Top Adventure Racers for Queenstown

Press Release
24hrs of southern traverse
19th September 2006

Top Adventure Racers for Queenstown

Top adventure racers from around the country will gather in Queenstown on November 4- 5th for the first running of the "24hours of southern traverse "

Entries for the race opened on September 7th, with more than 40 teams already pre-registered for the event a large field is expected. In a change from normal format the Southern Traverse this year is a 24 hour race only, with the front teams expected to finish in 15 or 16 hours, while the teams at the back should be able to make the finish in just on the 24hours. "We expected that most of our teams would be drawn from the local area for this 24hour event but in a surprise to us we have two teams from Australia already registered" says event director Geoff Hunt.

"We also have had Richard Ussher (current ARWorld Championship winner) and Nathan Fa'avae (2005 ARWorld Championship winner) expressing a strong interest in coming down to Queenstown to race, so the local race teams will be able to compare themselves with the best in the world"

Other international event competitors like Team Merrell competitors Jeff Mitchell and Ian Edmond from Christchurch are also expected to race.

"The response to the shorter race format has been huge,"says Hunt. "Wethought there would be a lot of interest in the shorter format as it makes it much more achievable for many athletes."

Each athlete entered prior to the deadline for registration is the 15thOctober will receive a distinctive Macpac Interwool body wear garments made especially for the competitors. Macpac has been closely associated with the Southern Traverse since the early 1990s and company spokesman Sara Webb says they are delighted to support the 24hours of southern traverse.

"The New Zealand landscape, along with adventure racing individuals, has provided inspiration for Macpac's innovative approach and its leading edge designs."

The event will be held on the rivers, lakes and mountains surrounding Queenstown over the weekend of the 4-5th of November and as per normal for a Southern Traverse the course will remain a secret from the competitors till the evening prior to racing. However in one departure from this the racershave been told which maps they will need to bring with them, and may be now designing their own course within these parameters.

Mr Hunt says that over the next two months the final checkouts will be done, although most of the course checking was done prior to the winter months. Only a couple of stages remain to be checked including the orienteering style course that will help us separate the field in the first stage of the event.

The course includes trekking, mountain biking and kayaking, with anothercouple of disciplines being investigated. Entries close for the event on the 15th Oct.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION: www.southerntraverse.com

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Other Southern Traverse Ltd events includeTrustPower Adventure Quest 30th Sept

Fresh Choice Southern Lakes Womens Duathlon and Triathlon 3rd March

The North Face Peak to Peak 21st July

ENDS

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