NEWS To celebrate the 30th anniversary of New Zealand’s premier multisport race, principal sponsor Speight’s is running a series of “webinars”. These informative, online tutorials are designed to assist both competitors and support crew. 12-time race veteran Kelly Barber will present the sessions, with a few special guests along the way. There are six webinars in total. Full details of dates, times and topics are listed below. Watch the webinars live and use the chat window at the right of the web page to ask questions during each session. If you miss a webinar you can simply watch it on demand from the library below the video screen. To access the live webinars and the video library click here. You must confirm your age to access the Speight’s website. WEBINAR DATES AND TOPICS Date Topic Intended Audience November 15 - 7:30pm The Greatest Race on Earth Competitors and Support Crew November 29 - 7:30pm Race Preparation (Part 1) Competitors December 8 - 8:30pm Race Preparation (Part 2) Competitors December 20 - 7:30pm Support Crew 101 Support Crew January 19 - 7:30pm Race Day Tips and Tricks Support Crew January 31 - 7:30pm Race Day Tips and Tricks Competitors Over 800 competitors will vie for places in the 30th Anniversary race on February 10th and 11th 2012. The Speight's Coast to Coast is the world’s premier multi-sport event. The Speight's Coast to Coast is the benchmark by which all other multi-sport events are judged, both here in New Zealand and overseas. The Speight's Coast to Coast traverses the South Island of New Zealand from Kumara Beach on the Tasman Sea to Sumner Beach on the Pacific Ocean. Over either two days (individuals or two person teams) or the one-day event (individuals only), competitors cycle 140 kms (three stages of 55km, 15 km and 70 km), run 36 km (including a 33 km mountain stage that crosses the Southern Alps) and kayak 67kms of the grade two Waimakariri River through the Grand Canyon of New Zealand, the Waimakariri Gorge. And after all this they still have the energy to crack open a very well deserved Speight's – New Zealand’s finest beer. Top competitors take ten and three quarter hours to cover the 243kms while the slowest time ever recorded was twenty-four and a half hours. Entries open for the event on June 1st each year. About 100 international competitors enter each year, from about 15 countries. The event has been won six times by internationals from Australia, Canada, England and South Africa. The average age in the event is 36 years and the oldest ever was 75 while the youngest 15. The minimum age to enter is 18 and there is no upper age limit. The school teams section has a minimum age of 16. $240,000 worth of prizes and race pack goodies, finishers medals, two outrageous dinners, a quality event branded shirt and a cold can of Speight's for finishers. Who could wish for more? The event is divided into three races - the One-Day or Longest Day event is for individuals only while the Two-Day event is for individuals and two person teams. In the Teams section the runner and the kayaker both do cycling stages. The only requirements for the race are that you meet the minimum age and provide a grade two kayaking certificate if you're an individual or a team kayaker. Oh yes, you should also be fit!     Site crafted by