CYCLING

Runway Project 2016

By Bluedog Media

An event that captured the imagination at the Rotorua Bike Festival in 2015 is back in February.
The Runway Project will be held at Rotorua Airport on Saturday, 13 February and entries are open  at www.rotoruabikefestival.com/runwayproject.
 
It’s like a mini-festival of cycling, including a unique chance to ride on the airport runway.  From volunteers to riders to sponsors it is a real community event.
 
Air New Zealand proudly supports the Runway Project and has a long history operating services in and out of Rotorua since 1948.  
 
“Air New Zealand is delighted to support this collaborative initiative,” says Ian Collier, Regional Affairs Manager for Air New Zealand. “It’s great to be part of the Rotorua Bike Festival which sees the airport and community working together to celebrate cycling in a unique way.”
 

All ages, all bikes at the Runway Project. Photo © Allan Ure/Photos4Sale

Rotorua Airport Chief Executive Nicole Brewer says it is great for the airport to be part of the Rotorua Bike Festival. “It’s fantastic to support a local event and one that means so much to our community and economy. Hosting the event again is a way we can be involved and also encourage people to experience the airport from a different vantage point,” she says. “It’s unique and a fun way to give back to the community that we are a significant part of.”

The afternoon will open with the Bike Music Stage, great food and other bike oriented activity. Then, it will be the chance for enthusiasts young and old to take part in Ride the Runway. It’s free to register online. There are over $2000 of spa, gym and beauty therapy vouchers to win on the day from Rotorua’s QE Health, a spa, wellness and rehabilitation centre for over 70 years, as well as a $1,000 travel voucher provided by Air New Zealand.
 

Bike the Lake Rotorua. Photo © Alan Ofoski

Holland Beckett Lawyers provide legal advice to Rotorua Airport. They are backing the straight-line, drag race Flying Kilos, with a ‘People’s’ category for all-comers and another for Elites, with some of New Zealand’s top competitive cyclists competing.
 
“The People’s Flying Kilo is free for entrants in Sunday’s Bike the Lake event and only ten dollars for others,” says event director, Jason Cameron. “The Elite race is restricted to 20 male and female riders and is by application only with cash prizes up for grabs.”
 
The first Runway Project at the 2015 festival was a rousing success. “We were amazed by the response, with over 1000 riders and another 600 people enjoying the action on a gorgeous evening in Rotorua, with the sun setting over the lake,”continues Cameron. “It was thrilling to see the enthusiasm of both kids and grown-ups enjoying the experience. We’re planning to take that to another level this year.”
 

The power and drama of the Flying Kilo. Photo © Alan Ofsoski

One of New Zealand’s greatest cyclists, Julian Dean, will be back in February, not to race, but to  take the opportunity to ride the runway with his 7-year-old son and MC at the event.

“The first one had a great feel about it and it was a real buzz to share it with Val leading up to the event and getting out on the runway with him…he was fizzing,” says the veteran of the Grand Tours, World Championships and Olympics. “It was a great reminder of what cycling is about, what cycling can bring to a family, a community and what it means to Rotorua.”