Coronet Peak and The Remarkables go head to head in adventure race
Tuesday 2 August 2011, 3:52PM
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 Neil Burgess, Will Curnow, Ed Bezett, Gordy Menzies, Michel LePage (front)_med.jpg)
Two teams from Queenstown’s Coronet Peak and The Remarkables ski areas are set for a dose of healthy rivalry as they compete in one of New Zealand’s most high profile winter adventure races.
The teams, one from each ski area, will race in the ‘North Face Peak to Peak’ this Saturday (August 6), and as well as hoping for a good showing against other business house and social teams, for the first time will be competing for two NZSki trophies.
The race is held on a course between the two Queenstown ski mountains. Individuals and teams of two to five people race by ski or snowboard, mountain bike, kayak, run and road bike from the top of The Remarkables ski area to the base building at Coronet Peak.
The Remarkables team manager Ed Bezett said some “friendly competition” could be expected on the day.
“We’ve entered business teams in this event before, before but this is the first year we’ve actually had our own trophies to compete for as well,” said Mr Bezett.
“The NZSki ‘Peak to Peak Team Cup’ and ‘Peak to Peak Individual Cup’ will be highly sought after and will sit with pride in the winning team staff room after the event.”
Mr Bezett said the motivation for the event came about as a result of encouraging increased staff involvement and motivation for keeping a bit of fitness throughout winter.
“It should be a lot of fun and lots of laughs mixed in with our sweat and grimaces on the day.”
The Remarkables team is Neil Burgess – mountain bike downhill (Electrician), Will Curnow – runner (Ski Rental Head of Department), Ed Bezett – uphill biker (Assistant Ski Area Manager), Gordy Menzies – skier (Ski Patrol) and Michel LePage – Kayaker (Ski Patrol).
The Coronet Peak team is Brett Harper – Skier (Ski Instructor), Toby Arnott – Mountain Biker (Head Of Department Snowsports), Katrina Priest – Runner (Brand Marketing Manager), Garry Steedman – uphill biker (Technical Manager CP) with the Kayaker slot still to be filled.
“There’s been a bit of training but The Remarks team is taking a generally relaxed approach,” said Mr Bezett.
“Having said that, I understand that Garry Steedman from the Coronet Peak team was seen cycle racing last weekend in Invercargill, so we’ll see on the day who’s taken the training most seriously.”
The race starts on Saturday at midday when competitors ski or snowboard for 2km high on The Remarkables ski area followed by mountain biking 17km down The Remarkables access road to Frankton beach, then a 7km paddle to Queenstown Bay. In Queenstown, team members run 9km through town and out to Coronet Alpine Hotel, before a gut-busting 9km uphill bike ride to the finish at Coronet Peak ski area.