Trialthon NZ: Calling All Kids!!!

28th October 2011

Calling All Kids!!!

Elite New Zealand triathlete Nicky Samuels is calling on children in the Rotorua Bay of Plenty area to sign up for the first Contact Tri Series event at Blue Lake Rotorua in just over a week.

The response to the Rotorua Contact Triathlon has been fantastic in all events – except the kids Contact 1:2:1 race and Event organiser Haidee Stratford, with the help of Samuels, is on a drive to get children along to swim, bike and run their way to fun at the beautiful Blue Lake based event on Saturday November 5.

The traditional season opener for the popular nationwide Contact Tri Series is offering races from children to beginner (300m swim, 9km bike, 3km run) to sprint to standard and even teams racing for those not quite brave enough to take on an entire race on their own.

Entries to all events have been great, albeit with plenty of room for more in all races, with one exception – the children’s Contact 1:2:1.

Stratford wants to see more kids involved and is urging parents to make them part of the day too.

“The children’s event really is a fun one with the emphasis on participation and enjoying a taste of triathlon,” said Stratford. “The swim is just 100m and in very shallow water allowing nervous swimmers to walk if they need to while the 2km bike is very flat before the kids finish with a 1km run – and to be fair a large number of them walk plenty of it if they want to, this is after all about having some fun!

“The children receive assistance from officials, volunteers and their parents throughout, but especially in transition. This is not a pressure cooker environment for them; it is more about the fun of the day and having the chance to participate as well as support mum or dad in their race earlier in the day.”

The entry fee is just $18 with entries accepted from any child aged 7 to 11. All they need is a willingness to get wet, have a bike and a pair of shoes to run or walk in – plus of course their sense of adventure and as much energy as they can muster.

An added bonus for the children is the chance to rub shoulders with elite triathlete Nicky Samuels. Samuels won her first World Cup race in Australia earlier this year and is racing Rotorua in preparation of the Auckland World Cup event on November 20. The Wanaka based triathlete will talk to the children before the race and greet them as they cross the finish line.

“I can’t wait to get to Rotorua,” said Samuels. “Not only for my own race but to chat to the kids and give them a few tips on the day. It is always great fun watching them have a go with the emphasis on the fun side of the sport.”

So triathlon families are being encouraged to come along and have everyone take part on the day, Mum and Dad can choose from the many options available through the day from Contact 3:9:3 to sprint to standard of part of a team, while the kids can also have their fun in the Contact 1:2:1.

Contact Tri Series
Rotorua
Saturday November 5
Racing from 8am
Online entries close Thursday 3rd November at www.triseries.co.nz

For further information visit www.triathlon.org.nz

ENDS

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