New Zealand’s largest annual triathlon festival, Challenge Wanaka, is once again set for a record field of both amateur and professional athletes. With two weeks of entries remaining, numbers have already surpassed 2014 levels over the full (226K) and half (113K) distance events in both individual and relay team entries.
Challenge Wanaka 2015, billed as ‘the world’s most scenic long-distance triathlon’, will take place on Sunday 22 February 2015, a month after its traditional January race weekend for the past eight years.
There are three main reasons for the shift from January to February:
- To give athletes more time with their families over the Christmas and New Year holidays;
- To gain additional economic benefit in a quieter tourism season; and
- To take advantage of generally more settled weather.
Challenge Wanaka is internationally regarded as a bucket list event and has recently been listed as a top five finalist in the Triathlon Business International (TBI) Awards to be announced later this month. This is reflected in this year’s event, which is 28% international and with the number of offshore athletes in the 27-strong pro field attending for the first time.
Challenge Wanaka also attracts those just starting out on their triathlon career. 30% of the full distance Challenge Wanaka field are taking on the 226K challenge for the first time, reinforcing Challenge Family’s commitment to the future of the sport by encouraging new participation. This is achieved through their inclusive, family friendly events and relay team programmes.
Challenge Wanaka is the longest running Challenge Family event outside of Challenge Roth in Germany; and in 2016 Wanaka will celebrate its 10th anniversary. It shared the world stage with just one other Challenge event in 2007, in 2015 there will be 44 worldwide.
Entries to Challenge Wanaka 2015 remain open until 25 January 2015.
