Off road
A total of 750 participants from as far afield as France, Taiwan, Canada, Australia and across New Zealand took on what turned out to be one of the toughest XTERRA races on the calendar.
It was the XTERRA Wellington Festival held at Queen Elizabeth Park on Saturday which featured a variety of races from half marathon, 6km, 14km, mountain bike, duathlon, short triathlon and the coastal triathlon.
“Too tough?” race director Bengy Barsanti asked as Ryan Sissons crossed the finish line first in the elite men’s coastal triathlon race. “Nah good tough,” was the reply.
Northerly winds meant that the swim leg had to be cancelled turning the muchanticipated coastal triathlon into a run, bike, run duathlon.
“It’s not a call any race director wants to make, especially in our first ever event, but safety has to come first,” Bengy said.
Under 100 participants took on the coastal triathlon which combined the park and Whareroa Farm.
“We set out to create a course and event that reflected the Ka¯ piti Coast and New Zealand.
“Homegrown, rugged, a bit rough around the edges but mostly fun, welcoming, relaxed and beautiful.
“I think we delivered that and can’t wait until next year.”
“The event certainly provided that — emotional stories, breakthroughs, tight elite races and a great atmosphere.”
Bengy thanked the volunteers, staff, spectators and many event supporters who also helped make the event a success.
“A couple we need to specifically mention are Greater Wellington Regional Council, Ka¯ piti Coast District Council and HMC Ka¯ piti.
“Without their support this event wouldn’t have been possible.”
Earlier a large group of youngsters took on the XTERRA NeXTGen youth off road triathlon.
Professional athletes Kate Bramley, Sam Osborne, Maeve Kennedy, Taylor Charlton, Solenne Billouin and Leela Hancox held a quick Q and A before the race to give out some advice, tell the young athletes their story and what inspires them.
“It was pretty cool. The young people had a few of the best athletes in the world handing on knowledge 2m away from them and then cheering them on as they took on the course.
“That doesn’t happen much in world sport.
“It was a tough course, and the young ones loved it.
“We saw friends helping each other around, stopping for injured or tired participants and most importantly so many smiles.”
“The elation as the kids ran over the line after completing a really tough course was pretty emotional.
“They knew they had just done something special and had a real sense of achievement.”
Entry to the youth race was a donation to the Ka¯ piti Food Bank and competitors really gave generously.
“We wanted to lower the barrier to participation right down.
“Small things make all the difference.” The entrants could also borrow a bike, only do one of the events or race as a team and got a medal and live results for their efforts.
“It’s about inspiring the next generation into the outdoors, to get off the couch or just to get out of their comfort zone,” said Gillian Barsanti, a director of Barefoot Sport NZ, a Ka¯ piti company and the directors of the event.
“The pride beaming from their faces as they crossed the line means we have achieved that.”