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Exciting battle in women’s race and new men’s winner guaranteed in Kathmandu Coast to Coast
Colm McGrath • Feb 04, 2019
The women’s race is poised for an exciting battle while a new winner is guaranteed in the men’s Kathmandu Coast to Coast longest day world Championship this Saturday.
The women’s one day event features four time winner Elina Ussher who is competing in her fourteenth straight Coast to Coast along with a strong mix of experienced New Zealand and international athletes and a number of competitors still relatively new to multisport but who could still mount a serious challenge.
“Being an ex-competitor I still get excited about the pointy end of the field,” Kathmandu Race Director Glen Currie said. “There is an amazing depth in New Zealand adventure racing with a number of athletes training like Olympians for Kathmandu Coast to Coast glory.”
“New Zealand generally dominates on the Adventure Racing world stage and arguably one of the reasons for this is the depth and strength of female athletes in the sport.”
“Elina Ussher is again number one in the race having won it numerous times before,” Currie said. “She knows the course so well and has strength in all disciplines so will be difficult to beat.”
Ussher feels like she has had a good build up, taking it easier after an intensive period of racing in China in September and October and competing in the Pioneer six day mountain bike stage race in November.
“I only started my Coast to Coast training just before Christmas, so it’s been relatively short build up but a little bit more intense than in the past,” Ussher said.
Currie thinks Simone Maier is arguably currently the strongest female competitor in New Zealand across all disciplines, saying that the fact she has not been able to win the One Day World Multisport Championships before – she has finished second and third - will make her “super hungry for it this year.”
Like Ussher, Maier has had her shortest build for the event but says she is feeling good about it. “I’ve had no injuries or sickness so I feel good about Saturday,” she said. “I have trained well for it and I feel I'm ready to race hard and enjoy the scenery along the way. I want to race my own race and have fun and then the result will take care of itself.”
“Every time I race I’m aiming to win. It is an amazing course and I just like to see what I can do on it, going hard and feeling great, but you don’t get many of those days as there are so many elements that can happen.”
How Swedish adventure racing champion Marika Wagner can perform in her first attempt is a question race officials and her fellow competitors are all wondering. Wagner has an impressive resume that includes winning the 2018 Åre Extreme Challenge, Scandinavia’s first and oldest multisport adventure race that doubles as the Open European Multi Sport Championship. She has performed well in mountain biking and is a strong runner but is more at home racing as a team so how she adapts to racing solo as in individual will be watched with interest.
The women’s one day event features four time winner Elina Ussher who is competing in her fourteenth straight Coast to Coast along with a strong mix of experienced New Zealand and international athletes and a number of competitors still relatively new to multisport but who could still mount a serious challenge.
“Being an ex-competitor I still get excited about the pointy end of the field,” Kathmandu Race Director Glen Currie said. “There is an amazing depth in New Zealand adventure racing with a number of athletes training like Olympians for Kathmandu Coast to Coast glory.”
“New Zealand generally dominates on the Adventure Racing world stage and arguably one of the reasons for this is the depth and strength of female athletes in the sport.”
“Elina Ussher is again number one in the race having won it numerous times before,” Currie said. “She knows the course so well and has strength in all disciplines so will be difficult to beat.”
Ussher feels like she has had a good build up, taking it easier after an intensive period of racing in China in September and October and competing in the Pioneer six day mountain bike stage race in November.
“I only started my Coast to Coast training just before Christmas, so it’s been relatively short build up but a little bit more intense than in the past,” Ussher said.
Currie thinks Simone Maier is arguably currently the strongest female competitor in New Zealand across all disciplines, saying that the fact she has not been able to win the One Day World Multisport Championships before – she has finished second and third - will make her “super hungry for it this year.”
Like Ussher, Maier has had her shortest build for the event but says she is feeling good about it. “I’ve had no injuries or sickness so I feel good about Saturday,” she said. “I have trained well for it and I feel I'm ready to race hard and enjoy the scenery along the way. I want to race my own race and have fun and then the result will take care of itself.”
