Top prizes up for grabs at New Zealand race.
July 19th, 2007
All athletes competing in this year's The North Face Peak to Peak will be in with a chance to win fantastic prizes including North Face products and nzski.com season passes.
The North Face Peak to Peak is a fun multi sport race which traverses a course from the top of the Remarkables ski area, through Queenstown and up to Coronet Peak.
Major sponsor The North Face is offering a large amount of prizes and great gear to assist athletes in their sporting endeavors.
NZski.com, who have supported the event since its inception, is providing two season passes for the first man and woman across the finish line. Many day passes will also be given out as prizes. Other sponsor offers include Qtn Gym passes, Dalbello Ski boots, Summerfield's Pharmacy digital camera, ski related equipment from K2 and Smith, vouchers from Night and Day Queenstown, outdoor clothing and gear from R&R Sport Shop Queenstown, and much more.
Entries for this year's race on Saturday July 21st have been flowing in from teams and individuals across the South Island. There has been a good mix of entries from some renowned athletes as well as first timers rising to the challenge and seeing if they have what it takes.
"There are some impressive teams and individuals entered from Christchurch, Dunedin, Invercargill, and although entry is open right up until race day we would like to encourage athletes to get their entries in now, or take advantage of the registration on Friday night at the R & R Sports shop in Queenstown" says race organiser Geoff Hunt.
The race starts at noon on the Remarkables ski field with a 2km ski or snow board to the Remarkables access road. A 17km mountain bike down the road takes competitors to the edge of Lake Wakatipu in Frankton for a 7km paddle in to Queenstown Bay. From downtown Queenstown the final two race stages are a 9km run to the new transition area at Coronet Alpine Hotel and then a 9km bike ride up to the finish line at Coronet Peak.
Due to lack of snow, the ski leg will not take place on Homeward Bound Run as planned, but will start near the tubing centre. After a small uphill run to the skis, a fast descent of a run called Turquoise will lead the racers behind the base building to the transition area near the bottom of the Shadow Basin chair.
The race is exciting for spectators too, whether down in Queenstown Bay as the paddlers arrive to tag the runners before they sprint off towards Coronet Alpine Hotel, or on the finish line as the athletes happily reach the line after their grueling bike ride up Coronet Peak access road.
Race categories for teams include Open, Female, Mixed, Business House, School and Veteran. Team numbers can be between two and five people. As for individuals, the categories are Male, Female, Veteran Male or Veteran Female.
Entries are still available at all good sports stores, sponsor outlets and the Southern Traverse office or on their site, www.southerntraverse.com/peak2peak.
Registration is also available at R&R Store on Friday 20th between 6 PM and 8PM and on Saturday 21st at The Remarkables from 10AM to 11AM.
The North Face Peak to Peak 2007 is supported by the following sponsors: The North Face, Coronet Peak, The Remarkables, More FM, Queenstown Night 'n Day, R & R Sport Queenstown, Queenstown Gym, Summerfield's Frankton Pharmacy, K2 Skis, Smith Optics, Dalbello boots, Kawarau Jet, Leppin, Peak Projects and New Zealand Multisport.
