Something Old, Something New with the Speight's Coast to Coast

The Speight’s Coast to Coast has announced exciting new developments and a documentary
cinema release that could inspire more people than ever to experience New Zealand’s
challenge of choice.

 

Established in 1983, the Speight’s Coast to Coast is the world’s longest running multisport event.

Recognised as the World Multisport Championship, it starts on the West Coast’s Kumara Beach and
races 243k across the South Island to finish on Sumner Beach in Christchurch.

In the 30 years since almost 20,000 people from 46 countries have completed the six-stage event,
comprising a 3k run, 55k road cycle, 33k mountain run, 15k road cycle, 67k kayak and 70k road
cycle, either as individuals or two-person teams.

In 2013, however, Speight’s Coast to Coast organiser Robin Judkins is opening the event up to
three person teams, and also to people just wanting to experience the mountain run or final cycle
section.

It’s a change that has been at the back of Judkins' mind for a while: “We want the Speight’s Coast
to Coast experience to be more accessible to more people,” he explains.

“A newcomer might start out trying a bike ride, then come back and try the mountain run or kayak
section. They can now get that introduction by themselves, or try it with a mate in the two or
three person team, and eventually complete the course as an individual. It’s a progressive thing
helping people get into multisport.”

Judkins thinks it will reinvigorate the sport by opening it up to a wider range of age, ability and
experience.

“Society is changing,” he says. “People don’t necessarily grow up close to physical adventure. More
and more it’s something they drift into during their late-20s, 30s, 40s, even later. These changes
offer more people a chance to be involved.”

In 2013 the new three team option will be opened to 100 entries, while 200 entries will be
available for the new 33k Mountain Run and the final 70k Road Cycle Ride options.

Each section will have their own Race Bib amd finisher medals. The new three-person team will
compete in the same sections as the traditional two-person teams while the new mountain run
and last cycle options will have their own merit prizes. Entries will open online at 7pm on Sunday
September 30th, 2012 and will be on a first come first served basis.

To help inspire this new wave of multisporters Judkins has also announced a documentary cinema
release of 2012’s 30th anniversary Speight’s Coast to Coast.

Scheduled for September 23 at Auckland’s Rialto Newmarket cinema, the 2012 documentary
follows last year’s successful tour of 22 cinemas nationwide.

“I’m over the moon” said Mr Judkins. “The coverage is superb,” he says. “As well as the first
husband and wife triumph for Richard Ussher and Elina Ussher it follows people like Neelu Memon

becoming the first blind finisher, sixty year old Joe Sherriff competing 30 years after winning
1983’s very first Speight’s Coast to Coast, a Maori team following the footsteps of ancient
ancestors, an ex-All Black taking on new challenges, and a husband and wife team doing it after his
brain surgery.”

The coverage also looks at Christchurch’s ongoing earthquake recovery. Judkins own home was
heavily damaged and his event too has suffered from the earthquakes as local multisporters have
been forced to hang up bikes, shoes and kayaks to sort out challenging life issues.

The documentary has been shot and edited by Sportzhub.com, who used multisporters to shoot
coverage on the rugged route across the South Island’s Central Divide.

“That was the secret to it,” says Judkins. “Multisporters know their sport better than anyone.
It looks great; they’ve really captured the essence of the Speight’s Coast to Coast from the
competitor viewpoint, especially on the kayaking and mountain running sections.”

“It’s all up close, tight and sweaty and inspirational. Everyone who goes into that cinema will leave
wanting a taste of the Speight’s Coast to Coast for themselves.”

http://www.coasttocoast.co.nz/

For further details contact Robin Judkins – Ph: 03 326 5493 / Cell: 021 426 278.