“Every time I race I’m aiming to win. It is an amazing course and I just like to see what I can do on it, going hard and feeling great, but you don’t get many of those days as there are so many elements that can happen.”
How Swedish adventure racing champion Marika Wagner can perform in her first attempt is a question race officials and her fellow competitors are all wondering. Wagner has an impressive resume that includes winning the 2018 Åre Extreme Challenge, Scandinavia’s first and oldest multisport adventure race that doubles as the Open European Multi Sport Championship. She has performed well in mountain biking and is a strong runner but is more at home racing as a team so how she adapts to racing solo as in individual will be watched with interest.
New Paragraph“Honestly I have no idea how the race is going to go,” Wagner said. “I'm hopefully going to do a good race, but I’m aware of the knowledge, experience and preparations of the other contenders. It's my first time in New Zealand and I absolutely love it. Both the race and the trip have been big dreams of mine.”
“This is a big challenging race and I'm very humble about being here to do it. I do want to have a good race without deep lows and finish with the feeling that I've been strong and pushed it hard. There’s no easy bits and that takes a lot of mental power and I’m more used to racing in teams so it will be interesting to see how I manage alone.”
Currie expects Wagner to follow Ussher and Maier through the challenging mountain run in the hope of potentially upsetting them later in the day, but thinks her lack of course knowledge may prove to be a decisive factor in the days outcome.
Corrinne O’Donnell is one of the female contenders to watch this year according to Currie after she has made a name for herself on the Adventure Racing scene picking up what he says are “those crazy Whakatane adventure racing genes.”
“She could potentially upset all of the major favourites this year, so the women’s race is shaping up as a very tough battle. As always it is a deep field with the likes of Bern Dornom and Leela Hancox who will be flying the Australian flag. Claire Bell, Isla Smith, Fiona Dowling and Georgia Whitla are all potentially podium contenders.”
Currie thinks the men’s race is shaping up as arguably one of the most exciting in years. “With no Ussher, Currie or Clark names on the start list it means there isn’t really a one to beat scenario,” he said.
“Alex Hunt from Australia has the number one bib after his runner up performance to Sam Clark last year. He now has a good appreciation of what it takes to win and will no doubt be hungry to back up his number one seeding and be the first foreign to win the one day men’s race since World Marathon Kayak Champion Australian John Jacoby won in 1993.”
“This is a big challenging race and I'm very humble about being here to do it. I do want to have a good race without deep lows and finish with the feeling that I've been strong and pushed it hard. There’s no easy bits and that takes a lot of mental power and I’m more used to racing in teams so it will be interesting to see how I manage alone.”
Currie expects Wagner to follow Ussher and Maier through the challenging mountain run in the hope of potentially upsetting them later in the day, but thinks her lack of course knowledge may prove to be a decisive factor in the days outcome.
Corrinne O’Donnell is one of the female contenders to watch this year according to Currie after she has made a name for herself on the Adventure Racing scene picking up what he says are “those crazy Whakatane adventure racing genes.”
“She could potentially upset all of the major favourites this year, so the women’s race is shaping up as a very tough battle. As always it is a deep field with the likes of Bern Dornom and Leela Hancox who will be flying the Australian flag. Claire Bell, Isla Smith, Fiona Dowling and Georgia Whitla are all potentially podium contenders.”
Currie thinks the men’s race is shaping up as arguably one of the most exciting in years. “With no Ussher, Currie or Clark names on the start list it means there isn’t really a one to beat scenario,” he said.
“Alex Hunt from Australia has the number one bib after his runner up performance to Sam Clark last year. He now has a good appreciation of what it takes to win and will no doubt be hungry to back up his number one seeding and be the first foreign to win the one day men’s race since World Marathon Kayak Champion Australian John Jacoby won in 1993.”
Christchurch based Sam Manson and Wanaka endurance athlete Dougal Allan loom as the two Kiwi favourites to take the one day win.
