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Whangamata set to welcome triathletes into the New Year

Sunday 29 December 2013, 4:41PM

By Triathlon NZ

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WHANGAMATA

Round two of the .kiwi Tri Series takes place in the holiday town of Whangamata on the Coromandel Peninsula on Friday January 3rd, an event that boasts a proud and long history.

.kiwi Tri Series Event Director Lauren Watson says the event mixes plenty of the long history, with a little of the new to further enhance the event with families and holiday makers.

“Participants will once again enjoy a great day, with a superb choice of race options to suit all abilities – the team options especially are popular amongst holidaying families and friends who might not otherwise consider entering a triathlon event under their own steam.

“But we are also bringing more to the event, with Island View Reserve to be the site of some great activities for the whole family, with plenty for spectators and the kids on the day to enjoy whether they are participating or supporting others.

Befitting its location and time of year, the event offers a variety of race distances and team options that cater for everyone with an interest in the sport, from the youngest in the 1:2:1 (100m swim, 2km bike, 1km run) to the 3:9:3 and then the more typical sprint and standard distance races. Participants can get together with friends, family or fellow competitors in team categories in 3:9:3, sprint and standard events, with the swim, bike and run disciplines shared across 2 or 3 team members.

In a move from tradition however, the event will for the first time be based at Island View Reserve, a change from the usual Williamson Park transition area and headquarters. The move is one that will provide more space for participants and spectators in and around the finish line/transition area and less disruption to local holiday makers coming in and out of Williamson Park and the Surf Club.

Other than the move to the Island View Reserve, the course is largely unchanged with the cyclists heading out via Otahu Road to Tairua Road and a short distance up SH25 before returning to Island View Reserve, again via the Tairua Road loop.

The run maintains its famous course on the stunning beach front, with participants enjoying a truly unique environment as they run with the crashing waves to one side and the beachfront homes the other, cheered all the way by the big crowds enjoying their summer holidays in Whangamata.

Entries are being taken online at www.triseries.co.nz up until 5pm on Wednesday January 1st, with late entries taken at registration the day before the event at Island View Reserve from 3pm to 6pm.

Full race schedule, information and course maps can be found at www.triseries.co.nz


2013/14 .kiwi Tri Series
Visit www.triseries.co.nz for all event information and online entries

Whangamata            Friday 3 January 2014
Takapuna                  Friday 24th & Saturday 25th Jan 2014
Kinloch                      Saturday 1st & Sunday 2nd Feb 2014
Christchurch             Sunday 9th February 2014
Wellington                 Saturday 8 March 2014

Please note: Standard distance national champs in Auckland as part of the ITU World Triathlon Series on April 5/6