A full weekend of international triathlon and grassroot sport, featuring over 2,500 athletes, will kick off Challenge Family’s 2024 season at Integrity Homes Challenge Wanaka in New Zealand, on February 15-17.
On Thursday and Friday (February 15-16), it’s the turn of triathlon’s next generation as over 1,200 youngsters take part in Puzzling World Junior Challenge Wānaka. On Friday night the action moves to the streets of downtown Wānaka for the Tri NZ Oceania Cup. This sprint distance race features a full field of international elite short course athletes as they vie for placings in a highspeed showdown.
There’s also a strong international elite field lining up for the flagship middle distance event on Saturday, February 17. Defending champions, Jacky Moody (NZL) and Grace Thek (AUS) will both face stiff competition if they want to reclaim their titles. In the men’s field, Moody is joined by a strong line up of homegrown talent including Mike Phillips and Kyle Smith, as well as Australian Nick Thompson.
In the women’s field, Thek is up against, amongst others, Els Visser (NED), ranked second in the Challenge Family World Bonus, local Bec Clarke as well as Laura Siddall (GBR) returning for her sixth Challenge Wānaka.
Also taking place during the weekend festival of sport is Cross Tri and Duathlon, Aquabike, Bay to Bay Swim as well as Challenge Wanaka Adaptive.
On February 17, the start gun for Integrity Homes Challenge Wānaka goes off at 07:05 local time with live timing and race updates available at www.challenge-family.live and on Challenge Family’s social media channels.