Allan, who in recent years has focused more on long distance adventure racing and triathlon events, says that deep down he always knew he would be back at an event he hasn’t done since 2013 when he was third behind Braden Currie and Richard Ussher, it was just a matter of when.
“My build up has been pretty smooth sailing,” Allan said. “It has been hard and consistent and very targeted, which it needed to be after six years away from the race. I have felt a renewed excitement for the race and the preparation that goes into getting there in top shape, so I look back on my training block with awesome memories and am proud of how I have focused so well.”
Allan says he is excited to test himself after the six year absence to see if he has managed to come back in a position to race better than he has previously. “My approach will involve patience, consistency and a self-focused mentality, in other words I plan to race the course first and foremost. If I can race the course to the best of my ability I am confident I can be competitive.”
“I have great admiration for any top level athletes that come to race the Kathmandu Coast to Coast but especially those who do so from overseas. We have a unique environment in the South Island and both Alex (Hunt) and James (Pretto) showed they weren’t bothered by it last year. It will be a huge challenge and I cannot wait.”
“I'm certainly fitter than ever and it’s about executing it right on race day. It’s no secret my paddling has been going well lately but I am certain my running and cycling is in fine form too.”
Currie said Allan has returned to the event this year for no other reason than to try and win it. “There is probably no other athlete that has done under 11 hours on the current course yet finished second, so just how he goes after his time away is another fascinating element.”
Manson has a committed an entire year to purely focus on this year’s Coast to Coast. “This is my biggest build since I started in 2012,” Manson said. “Usually I do loads of racing through the winter and spring which reduces the volume at which I can train, but by only competing in two multisport events I have been able to increase the hours and volume at which I train and become better at some of my weaker points.”
“James had a great race last year that I was impressed by and I am sure I'll see him near the front again this year and Alex is always an impressive force to reckon with. It’s great to see Alex is improving his finishing times in this race as he better understands the technical and navigational aspects of the run and paddling the Waimakariri River.”
Other male athletes who should all make their presence felt include Australian Tim Boote and Kiwis Andrew Sclater, Bobby Dean, Ryan Kiesanowski, Sam Goodall and veterans Nathan Peterson and Brent Edwards.
Such is the cycling strength of Allan, Currie believes any of the men wanting to win in New Brighton will have to have at least a five minute lead coming out of the kayak too hold him off on the final 69 kilometre cycle leg.
Former Black Fern Captain Sarah Helmore, rugby player Ben Hurst, Olympian and former pro mountain biker Kashi Leuchs and world champion swimmer and another Olympian Moss Burmester are examples of the special pull the event has on elite athletes from other sporting codes.
There is good continuing growth from schools and younger aged competitors and those in the tandem two day event that sold out early and includes former All Black Captain Richie McCaw and his long-term friend and Adventure Racing team-mate Rob Nichol.
The Kathmandu Coast to Coast, which filled up this year at its earliest point in 14 years, gets underway on Serpentine Beach south of Greymouth at 7am on Friday with the World Championship Longest Day event getting underway on Saturday morning at 6am.
One Day Seeding
Women
Allan, who in recent years has focused more on long distance adventure racing and triathlon events, says that deep down he always knew he would be back at an event he hasn’t done since 2013 when he was third behind Braden Currie and Richard Ussher, it was just a matter of when.
“My build up has been pretty smooth sailing,” Allan said. “It has been hard and consistent and very targeted, which it needed to be after six years away from the race. I have felt a renewed excitement for the race and the preparation that goes into getting there in top shape, so I look back on my training block with awesome memories and am proud of how I have focused so well.”
Allan says he is excited to test himself after the six year absence to see if he has managed to come back in a position to race better than he has previously. “My approach will involve patience, consistency and a self-focused mentality, in other words I plan to race the course first and foremost. If I can race the course to the best of my ability I am confident I can be competitive.”
“I have great admiration for any top level athletes that come to race the Kathmandu Coast to Coast but especially those who do so from overseas. We have a unique environment in the South Island and both Alex (Hunt) and James (Pretto) showed they weren’t bothered by it last year. It will be a huge challenge and I cannot wait.”
