Elite rower ready to plunge into the lake

Former Olympic and World Championship medal winning rower Nathan Twaddle is jumping ship.

His days as an elite rower are over but the competitive fires still burn within the 35 year old and he has turned to triathlon for his sporting fix, lining up at the first Contact Tri Series event at Rotorua 's Blue Lake on Saturday (November 5).

Twaddle has no pretensions of repeating his rowing success in his new sport but is looking forward to Saturday morning.

“Blue Lake is a bit of an old haunt for me from my rowing days and now the rowing is done for I am looking for a way to stay in shape and having a goal to work towards so I think it will be a fun day.”

Twaddle admits there is something in the make-up of rowers that leads them to take on other sports and events, in particular cycling with a number of successful transitions to the two wheels.

“We have a bit of a training pedigree I guess, we train pretty hard, our coach’s demand a high intensity from us and I think this translates pretty well on to the bike. I don’t think cyclists like training with rowers, not because they can’t beat us but we seem to keep up and to be honest, we don’t know the road rules that well so probably get in the way a bit.

Twaddle may not emerge from the water with the leaders nor run like a gazelle but hopes to fly on the bike.

“The bike should be my strongest discipline, I know Hamish Carter is a former rower and once said most of us rowers tend to run like elephants so I’ll certainly be plodding on the run course but will see what I can do on the bike so not too many pass me on the run - that is the plan anyway.”

“For about 15 years I have been going to Blue Lake for rowing regattas, it will be cool to get back there and into the water. It is a nice challenge and I like the physicality of it. I’m just looking forward to the race after a false start and doing an event proper. Rotorua will be the first event I have officially done.

Twaddle admits he is pushing the boundaries in his marriage on Saturday, and had to ask permission to get on the start line but quickly turned it into something of a family celebration.

“It’s actually my wedding anniversary on the Saturday of Rotorua so I did have to run the idea of competing past my wife when I said I was going to race. I have family from Whakatane too so they might come over and spend the day. The event is over by lunchtime too so we can then head away and do some of the fun stuff that Rotorua has to offer the family so it should be a good day.”

Racing for the Contact Tri Series Blue Lake event at Rotorua starts from 8am on Saturday 5 November. Online entries close Thursday 3rd November at www.triseries.co.nz