Genesis Energy Lake to Lighthouse Challenge: 10 Big Names and 10 Big Reasons to Race

Big news! George Christison is back. After racing the Genesis Energy Lake to Lighthouse Challenge in 2008, Christison missed last year.

But come 18-20 November, he’ll be lining up again for the stunning multisport race from Waikaremoana to Wairoa on the East Coast.

As a local—and past Speight’s Coast to Coast winner—it was Christison who helped to plan and test out the course. So if he finds the mountain bike-paddle-epic run-mountain bike-road bike-paddle-run hard work, sorry, he can’t complain!

Christison’s entry brings the list of starters to the most competitive yet in this popular new multisport occasion (this is year three). As well as plenty of depth in all the individual and teams categories, there are some of the biggest names in multisport—both men and women.

Twelve of the big names lining this year are (in no particular order):

1,2. Richard and Elina Ussher, the men’s and women’s winners in each edition of the race to date. Rich is a 3 x Coast to Coast Champion and Elina the 2010 Champion.
3. Jarad Kohlar, arguably Australia’s best multisporter
4. Trevor Voyce, second in the 2009 C2C
5. Louise Mark, second in the 2010 C2C and 2009 L2L
6. George Christison, one of the guys who had the idea in the first place
7. Tim Pearson, former winner of the Goldrush
8. Sia Svensden, winner in teams’ section of 2010 C2C
9. Dwarne Farley/Gordon Walker, lining up again in the teams’ section of Lake to Lighthouse
10. Karl Moore, of road cycling fame.

Stop press there are even more big names rolling in..
11. Sam Clark young rising star of the sport with a number of podium finishes this year
12. Neil Jones 1996 Coast to Coast winner out to give it a go as an individual.

Carrying on the ‘10’ theme, last year’s top finishers have shared their ‘top-10 reasons for loving the Genesis Energy Lake to Lighthouse’. There’s not room to have all the lists in full, but here are some of the best….

Ten of the big reasons to race Lake to Lighthouse (in no particular order):


1. “Culture, challenge, camaraderie, stunning course, good people and heaps of FUN.” Richard Ussher says it all, really. But is that one reason?

2. “The Food. A way to mans heart is always thru his stomach.” Dwarne Farley also hits the nail on the head.

3. “The bagpipes at the top of Panekiri Bluff. The scenery. The prize money. The experience.” Heh, Sophie Hart gives us another five.
4. “Finish Line at Wairoa. Unbelievable haka and great vibe.” Dwarne again.
5. “Tough, challenging, but eminently do-able as a team, and a challenging two days for tough individuals.” Ken Livingston.
6. “I had never been to this region of NZ before and found the best way to explore it was to do this race.” Sia Svensden, who comes from Christchurch but will be back this year.

7. “Chris is a great guy. He had obviously put a heap of effort into the race and genuinely wants everyone to enjoy it. He's done an awesome job.” Sophie again. No, she wasn’t paid by Chris!

8. “Fantastic cultural programme, in particularly the singing of the MC.” German athlete Martin Knoche.

9. “Water Taxi. Great trip across the lake.” Dwarne again. Of course, individual competitors have to sweat in a kayak!

10. “Great build up for Coast—don’t stress if not as fit now but it’s a great motivator for February.” Sia again.
The Genesis Energy Lake to Lighthouse is held 18-20 November 2010. The standard entry fee applies until 5 November—be quick! Enter now at www.laketolighthouse.co.nz