“I'm certainly fitter than ever and it’s about executing it right on race day. It’s no secret my paddling has been going well lately but I am certain my running and cycling is in fine form too.”
Currie said Allan has returned to the event this year for no other reason than to try and win it. “There is probably no other athlete that has done under 11 hours on the current course yet finished second, so just how he goes after his time away is another fascinating element.”
Manson has a committed an entire year to purely focus on this year’s Coast to Coast. “This is my biggest build since I started in 2012,” Manson said. “Usually I do loads of racing through the winter and spring which reduces the volume at which I can train, but by only competing in two multisport events I have been able to increase the hours and volume at which I train and become better at some of my weaker points.”
“James had a great race last year that I was impressed by and I am sure I'll see him near the front again this year and Alex is always an impressive force to reckon with. It’s great to see Alex is improving his finishing times in this race as he better understands the technical and navigational aspects of the run and paddling the Waimakariri River.”
Other male athletes who should all make their presence felt include Australian Tim Boote and Kiwis Andrew Sclater, Bobby Dean, Ryan Kiesanowski, Sam Goodall and veterans Nathan Peterson and Brent Edwards.
Such is the cycling strength of Allan, Currie believes any of the men wanting to win in New Brighton will have to have at least a five minute lead coming out of the kayak too hold him off on the final 69 kilometre cycle leg.
Former Black Fern Captain Sarah Helmore, rugby player Ben Hurst, Olympian and former pro mountain biker Kashi Leuchs and world champion swimmer and another Olympian Moss Burmester are examples of the special pull the event has on elite athletes from other sporting codes.
There is good continuing growth from schools and younger aged competitors and those in the tandem two day event that sold out early and includes former All Black Captain Richie McCaw and his long-term friend and Adventure Racing team-mate Rob Nichol.
The Kathmandu Coast to Coast, which filled up this year at its earliest point in 14 years, gets underway on Serpentine Beach south of Greymouth at 7am on Friday with the World Championship Longest Day event getting underway on Saturday morning at 6am.
One Day Seeding
Women
- Elina Ussher, NZ
- Simone Maier, Germany
- Corrine O'Donnell, NZ
- 4 Claire Bell, NZ
- 5 Marika Wagner, Sweden
- Geogia Whitla NZ
- Fiona Dowling, NZ
- Isla Smith, NZ
- Kathryn Buckenberg, NZ
- Ailsa Rollinson, NZ
- Alex Hunt, Australia
- Dougal Allan, NZ
- Sam Manson, NZ
- James Pretto, Australia
- Andrew Sclater NZ
- Bobby Dean NZ
- Oliver Thompson NZ (withdrawn)
- Sam Goodall NZ
- Ryan Kiesanowski NZ
- Tim Boote, Australia
Images:
- Photo credit: Marathon-Photos.com; Four time winner Elina Ussher who is competing in her fourteenth straight Kathmandu Coast to Coast
- Photo creditr: ottonorin.se Otto Norin Swedish adventure racing champion Marika Wagner is racing in her first Kathmandu Coast to Coast 3)Photo credit: Marathon-Photos.com Australian Alex Hunt is the favourite to be the first foreigner to win the Kathmandu Coast to Coast one day men’s race since World Marathon Kayak Champion Australian John Jacoby won in 1993
Coast To Coast News
With school nearly over for the year, the Mt Hutt College crew will up their training over the coming weeks in a bid to ensure they’re ready for the demands of the 2020 Kathmandu Coast to Coast.
The College team are the recipients of the Kathmandu Academy pack, which aims to support young people getting into the outdoors. As part of their prize, the trio of Alex Roderick, Jack Miers, and Adam Shears had a visit from nine-time men’s champion Steve Gurney. “It was great to get some tips from him,” said Shears.
“We got the chance to learn a few things about what to do and some, what not to-dos,” he added.
