TriFactor important buildup
THE buildup to next month’s Challenge Wanaka is set to get under way this weekend with the second annual TriFactor Wanaka event taking place in the town today.
Organiser Adrian Bailey said about 300 athletes were expected to take part in the event’s six disciplines, featuring Olympic and sprint distance triathlons, a duathlon, trail running, and children’s events.
The event would be held in and around the Lake Wanaka foreshore, utilising the water, trails and roads for the swim ming, cycling and running courses.
Bailey said the fact everything needed for the event was already in place made it ‘‘just too easy’’.
‘‘It plays itself so well to host these kinds of events.’’
This is the second year he has run the event after taking it over from Triathlon NZ, and he believes it is marked in the calendar of many triathletes working towards competing in Challenge Wanaka.
‘‘These kind of events are buildups for the likes of Challenge Wanaka. They’re events in themselves but they’re a good tester for the likes of Challenge Wanaka especially.
‘‘If we don’t have these events, there are no stepping stones, particularly for the youth, to train towards competing in Challenge Wanaka, which is the primary event in the area.’’
No changes had been made to last year’s courses, as Bailey said they were ‘‘second to none’’.
‘‘You just can’t beat them.’’ Races start at 8am today.