that you consume.

While ideally you will not gain substantial amounts of weight in the week before Challenge, you can expect to be 1-2kg heavier on the day; do not be concerned by this – it is merely a sign that your glycogen stores are maximised and you are fully hydrated.  For every 1g of glycogen your muscles store, you store a further 3g of water.  This should be your goal and will help you achieve your best possible performance on the day.  If you’re still grappling with pre-race nutrition, book in a consultation with a sports nutritionist or dietitian to work out an individual strategy that meets your needs.

Good luck!

There are two very common mistakes often made during this period.  The first is training too hard in an attempt to gain that last little bit of fitness.  What’s needed now is a mixture of rest and race paced training — with an emphasis on REST.  Self-coached athletes tend to do too much hard work in the last few weeks since they don’t trust that what they’ve done so far is enough, whereas others may rest too much and don’t train hard enough because they’ve heard that rest produces greater fitness.  This is not exactly true as rest helps the body rejuvenate but at the same time a little fitness can be lost.

There are three elements of physical preparation that you are trying to balance in the peak weeks before race day:

• Fatigue: Fatigue is a measure of how great your workload is in the last few days.  If intensity and/or duration have been higher than normal for the last few days then fatigue is elevated. During the Peak period we’re not trying to gain fitness but rather reduce fatigue.

• Fitness: Fitness is what you’re gained from all the training leading into the peak period. Fitness occurs over long periods of time whereas fatigue occurs in short periods of time.

• Form: Form is also one of the key elements during the Peak period.  This has to do with how well your rest is progressing.  The more rested you are, the greater your form.  You want to have high form (well rested with fatigue low), but must be careful that fitness is not lost rapidly due to too much rest.  The trick is to gradually lower fatigue, maintain fitness at a relatively high level and steadily increase form.  Then you are peaked and ready to race.

So how do you achieve this?

Starting two to three weeks before the race do a race-intensity workout which simulates your expected intensity for race day – not faster than this.  You can schedule one of these workouts for every third or fourth day.  This doesn’t always need to involve all three disciplines but should include a bike/run workout.  These workouts gradually get shorter as you progress through the first week or two of the Peak period with the sessions starting at 2-4 hours and gradually reducing each week from there.  A reduction in workout volume of 30-50% per week leading into the race should be fine. With the workouts getting shorter the weekly volume is also dropping which is want you want in order to remove excess fatigue.  The intensity for these workouts should be at least “moderately hard.”  Such intensity is the key to maintaining fitness.  The two or three days between these race simulations are key to reducing fatigue and elevating form.  They should be low intensity, low duration workouts that also get shorter as the Peak period progresses.  So what you are doing is mixing the two key elements – intensity and rest – to produce race readiness at the right time.

This is the first time Lawn has visited the spectacular alpine town of Lake Wanaka and is looking forward to a new race experience in her home country.

“2013 is going to be a very exciting year for me, as I have decided to participate in some races that I have always wanted to do, but haven’t been able to because of prior commitments,” she said. “I have not only heard great things about this race, but also about Wanaka itself as being one of the most desirable places in NZ to visit. I am so looking forward to racing Challenge Wanaka!”

Lawn has previous won the Challenge Family flagship race and the world’s largest long distance triathlon, Challenge Roth in Germany and is looking forward to racing with the Challenge Family again.

“The Challenge family has expanded rapidly since I won Challenge Roth in 2006 and as an organisation they are second to none, and are very welcoming to all age groupers and professional athletes alike.”

Lawn has had a prestigious career to date and is ranked as one of the “Top 10 Greatest Female Iron Distance Triathletes of All Time” by Inside Triathlon. She holds multiple full and half distance titles around the world including seven wins at Ironman New Zealand as well as regular top 10 world championship finishes.

Lawn joins a high profile professional field for the seventh Challenge Wanaka that also includes multiple world champion Chris McCormack and former duathlon world champion, Leon Griffin.

