Atomic World Cup Winter Triathlon this weekend

New Zealand’s elite winter multi-sporters and triathletes will take on some of the best in the world at the Snow Farm, Cardrona this weekend in the latest round of the ITU World Cup Winter Triathlon series.

Defending champion and leading cross country ski representative Nat Anglem will have local and European competition in Saturday’s event with confirmation that two time Czech national champion Pavel Jindra will be on the start line. Also expected to feature are New Zealand representatives Ben Falconer and Geoff Matthews, both of whom competed at the World Champs in Italy earlier this year.

The international flavour is not consigned to the men’s field with Šárka Grabmüllerová (Czech Republic) the early favourite courtesy of a strong CV that includes a runner up finish at the 2006 Czech Championships.

Adding further spice to both fields is the entry of Coast to Coast Champion Richard Ussher and his wife Elina Ussher. World renowned adventure and multi-sport racer Richard is competing in a winter triathlon for the first time and may struggle to stay with the pace but Elina is a world class cross country skier and adventure racer, having represented power house Finland in the former.

Tracey Neil, event organiser from Iconic Adventures says that the small but elite field of competitors should put on a world class display.

“Interest in the sport is growing with more people looking to cross country ski for fitness during the winter months. The inclusion of world class international competitors this year further strengthens the sports growing reputation and will make for a great race.” 

A winter triathlon consists of running, biking, and cross country skiing, all on hard packed groomed snow. The distances for the Atomic ITU World Cup Winter Triathlon are 7km run, 12km bike, 10km cross country ski.

Competitors are eligible for selection for the ITU Winter Triathlon World Championships to be held in Germany in February 2008.

Triathlon NZ CEO Dave Beeche says the event is a great example of the wide range of activity that the organisation covers.

“When people think of Triathlon they think first of the Bevan Docherty’s and Andrea Hewitt’s of this world but our sport is much more than that. Whether it is the kids in the Weet-Bix series, our Olympic distance athletes, our long distance competitors such as Cameron Brown and Jo Lawn or events such as this Winter World Cup, it is all activity we are charged with promoting and fostering. We wish the race organisers and competitors a great day at Cardrona on Saturday; it is shaping up as a world class event once again.”

New sponsor Atomic has embraced the event and put up two of the latest Atomic pro race skate and pilot race skate bindings (ski & binding package) as spot prizes, as well as prizes in numerous race categories.

Atomic ITU World Cup Winter Triathlon
Saturday 11th August 2007
9.15am race start