Shears, who has the honor of starting his team off on the first bike leg from Kumara Beach to Aitkins Corner as well as riding his team home on the final leg from the Waimakariri Gorge to New Brighton Beach, has already been clocking up the k’s completing a couple of rides in excess of 75kms.
“Yeah, I’m starting to get into it a bit more, I’ve had a few hard rides and will crank them up a bit more now too.”
Shears also thanks Kathmandu for the prize pack, “It’s a big help, I don’t have to think about what to wear as that’s been provided and we don’t have to worry about the entry cost, so we can just get on and train.”
Classmate Alex Roderick is looking forward to heading into Goat Pass in the coming weeks in order to get ready to complete the run leg come February 7. “I’m very excited, really looking forward to the Mountain Run and having a good time with the boys.”
“Training has been hard, but fun as well, seeing my improvement go up and up has been great.”
Alex has been running four times per week, with runs up to 45 minutes each along with one run around two hours long each week as well.
Jack Miers recently completed the first few sessions of his grade two kayak certificate and is getting to know Rakaia river well with planned runs down the Waimakariri river over the Christmas period to help prepare him for race day.
Mr Jarrod Coutts who runs the Outdoor Education department at Mt Hutt College said the boys are all showing good progression in their chosen disciplines and will be ready come race day if they keep up the hard work. “We're hoping their efforts can motivate the next batch of multi-sporters in the school and so far as a result we’ve already gathered good interest for multiple team in 2021.”
The College team are the recipients of the Kathmandu Academy pack, which aims to support young people getting into the outdoors. As part of their prize, the trio of Alex Roderick, Jack Miers, and Adam Shears had a visit from nine-time men’s champion Steve Gurney. “It was great to get some tips from him,” said Shears.
“We got the chance to learn a few things about what to do and some, what not to-dos,” he added.
Shears, who has the honor of starting his team off on the first bike leg from Kumara Beach to Aitkins Corner as well as riding his team home on the final leg from the Waimakariri Gorge to New Brighton Beach, has already been clocking up the k’s completing a couple of rides in excess of 75kms.
“Yeah, I’m starting to get into it a bit more, I’ve had a few hard rides and will crank them up a bit more now too.”
Shears also thanks Kathmandu for the prize pack, “It’s a big help, I don’t have to think about what to wear as that’s been provided and we don’t have to worry about the entry cost, so we can just get on and train.”
Classmate Alex Roderick is looking forward to heading into Goat Pass in the coming weeks in order to get ready to complete the run leg come February 7. “I’m very excited, really looking forward to the Mountain Run and having a good time with the boys.”
“Training has been hard, but fun as well, seeing my improvement go up and up has been great.”
Alex has been running four times per week, with runs up to 45 minutes each along with one run around two hours long each week as well.
Jack Miers recently completed the first few sessions of his grade two kayak certificate and is getting to know Rakaia river well with planned runs down the Waimakariri river over the Christmas period to help prepare him for race day.
Mr Jarrod Coutts who runs the Outdoor Education department at Mt Hutt College said the boys are all showing good progression in their chosen disciplines and will be ready come race day if they keep up the hard work. “We're hoping their efforts can motivate the next batch of multi-sporters in the school and so far as a result we’ve already gathered good interest for multiple team in 2021.”
Richard Greer from TeamCP looks further into what tips and tricks Sports Physio James Sincock has to keep you on track to be on the start line of the 2020 Kathmandu Coast to Coast.
Nutrition plays a big part in getting you to the start line of the Kathmandu Coast to Coast.
TeamCP's Richard Greer deep dives with nutritionist Marewa Sutherland to ensure you've got plenty of tips, tricks and thought-provoking advice which will help aid your training program.
TeamCP's Richard Greer deep dives with nutritionist Marewa Sutherland to ensure you've got plenty of tips, tricks and thought-provoking advice which will help aid your training program.
It may be a case of be careful what you wish for, for 2019 Kathmandu Coast to Coast men’s Champion Dougal Allan. The Wanaka pro indicated that returning for the 2020 event will likely be his last and was hoping to be challenged beyond his limits by his fellow competitors in the hope of finding out just what he’s made of.
