Surf to City - a Southland ‘must-do’
There are so many great reasons to do the Wensley’s Cycles Surf to City. Whether it’s your first event, or your annual outing - the ‘Surf ’ is part of the furniture when it comes to the Southland events calendar.
The province’s biggest participation event has something for everyone. Distances include the full Wensley’s Cycles Surf to City, starting at Oreti Beach, the ILT Foundation 6km, which starts at Otatara, and the Rothbury 3km, which starts in Bond St.
All three distances finish in the beautiful surrounds of Queens Park, with live music, food and activities all adding to that successful finish line feeling. After piloting a new category for people with an impairment last year, a new 2km event in Queens Park for those who live with a disability (supported by Inclusive Activity Murihiku) has officially been added to the programme. The course runs from the top of Queens Park at the Boys’ High end, along the fence line to Kelvin St, down Kelvin St to the Golf club where it then cuts back into the park to join up with the main finish straight by the band rotunda, finishing at the finish line where bikes and runners finish. The course is a mixture of gravel and tarmac.
The event is also fortunate to have the support of category sponsors ILT Foundation (6km) and Rothbury Insurance (3km) and the ongoing support of the Invercargill City Counci’s Community Wellbeing Fund.
TBI Health, New World Elles Rd and Windsor, the Shoe Clinic and The Pantry are also event supporters, along with media partners The Southland Times and NZME. “We are really fortunate to have a loyal family of sponsors who make this event possible,” Active Southland chief executive Vanessa
Hughey-Pol said.
“We know how much Wensley’s has contributed to the Southland community over the years and it’s fantastic to have them onboard for Southland’s biggest participation event. We love how passionate Rob is about the event.”
“We get a lot of enjoyment out of putting this event on for the community because it’s about a lot more than being active, it’s about supporting Southland to be more connected and resilient - and the smiles on people’s faces when they cross the finish line are priceless,” she said.
Online entries close at 2pm on
Saturday, March 9. Race numbers must be picked up from ILT Stadium Southland before 4pm on March 9.
On-the-day entries are available at each of the event start lines (Rothbury 3km, ILT 6km, Wensley’s Cycles 12km and iAM Run/ Walk in the Park), however each entry will incur a $5 late fee for adults and family entries. Each manual entry form will also incur a $5 administration fee. On-theday entries are cash only.
Bus transport leaves The Pantry, Grace Street at 8:20am and Queens Park Feldwick Gates between 8:00am and 8:50am. The cost is $2 per person (cash only) and no push bikes are permitted on these buses. Prams are allowed, but please arrive a little earlier if using one.
If you choose to drive to Oreti Beach, the road will be closed from Oreti Park to all vehicles at 8.45am and to runners, walkers and cyclists at 9.15am. Vehicle access to Stead Street will be closed at the corner of Stead and Bond Streets at 9am.
Online entries and more information can be found at www.sporty. co.nz/surftocity