Now that this general endurance base is established you can move into a more specific endurance phase.  This is normally called the ‘build phase’ and the major difference is that you should start to identify some individual workouts and begin to execute them at the intensity you intend racing at over terrain similar to the Challenge Wanaka course.  Not every workout in the week should be at predicted race day intensity but I recommend portions of your weekly long swim, bike and run should now start to be conducted as you hope to do on race day.  Initially use smaller interval periods of 15-20mins followed by easier periods or recovery exercise. Over the next 6 weeks the build intervals should be extended with the easy periods of recovery exercise reducing so that mid to late December you’re able to conduct up to 75% of the duration of each of your weekly long workouts at approximately race effort.

The intensity of training during this build period should be either “at” or “just above” your predicted race effort.  How you determine this race pace intensity is through trial and error in training or by consultation with your coach.  It is best to work this out now before race day to avoid meltdowns! The need for super hard training is not relevant now as training for a long distance triathlon is about building fitness at perceived race intensity and not above this.

For those athletes new to this distance of racing then the build period intensity may be exactly the same as their base endurance training phase as it’s always best for novice athletes to perform at training speed on race day to ensure finishing rather than hoping they can go 25% faster and blow up.  For those athletes the build phase then represents a chance to do race simulations and start to put together swim, bike, run workouts with very short changeovers or transitions between each discipline to mimic race day.

The build phase is also you’re chance to develop your personal nutrition strategy for race day.  Each athlete is so very different in terms of their nutritional and hydration needs and what they can each tolerate when exercising differs. The amount of energy expended per hour, your personal sweat rates and electrolyte losses should be addressed over the next few weeks by working out what works best for you. Your stomach will tell you quite quickly if you’ve over-eaten or hydrated as will your muscles if you’ve under-eaten or not drunk the right amounts of fluid.

The stomach is very sensitive when under exercise stress as blood is drawn away to the working muscles which impacts on our digestive capacity.  We absolutely need to take on board calories as we go and working out your nutrition plan should happen before race day.

High 5 is the nutrition sponsor for the event so this will be what’s available on the course on race day.  I would recommend you purchase some of this product before then to see if it works for you. High 5 has a specialised carbohydrate profile in their drinks which could allow for more and better carbohydrate absorption but I encourage you find out if it works for you before the big day.

The build phase should start to come to a conclusion towards the end of December when you enter the ‘peak period’ and you should be starting to think about conducting a few mini race simulations to fine tune your race fitness. More on Peak Period to come………..

Thanks to Bevan McKinnon and the team at fitter.co.nz for these training tips.

Widely regarded as the sport’s most successful triathlete, McCormack has won over 200 international races since 1993 across a range of distances and is the only athlete to break the magic eight-hour iron distance barrier more than twice (he has broken it four times). As well as being two-times World Champion at Kona, he is the current ITU Long Distance World Champion and has also claimed the ITU World Series Championship title over the Olympic distance, again, the only athlete to hold both distance world titles.

“I’m heading to Wanaka for a win and a new course record,” said McCormack, in his usual straight talking style. However, defending champion and fellow Australian, Aaron Farlow, is returning with the goal to retain his title while 2011 champion Jamie Whyte (NZL) is also aiming to get back on top of the podium. Other contenders include former duathlon world champion, Leon Griffin (AUS) as well as Kiwis Keegan Williams and Bryan Rhodes. The top spot is the only place that has eluded Williams at Wanaka following a third in 2010 and second in 2009 while four times iron distance champion Rhodesy will be looking to make up for a disappointing DNF in 2012 following three punctures.

Challenge Wanaka will mark the first time McCormack has raced a long distance triathlon in New Zealand and he’s looking forward to returning to his “second home”

“I grew up in New Zealand, every school holidays we were there, I still have a lot of family in New Zealand, and to this day travel on both an Australian and a New Zealand passport. New Zealand holds a special place in my heart as it is the home of my mother, so returning to race in Wanaka will be very nice for me. I lost my mother to breast cancer in 1999, and Wanaka was where my mother and father had their honeymoon. It is a special part of the world for me. I would really like to do something special at this race for these very reasons,” he said

The women’s field is once again dominated by four-time winner of Challenge Wanaka and 10 times iron distance champion Gina Crawford (NZL). However, the road to a sixth victory will have to break through the defences of Australia’s Kate Bevilaqua, Kim Loeffler (USA) and New Zealand’s Candice Hammond.