“This may sound crazy, but I really want to be pushed. I want to have to be racing right up until the end, and have to work so hard for the win,” said Allan.
“I’d love to have to bury myself on that last ride.”
“I think, for a lot of endurance athletes, that’s the sort of thing that motivates them.”
But with both 2019 runner up Sam Manson and 3rd place getter Alex Hunt choosing to compete in the team's event this year, many had wondered where his competition might come from. He need not have worried, with three-time race winner Sam Clark, who sat out the 2019 event, heeding the call and choosing to return and take Allan on.
Before knowing that Clarke had entered Allan spoke of the high regard, he held Clark in, who has been a teammate in recent times while racing in China.
“I would have to have a really good day and take myself mentally into a dark place to beat him and that gets me excited just saying that!”
In 2017 Clark famously reeled in fellow three-time winner Braden Currie who had a near ten-minute advantage on the Waimakirir river, to go on and win the race in 11 hours two minutes and 43 seconds, nearly eight minutes ahead of Currie.
‘’It’s a massive commitment signing up to the Coast to Coast, both financially and physically, but it’s a race I want to and love to win. So, I’m coming back,’’ said Clark.
“Having Dougal there will be a great test and one I’m really looking forward to.”
Having produced one of the strongest bike rides on the grueling and mind-numbing final ride down South Eyre road in recent memory Clark has shown he has the goods to foot it with the best cyclists out there, although he felt his strengths lay back in the mountain run, ‘If you’re out of sight you’re out of mind and that can be hard mentally for competitors if they know someone’s up ahead of them, so hopefully I can get across the river and produce a bit of a lead on the others.”
Race Director Glen Currie says the return of Clark and the potential battle between the two has the makings of one of the best spectacles in the modern era of the race. “We’ve had some close races in the past, but this is shaping up as the type of race everyone has been waiting for and depending on the conditions it could potentially be the one, we see break the 11-hour mark again.”
"Sometimes the longest day can be a tricky race for a spectator given the remoteness of both the Mountain Run through Goat Pass and in the Waimikiriri Gorge, but I’d say from the Gorge Bridge, anywhere along South Eyre road and especially at New Brighton will be an outstanding place to be a spectator this year.”
Six minutes separated 2015 winner Braden Currie and Sam Clark who finished in second, while and 8-minute spread divided the pair two years later with Clark getting the best of Currie who had sat out the year earlier.
Ryan Kiesnowski has done the opposite to Hunt and Manson and returned to the men’s elite division having won the men’s two-day team event last year while Rhys John and Hamish Elliott will no doubt challenge for a podium finish. Bay of Plenty Dairy Farmer Bobby Dean also returns in 2020 having finished 7th in 2019.
Men’s Elite seeding 2020
#1 Dougal Allan
#2 Sam Clark
#3 Ryan Kiesanowski
#4 Hamish Elliott
#5 Rhy John
#6 Bobby Dean
#7 Olivier Thompson
#8 Scott McDonald
#9 Daniel Barry
#10 Paul Gow
“This may sound crazy, but I really want to be pushed. I want to have to be racing right up until the end, and have to work so hard for the win,” said Allan.
“I’d love to have to bury myself on that last ride.”
“I think, for a lot of endurance athletes, that’s the sort of thing that motivates them.”
But with both 2019 runner up Sam Manson and 3rd place getter Alex Hunt choosing to compete in the team's event this year, many had wondered where his competition might come from. He need not have worried, with three-time race winner Sam Clark, who sat out the 2019 event, heeding the call and choosing to return and take Allan on.
Before knowing that Clarke had entered Allan spoke of the high regard, he held Clark in, who has been a teammate in recent times while racing in China.
“I would have to have a really good day and take myself mentally into a dark place to beat him and that gets me excited just saying that!”
In 2017 Clark famously reeled in fellow three-time winner Braden Currie who had a near ten-minute advantage on the Waimakirir river, to go on and win the race in 11 hours two minutes and 43 seconds, nearly eight minutes ahead of Currie.
