Challenge Wanaka, the world’s most scenic iron distance triathlon, has grown into a week long festival of triathlon for 2010, featuring events for all ages and abilities in one of the most spectacular settings possible, the shores of Lake Wanaka in New Zealand’s South Island.

The festival kicks off on Sunday 10 January with the Puzzling World Junior Challenge for budding triathletes aged six to fifteen. There’s also a 5km Fun Run and Swim the Course during the week before the two highlight events.

The streets of downtown Wanaka turn into a high speed race circuit on Friday 15 January when New Zealand’s top triathletes, including Olympians and national champions compete in the Contact Tri Series. This thrilling criterium style racing is a huge hit with spectators and provides exciting race conditions for the athletes as they compete in this, the first of four national sprint races to decide the national championship.

The week culminates with the flagship Challenge Wanaka race on Saturday 16 January when top professional ironmen and women from around the world join hundreds of regular athletes to take on the gruelling 226km course which features a 3.8km swim, 180km bike and 42.2km run.

Running simultaneously is the inaugural Lake Wanaka Half with the race timed to end before the first Challenge Wanaka professional athletes arrive in the finish chute. The course will follow the same spectacular route that has quickly earned Challenge Wanaka the title of the world’s most scenic iron distance triathlon.

Thousands of spectators line the route and finish chute cheering on these inspirational contenders as they compete in the most arduous of the triathlon disciplines. The finish line is in the heart of the Lake Wanaka township and in true ‘Challenge’ style, there’s a fun finish line party with music and fireworks to welcome the athletes home late into the night.

Challenge Wanaka is part of the global Challenge Family Series that includes eight events in Germany, Denmark, Austria, France and Spain as well as New Zealand. For further information visit www.challenge-wanaka.com.

Events schedule:

Puzzling World Junior Challenge
Date: 10 January 2010
Time: 10.00am – 1.00pm

Contact Cup
Date: 15 January 2010
Time: 2.00pm – 9.00pm

Lake Wanaka Half
Date: 16 January 2010
Time: 8.15am – 3.15pm

Challenge Wanaka
Date: 16 January 2010
Time: 7.00am – 11.30pm


Dates

Sunday 10th January to Saturday 16th January 2010