Torpedo7 Peak to Peak wrap

The Race Day

In the middle of a snow storm in the wild sierra range in southern siberia . .. . . then i woke up to a beautiful day with stars shining and realized that it was the morning of the Torpedo7 Peak to Peak.

My dreams might have had something to do with the  forecast for the race. The whole week before had been dire but we were greeted by the starry skis and a calm lake.

The ski leg was held in near perfect soft snow conditions on the Calypso run in the Shadow Basin.  (Homeward Bound has since opened) but racing on the piste meant that  everyone was always going to arrive in a narrow time frame which made it impossible for Brandi to do more than record the first 15 folks into the transition in order. Everyone else arrived in tight groups and moved into transition calmly - which made it much safer for all.

Mountain bikes on snow - yahoo - at least this part was not muddy. The fresh overnight snow had melted on the upper access road and the mountain bikers  arrived at Frankton Beach coated in mud.  (a few smart racers had tear-offs on their googles but these lasted only a short time, and there were many reports of cycling semi blind  peering through mud splatted lens)

The pictures also show goggles parked on the top of helmets - mud splattered and useless once the tar seal was reached.
The lake by now had felt the effect of the increasing wind and while Frankton arm was ok

The paddlers faced big waves in ‘the neck’ and a decision was made to shorten the paddle rather than face the white caps of the min lake.  Who made this decision - I’m not sure

As I’m talking to the ‘harbor master’ about changing course the lead kayak pulls into the rock groin - I guess that decision is made for us.

The race support crews seem to understand this somehow and by the time I get there everyone else is already there unloading boats and directing runners.  (a full plan b will be published for this eventuality for subsequent races - I think in 23 years we have used this exit point only a few times)

Different people had their own ideas about where the runners should go - although we had touched on the subject in the briefing and the competitor briefing sheet talks about rough water alternative 1, but did not talk about how to run from there.   I have now amended that as below

Rough Weather Alternative 1: paddle from far end of Frankton Beach up the shore line to finish at small stone jetty in the Narrows. Paddlers run along Park street and down into gardens, across the bridge to original changeover.

On Saturday runners rejoined the marked run on the waterfront and the race continued up the Gorge to the uphill cycle stage up Coronet Peak.

The ‘hill does not get any easier’ - comments from both Hamish Fleming (individual open winner) and Vet Mens division winner Shaun Portegys. I did hear the mentioned by a few others as well

The Coronet Road was actually in pretty good condition except for the last 100meters which had snow and ice on it.

One long time competitor decided that paddling the length of the lake was too easy and opted to swim. Luca Fornes swam from the Frankton Marina to the narrows and still finished strongly on the climb up Coronet Peak. He was awarded a spot prize from Torpedo7 for his efforts

Overall times a little slow this year as all competitors slowed by head wind and lake conditions

One family team (husband and wife) herd on the finishing line discussing their 5 year project. Each of them will race different divisions over the 5 years until they have completed all disciplines. Three years in now and heading home to draw which division they will do next year (can’t do one twice)

Two Chinese competitors  - seen in the car park in Remarkables after everyone had left still managing their transition ‘first time for us so just learning our way)
Arrived a Frankton Beach looking for a virtual kayaker but everyone one hd gone so continued cycling to Qtn beach.
Also found the Coronet Road a bit tough and used cars to assist their progress but were still very enthusiastic about the race and keen to come back with friends to do it next year.

Eryn Cutler - following the All Black winger try technique as he crossed the line . See below

These and many other stories that come out of the event each year contribute to the fun and success of the event

Post your story on the Peak to Peak Facebook page

Sponsors
Torpedo7 made a strong commitment to this years race with two people coming down to support and film the event, with associated company Shotgun Supplements offering everyone samples to take home and adding prizes into the prize pool.
Our agreement with Torpedo7 was for a certain value of prizes and they went above and beyond that to assist in filling the prize pool.  A large number of divisions and teams results in a lot of prizes being distributed.

With support from Sportive NZ we were were able to offer additional prizes to the pool,  We also have support from Peter Soundy @ Peak Projects, and from KJet AllPress Espresso

NZSki (and the Mt Cook Company before that) have supported the event from concept (to link the NEW SKI FIELD 'the Remarkables' to Queenstown during the Winter Festival and on to Coronet Peak) Without their support we could not run this event.

Cookie Time, also came on at the last to support the junior school division

A special mention to Swiss-Belresort-Coronet-Peak
for letting us use the forecourt before the ride up to Coronet Peak.