Stage set for gruelling the North Face peak to peak

Conditions are shaping up well for the "The North Face Peak to Peak" this Saturday (July 19) which starts high on The Remarkables Ski Area and finishes at Coronet Peak, after 44kms involving skiing/snowboarding, mountain biking, kayaking, running and cycling.

The race is being held for the 15th consecutive year and Race Director Geoff Hunt says the high profile multisport winter event continues to attract elite athletes in the individual sections, as well as an increasing number of teams, particularly from business houses.

A feature of this year's race is the number of under- 23 "young guns" competing.

"Young and promising multisporters are eyeing up the Peak to Peak as another string to their bow," says Hunt. "It is a great opportunity for them to combine another set of racing skills."

Young contenders include Matty Graham of Dunedin and Invercargill's Mike Walker.

"These guys made a real impression at last year's Fairydown Southern Traverse in the under-23 team at Hanmer Springs and will undoubtedly make their presence felt at the Peak to Peak."

Seasoned competitors like Ian Huntsman, Gordon Blythen, Tim Pearson and Leigh Chapman will provide a lot of the action while last year's open winning team Physio Med is returning with three teams.

"They will be out to take the open title again but there will be some strong competition particularly from Queenstown teams who have been putting in solid practice over the last couple of weeks," says Hunt.

The race starts on the Homeward Bound run at The Remarkables with a 2km ski/snowboard to the access road followed by a 17km mountain bike down the gruelling high altitude road to Lake Wakatipu at Frankton.

"It is an absolute buzz for people to stand high on the start line and look across the Valley to the finish at Coronet Peak," says Hunt. "It is quite spectacular."

A 7km paddle finishes in Queenstown Bay where the changeover is made for a 9km run from Queenstown, through Arthur's Point to the Coronet Alpine Hotel near the Coronet Peak turnoff.

Hunt says although road works are underway on Gorge Road contractors have committed to getting the running track in good shape for the event.

The last stage, always hotly contested, is a 9km cycle up the challenging Coronet Peak road to the base building and the finish line.

Race categories cater for male, female and veteran individuals. The teams' sections includes female, mixed, business house, school or veteran.