‘’It’s a massive commitment signing up to the Coast to Coast, both financially and physically, but it’s a race I want to and love to win. So, I’m coming back,’’ said Clark.
“Having Dougal there will be a great test and one I’m really looking forward to.”
Having produced one of the strongest bike rides on the grueling and mind-numbing final ride down South Eyre road in recent memory Clark has shown he has the goods to foot it with the best cyclists out there, although he felt his strengths lay back in the mountain run, ‘If you’re out of sight you’re out of mind and that can be hard mentally for competitors if they know someone’s up ahead of them, so hopefully I can get across the river and produce a bit of a lead on the others.”
Race Director Glen Currie says the return of Clark and the potential battle between the two has the makings of one of the best spectacles in the modern era of the race. “We’ve had some close races in the past, but this is shaping up as the type of race everyone has been waiting for and depending on the conditions it could potentially be the one, we see break the 11-hour mark again.”
"Sometimes the longest day can be a tricky race for a spectator given the remoteness of both the Mountain Run through Goat Pass and in the Waimikiriri Gorge, but I’d say from the Gorge Bridge, anywhere along South Eyre road and especially at New Brighton will be an outstanding place to be a spectator this year.”
Six minutes separated 2015 winner Braden Currie and Sam Clark who finished in second, while and 8-minute spread divided the pair two years later with Clark getting the best of Currie who had sat out the year earlier.
Ryan Kiesnowski has done the opposite to Hunt and Manson and returned to the men’s elite division having won the men’s two-day team event last year while Rhys John and Hamish Elliott will no doubt challenge for a podium finish. Bay of Plenty Dairy Farmer Bobby Dean also returns in 2020 having finished 7th in 2019.
Men’s Elite seeding 2020
#1 Dougal Allan
#2 Sam Clark
#3 Ryan Kiesanowski
#4 Hamish Elliott
#5 Rhy John
#6 Bobby Dean
#7 Olivier Thompson
#8 Scott McDonald
#9 Daniel Barry
#10 Paul Gow
With titles to defend, both the 2019 men’s and women’s Kathmandu Coast to Coast Champions will return for the 38th edition of the 243-kilometre adventure race from the South Island’s West coast to the East.
Wanaka’s Dougal Allan will wear the number one bib for the first time, while Simone Maier will go from being the chaser to the chased, after heading off four-time champion Elina Ussher, to win her maiden title in 12 hours 56 minutes and 36 seconds.
‘I knew I was coming back again even before I stood on the start line in 2019,’ said Allan.
The 34-year-old says defending his title is his goal, although this year’s build up does feel a little strange after winning the title last race was more an outcome of a great race, rather than his major focus.
‘I hadn’t raced the Coast to Coast for six years and I did wonder, what might happen if I go back and say come second, what would happen if I executed the race to the best of my ability and still don’t win it?’
‘But when my feet hit the sand on New Brighton beach I kind of came out of this zone, where I realised what I was about to achieve, it was a crazy feeling.’
‘So, it definitely feels a little different this time around.’
Maier, who heads the elite women’s seeding, will be extremely tough to beat, after standing on top of the podium for the first time in 2019, the Kiwi German went on to create history by winning the GodZone Adventure Race as part of the first ever gender balanced team in April this year.
‘I had a pretty amazing year; it’s taken a while, but it has been so good to get some reward for all that hard work I’ve put in over the years.’
The 39-year-old has also been racing in China with Allan, three-time men’s champion Sam Clark and last year’s second place getter Sam Manson. ‘That was so epic. I learnt a lot from them all, even little things like around the transitions and I think that will be good for me in the future.’
Maier also believes she can go even faster than in 2019. ‘It’ll depend on the conditions, like the flow in the river, but I have started working a lot more on my paddling and I hope to have a significant improvement in my paddle and if that happens it could be amazing. But if I keep getting better with my paddling the result will show.’
