Wanaka Next Stop For Contact Tri Series

Wanaka is the next stop on the Contact Tri Series with the southern holiday town hosting round three in the series that offers something to every competitor regardless of age or ability.

Leading the elite charge is a fascinating match up between Wanaka’s own world number 33 Nicky Samuels and visiting 25 year old Luxembourg athlete Elizabeth May in the women’s Contact Cup Race.

World number 13 May is the partner of New Zealand athlete Clark Ellice and brings great pedigree to the event, having finished in the top ten at World Cup races 3 times last season and having also competed at the Beijing Olympic Games.

It will certainly make for an intriguing race against Samuels, who despite the early season nature of the race won with ease in Whangamata two weeks ago.

“My aim is to be in great shape in 3 months. These New Zealand events will not be key races for me but will help me to gauge where my fitness levels are as I have found training in Wanaka away from other elite athletes can sometimes give a false sense of fitness, yet in other areas can be extremely beneficial. But it is a risk I love to take as for the past 2 years Wanaka has been my home and a great training ground at that.

“This race will be a fast sprint race, and fast on the tight circuit around Wanaka's township. It is great to have a race such as this in our little town Wanaka and I am sure there will be some big crowds to see it.”

The men’s race is a who’s who of the up and coming New Zealand talent with William Curtayne looking to back up after his win in Whangamata. He will be joined by twin brother Andrew, World Championship U23 bronze medalist Martin van Barneveld, Dylan McNeice, Tony Dodds, Ben Pattle and the aforementioned Clark Ellice.

It is a mouth watering taste of the future of the sport with all athletes highly regarded ‘younger’ triathletes with varying degrees of experience on the international stage. Curtayne showed in Whangamata that he is well set for a strong summer but the likes of van Barneveld, Dodds and Ellice in particular will offer genuine threats to his chances of going back to back.

The Contact Tri Series races will take place on the Friday afternoon and evening as part of the overall Challenge Wanaka festival, with the Challenge Wanaka iron distance race on Saturday 17th January. Racing for the Contact Tri Series races will be in and around the town centre in a criterium style event that will provide great viewing for fans and locals in the bars and restaurants.

Amongst the races will be the Contact 3:9:3 for beginners on a very user friendly course, allowing a gentle introduction or reintroduction to the sport for many.

For those looking for a bigger challenge, the Contact Trophy Race is competed over the traditional sprint distances of 750m swim, 20km bike and 5km run.

And for the elites, Wanaka sees the first round of the Contact Cup, a four race series competed over a variety of distances (two sprint, one super sprint and the final round over standard distance at the Wellington event) with points and prize money up for grabs. The other venues in the Contact Cup Series are Kinloch, Takapuna and Wellington.

The Contact Cup will be raced in three categories of elite, U23 and U19. Wanaka is hosting a sprint distance event for the elites (750m swim, 20km bike, 5km run).

Contact Tri Series, Wanaka, Friday 16th January
Contact 3:9:3 - 2.30pm
Contact Trophy (Women) - 3.40pm
Contact Trophy (Men) - 5.20pm
Contact Cup (Women) - 7pm
Contact Cup (Men) - 8.10pm

Full event details can be found at www.triathlon.org.nz