Bevilaqua holds two iron distance titles while Hammond comes off her best career result to date – a win at Metaman Bintan in September. Loeffler is hoping to break her ‘bridesmaid’ resume – she has placed on the podium no less than seven times and holds the run course record at Ironman Brazil but the top spot has so far eluded her.

Crawford is racing off the back of her recent success at the Ironman World Championships where she placed seventh and is returning to Wanaka for the fifth time.  Originally from Christchurch, her time racing and training in Lake Wanaka has led to a love of the region that has resulted in her and her family making it their home.

“I just love racing Challenge Wanaka with the scenic and challenging course and am especially looking forward to the changed bike course this year with the double loop encompassing the best parts of the former course. I am excited to be coming back and will be working hard in the coming months in an attempt to take my fifth title,” said Crawford.

Challenge Wanaka takes place on 19 January 2013 and is part of New Zealand’s largest triathlon festival involving over 2,000 participants that runs from 13-19 January and features events for all ages and abilities. Other highlights include the Puzzling World Junior Challenge Wanaka on 13 January, the Radio Wanaka 5km Charity Fancy Dress Fun Run, and the Contact Tri Series Contact Cup featuring the country’s top short course athletes on Friday 18 January.

Currently 53% of the half distance field is made up of female athletes in a sport that is usually dominated by men.

Challenge Wanaka race director, Victoria Murray-Orr, said it was extremely encouraging to see so may women competing in long distance triathlon.

“It’s awesome to see more and more women stepping up to long distance racing,” she said. “It was disappointing to see one of New Zealand’s key women’s triathlon series stop operating this year so to see such strong numbers at the Lake Wanaka Half is really encouraging and we hope these numbers will continue to grow as women use the relay teams to catch the triathlon ‘bug’!”

The Lake Wanaka Half relay team element offers an achievable introduction into endurance triathlon. 55 all-female teams have entered compared to 35 all-male teams plus there are 70 mixed teams.

“The relay teams are designed to build the sport from the ground up, actively introducing more people to this inspiring sport. We really hope that we’ll see more and more women going from racing one discipline, to two and eventually building to complete the half or full iron distance race as an individual,” continued Ms Murray-Orr.

The Lake Wanaka Half runs concurrently with the iconic Challenge Wanaka full iron distance triathlon. Part of the global Challenge Family series, Challenge Wanaka attracts professional and age group athletes from around the world, drawn to the world-renowned course on the edge of the Te Wahipounamu World Heritage Area.

“Challenge Wanaka is well known by the international triathlon community as one of the most scenic courses in the world,” said Ms Murray-Orr. “Lake Wanaka Half competitors can test themselves on the same spectacular course as well as enjoy the thrill of racing side by side with some of the biggest names in the sport while soaking up the unique atmosphere that accompanies an international full distance Challenge race.”

With the Lake Wanaka Half field capped at 1,000, team entries are already at capacity with a wait list in operation. Entries for the individual race are NZ$295 and remain open until 30 November 2012 or until capacity is reached.

Jonathan Wallis, general manager of The Alpine Group, said the company was delighted to support an event that had such a positive impact on the Lake Wanaka region and was so well supported by the local community.

“Alpine Helicopters, a family-owned and operated business, is proud to support Challenge Wanaka as the official helicopter operator for Challenge Wanaka 2013,” he said. “Challenge Wanaka is an exciting event that has a positive economic impact for the district. We look forward to our partnership, to further propel Wanaka on the national and international tourism grid. In addition, I’d like to recognise and congratulate the efforts of the large number of local volunteers and other businesses who play such a valued role in supporting the event.”

“Having the support of Alpine Helicopters will not only provide significant benefits for the event but also indicates that Challenge Wanaka reaches deep into the tourism infrastructure of the region, providing benefits and returns to businesses well outside the sport-specific marketplace,” said Victoria Murray-Orr, race director of Challenge Wanaka. “We’re delighted to be working with such an innovative and respected organisation as The Alpine Group and I know that anyone who wants to see this spectacular region from the air will have a truly memorable experience with Alpine Helicopters.”

As part of their partnership with Challenge Wanaka, Alpine Helicopters will also take ownership of the Alpine Helicopters Swim Leg.

