TRIATHLON

Companies invited to rise to the Challenge

By Challenge Wanaka



The Challenge Wanaka Corporate Trophy is a new opportunity for organisations to get involved with triathlon. — Challenge Wanaka

Challenge Wanaka, New Zealand’s largest annual triathlon festival, has launched the Challenge Wanaka Corporate Trophy – a brand new race category for corporate teams complete with a host of motivational, team building and promotional benefits.

The inaugural event will take place as part of the Challenge Wanaka triathlon on Saturday 18 January 2014 in Lake Wanaka, one of New Zealand’s top holiday resorts.

Recognised on the international triathlon circuit as one of the most scenic courses in the world, corporate teams will compete over the same full distance as some of the world’s top athletes, made up of a 3.8km swim in crystal clear water, a 180km bike around two alpine lakes and a 42.2km run mostly off-road along the water’s edge.

Three team members, at least one of whom must be female, each complete a single discipline and join up again at the end cross the finish line together. The Challenge Wanaka Corporate Trophy will be awarded to the fastest team in the new category.

The entry fee of $1,500 per team includes a range of benefits including professional training programmes for each discipline, company profile in the official race programme, own wave start, dedicated transition area, separate prize giving category and reserved seating at the pre-race Pasta Party and post-race Awards Brunch.

Challenge Wanaka race director, Victoria Murray-Orr described the Corporate Trophy as a serious test but one that companies can use as a focus for workplace wellbeing and motivation at both an individual and group level.

“Any long distance race is not for the faint hearted but this is an honest challenge for employees. People of all ages and abilities complete Challenge Wanaka and enjoy its inspiring atmosphere with the warm local welcome and stunning scenery,” she said.

“With dedication, perspiration and support from both employers and colleagues this is something your whole organisation can get behind. We’re inviting employers around the country to spread the word, enter a team and build a whole HR campaign around the training and race weekend.”

To help teams get started, entries come with training programmes designed by fitter.co.nz. An online training resource, fitter.co.nz is headed by Bevan McKinnon, head coach of the official Challenge Wanaka Training Camp and a podium finisher at Challenge Wanaka. In 2012, McKinnon was recognised as Coach of the Year at the 2012 Tri NZ Annual Awards.

Challenge Wanaka attracts in excess of 2,000 athletes over a week-long celebration of sport involving all ages and abilities. The flagship event, Challenge Wanaka long distance triathlon (3.8km/180km/42.2km) is part of the Challenge Family global series of triathlons which features 21 races across four continents, including the world’s largest long distance triathlon,Challenge Roth in Germany.

For online entry and more information visit www.challengewanaka.com.