#DEFIANCE

Red Bull and Agema Group is set to change multi-sport racing forever with the creation of Red Bull Defiance; a new and innovative multi-day stage race, held in Wanaka, New Zealand

On October 24 and October 25 this year, 150 handpicked teams of two from around the globe will get the chance to race across six high country stations that traverse some of the most varied terrain ever opened to a multi-sport event. The Red Bull Defiance race format is a new and unique combination of traditional run, kayak and mountain bike endurance disciplines, mixed with the creative element of target based shooting and rope work.

The new partnership and event concept draws on the experience of newly branded Red Bull athlete and World Multi-sport Champion, Braden Currie. The result is a style of race that offers original team challenges and raw adventure, set amongst the backdrop of New Zealand’s most wild and gruelling terrain in the greater Wanaka region.“I was invited to foster the creation and concept behind an event that offers a new facet to multi-sport.  Based on my experience of team stage racing in China, I was inspired to develop a style of race that offers epic challenge across a variety of terrains with the additional fun element of racing in a team,” says recent Coast to Coast champion Braden Currie.

Each of the two event days is broken down into three punishing stages. Day one starts with a barge ride to Minaret Station, the start-line and a 56km mountain bike ride. Stage two is a 19km kayak paddle, followed by the final stage of the day; an 18km run. The run includes an abseiling component, where teams can enjoy the views of Hospital Flat before the dash to the finish line. Day two starts on the shores of Lake Wanaka, with a 25km kayak paddle across the lake then down the Clutha River. Stage two is a 25km mountain bike ride, with an additional component of target based shooting activity. The event finishes with a 25km run that reaches 1630m elevation.

“There are so many unique factors to this race. The format and the elevations of the track raced over the unique properties, combined with limited number of entries available, will make Red Bull Defiance the adventure stage race event in 2014,” says race director Gavin Mason.

In Wanaka on October 24 and October 25 of 2014, only one team will defy the odds and be crowned champions of Red Bull Defiance. For more information visit www.redbulldefiance.co.nz.