Challenge Wanaka is New Zealand’s largest annual triathlon festival attracting in excess of 2,000 athletes over a week-long celebration of sport involving all ages and abilities. The flagship event, Challenge Wanaka iron distance triathlon (3.8km/180km/42.2km) is part of the Challenge Family global series of long distance triathlons which features 11 races around the globe. For further information, visit www.challengewanaka.com.

Established in 1972 Alpine Helicopters is a division of The Alpine Group Limited, owned by the Wallis family, which also includes Minaret Station Luxury Tented Lodge, Minaret Outfitters and Mountain Kitchen tourism products. For further information visit www.alpinegroup.co.nz

Bevan McKinnon is a dedicated and motivational person, who is a credit to coaching here in New Zealand. His ability to relate to people allows him to impart his knowledge in a way that is accessible to athletes of all abilities.

“Bevan is one of those people. He is highly respected within the endurance sport community and his passion for not only sport, but health and well being, places him above others in his field,” said one nominator.

“His sessions are informative and structured. His use of training technology is great for managing training data and ensuring that training specs are met for each session,” another wrote.

Challenge Wanaka race director, Victoria Murray-Orr, was delighted to hear of Bevan’s success.

“It certainly doesn’t surprise me and the award is very well deserved,” she said. “Bevan’s passion for the sport and empathy for those taking part is second to none and we’re extremely proud to partner with him for our official training camp. He was on the podium here in 2011 and athletes can be sure they will walk away after three days with Bevan with a wealth of knowledge and well set up for their race on 19 January.”

The official Challenge Wanaka Training Camp takes place from 23-25 November. For further information, click here.

In line with the worldwide Challenge Family commitment to ensuring athletes get the most out of their race experience, Challenge Wanaka acknowledges not everyone has a coach or knows how to access the right information to train for an event of this nature. By linking up with Fitter to create a camp, Challenge Wanaka is providing an opportunity for athletes of all levels to acquire the knowledge needed to train and race this event.

The Challenge Wanaka camp recognises the primary areas of concern for current and potential athletes and offers professional guidance in these areas including swim technique with video analysis, nutrition during training and racing, appropriate training and race intensity require to reduce injury risk and maximise chance of finishing and race-specific training on the actual race course.

Challenge Wanaka race director, Victoria Murray-Orr, said she was delighted to be able to offer a new benefit to athletes as they took on triathlon’s ultimate distance.

“This comprehensive camp not only covers the technique side of swim, bike, run but also race strategy from pro athlete Bevan McKinnon who has raced around the world. In addition, the camp nutritionist, Mikki Williden will teach participants the importance of nutrition, not just during the race but in the lead up, preparing lots of healthy and delicious meals that will power and repair the body and hopefully inspire the athletes to get creative in the kitchen!”

The Challenge Wanaka Training Camp is timed to provide maximum benefit to athletes in their training schedule and will take place eight weeks out from the race on 22-25 November.

Spaces on the camp are limited and are offered on a strictly first come, first served basis. For further information, prices and accommodation options, click here.

A summary of the key points from Challenge Wanaka’s independently audited economic impact survey is detailed below:

• The majority of athletes came from outside the Queenstown Lakes region – 84%.
• 20% of Lake Wanaka Half athletes were international and 39% of Challenge Wanaka athletes were international. After New Zealand the countries most represented were Australia (102 athletes), UK (100 athletes), USA (18) and Germany (16). (Note this information is sourced from the registration records and not from the survey).
• 27% of Challenge Wanaka athletes visited Lake Wanaka for training prior to the event and 40% of Lake Wanaka Half athletes visited for training. The average training length of stay was six days.
• 37% of Challenge Wanaka respondents and 27% of Lake Wanaka Half respondents had competed in the event at least one time prior.
• Of the spectators, 79% stated that Challenge Wanaka was their main purpose for visiting Lake Wanaka with 73% coming from outside the Queenstown Lakes region.
• Lake Wanaka Half athletes stayed on average 4.9 nights in Lake Wanaka with rented holiday homes the main accommodation sector used. Challenge Wanaka athletes stayed an average of 4.7 nights staying predominantly in the motel/hotel accommodation sector.
• There were an average of five people in each athlete visitor party (three adults, two children).
• The average daily spend per athlete was $245 over an average of 4.8 days or $1,176 per athlete. The total average spend of spectators was $257 per person.
• Based on 1,300 athletes, the fact each participant brought five people and the event attracted approximately an additional 1,500 spectators, we estimate the direct economic benefit to the region to be between $6.3 million and $6.6 million.
• 100% of spectators, 100% of Challenge Wanaka athletes and 99.7% of Lake Wanaka Half athletes would recommend the event to others.

Challenge Wanaka race director, Victoria Murray-Orr, said the 2012 was the most successful yet, with the largest field combined with one of the deepest pro athlete fields seen in New Zealand long distance racing. Combined with the introduction of live Internet TV coverage and a giant screen for downtown spectators, the event’s profile was significant locally, nationally and internationally.

“Challenge Wanaka 2012 was a success at every level,” she said. “There was a record field of athletes, there were more spectators around the course, the online profile increased by nearly 600%, the international TV reach exceeded 400 million, the international print media generated more articles than ever before and the direct economic impact increased to over $6 million. We’re delighted that Challenge is able to put so much back into the community that supports it so well and we look forward to building on this success into 2013 and beyond.”

Challenge Wanaka is part of the global Challenge Family series of long distance triathlons that feature 11 races around the world. The next Challenge Wanaka will take place on 19 January 2013.

Watch the full hour documentary on Challenge TV or whet your appetite for 2013 with the short promo on YouTube.

“We’re so disappointed for all the athletes, all of whom had put so much into this race, whether first timers or seasoned racers,” said Challenge Wanaka race director Victoria Murray-Orr. “It’s hugely disappointing for everyone when a race has to be cancelled due to factors outside everyone’s control. Extending the early bird price for Challenge Wanaka is just a small gesture of support to those affected.”

Challenge Wanaka takes place on 19 January 2013 – to enter click here.

Race director, Victoria Murray-Orr attributes the growth to a number of factors including the increased profile of the event and the new bike course.

“We’ve significantly increased both our domestic and international marketing activity this year including the live internet broadcast of the 2012 race that was seen all over the world.  Athletes have seen the stunning scenery and unique course and this has been reflected in our 2013 entries to date with over 400 athletes from as far afield as Brazil, France, USA and UK already committing to both the half and full iron distances in January,” she said. “I think the new two-lap Challenge Wanaka bike course will also encourage more age group athletes to come and check out this spectacular course. It’s still a tough course designed to test athletes but we believe the increased spectator support the two lap course will bring will definitely improve the athlete experience.”

Today’s entries going on sale coincides with the announcement that the tough Challenge Wanaka cycle course will change from a single lap to two lap course for 2013, cutting out the long wind-affected loop around Lake Dunstan.

Race director, Victoria Murray-Orr, said the new course would result in a better race experience for both athletes and spectators.

“As Challenge Wanaka continues to go from strength to strength, we are constantly looking at ways in which we can improve,” she said. “Making the course two laps cuts out the most exposed part of the course which for the last two years has made athletes push through brutal head winds. It was also the loneliest part of the course and now athletes can enjoy more spectator support on the shorter laps as well as go through Wanaka town centre twice which will give them a huge boost. However, it will still be a tough, honest course with the testing terrain of the two laps ensuring the race will continue to be as much a battle of the mind and the elements as the body.”

Full details of the new course will be released shortly but it has been confirmed it will include two laps of the current half distance course but will not go out towards Mt Aspiring National Park turnaround for a second time.

Challenge Wanaka will take place on 19 January 2013 and is the flagship event of New Zealand’s largest triathlon festival, featuring events for over 2,000 athletes of fall ages and abilities, running from 13-19 January 2013. For further information and entries, visit www.challengewanaka.com. Challenge Wanaka is part of the Challenge Family global series of long distance triathlons currently featuring 12 races around the world. For further information visit www.challenge-family.com.

-ends-

The surveys are very quick and simple to complete, just click on one of the relevant links below:

Challenge Wanaka Athlete Survey

Lake Wanaka Half Athlete Survey

Volunteer Survey

Many thanks in advance

The Challenge Wanaka Team