Staying upright on her bike is also a goal for the 2020 event, after coming off between the mountain run and kayak leg, which she believes cost her a couple of minutes. ‘I just need to concentrate a little more and there are a few minutes I could improve right there.’
Wanaka’s Dougal Allan will wear the number one bib for the first time, while Simone Maier will go from being the chaser to the chased, after heading off four-time champion Elina Ussher, to win her maiden title in 12 hours 56 minutes and 36 seconds.
‘I knew I was coming back again even before I stood on the start line in 2019,’ said Allan.
The 34-year-old says defending his title is his goal, although this year’s build up does feel a little strange after winning the title last race was more an outcome of a great race, rather than his major focus.
‘I hadn’t raced the Coast to Coast for six years and I did wonder, what might happen if I go back and say come second, what would happen if I executed the race to the best of my ability and still don’t win it?’
‘But when my feet hit the sand on New Brighton beach I kind of came out of this zone, where I realised what I was about to achieve, it was a crazy feeling.’
‘So, it definitely feels a little different this time around.’
Maier, who heads the elite women’s seeding, will be extremely tough to beat, after standing on top of the podium for the first time in 2019, the Kiwi German went on to create history by winning the GodZone Adventure Race as part of the first ever gender balanced team in April this year.
‘I had a pretty amazing year; it’s taken a while, but it has been so good to get some reward for all that hard work I’ve put in over the years.’
The 39-year-old has also been racing in China with Allan, three-time men’s champion Sam Clark and last year’s second place getter Sam Manson. ‘That was so epic. I learnt a lot from them all, even little things like around the transitions and I think that will be good for me in the future.’
Maier also believes she can go even faster than in 2019. ‘It’ll depend on the conditions, like the flow in the river, but I have started working a lot more on my paddling and I hope to have a significant improvement in my paddle and if that happens it could be amazing. But if I keep getting better with my paddling the result will show.’
Staying upright on her bike is also a goal for the 2020 event, after coming off between the mountain run and kayak leg, which she believes cost her a couple of minutes. ‘I just need to concentrate a little more and there are a few minutes I could improve right there.’
In the early morning of Saturday 12th February 2011, Wellington’s Arthur Tompkins stood on the banks of the Waimakariri River at Mt White Bridge, and watched his son paddle his kayak off into the bright sunrise. He thought to himself, as so many Kathmandu Coast to Coast support crew before and since, I wonder what’s down that river? And, maybe I could do this …
Fast forward to now, and with 7 Coast to Coasts behind him, Arthur is mentoring two student teams from Aotea College in Porirua who will again compete in the 2020 event. His involvement with Aotea College began in mid-2018, when he approached a university friend, Kate Gainsford, now Aotea’s principal, with the suggestion that he spearhead an effort to get a student team (and, as it turned out, a staff team also) to the Coast to Coast start line in February 2019.
Having found their team members and pulled together a team video, including a short support appearance from Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, the Aotea College 2019 student teams were successful in gaining the Kathmandu Academy support package. Despite their runner taking a couple of serious falls coming down from Goat Pass during the 2019 event and limping the last few kilometres to the finish at Klondyke Corner their team came out winners in the Boys’ Student category.
Building on the momentum from that, Aotea College will, in 2020, have two student teams – one girl’s and one boy’s – lining up on Kumara beach at 7:00am on Friday 7th February 2020. With generous sponsorship from, amongst others, Rutherford & Bond Toyota and Yakima Roof Racks, the team’s kayakers headed to the Rangitikei River at Mangaweka last weekend for their first on-river training day. The students are looking forward to their Grade Two kayak assessments at the same location shortly, and then the whole group will be heading south in mid-December (thanks Interislander for your help!) for the Rasdex Classic River Race on Saturday 14th December. Whilst the kayakers are paddling the Gorge, that same day the runners will be heading over Goat Pass, and the cyclists will be reconnoitring the cycle stages.
In addition to the six students competing in the 2020 event, two of the successful 2019 Aotea College team are returning in 2020, as members of two separate Two-Day two-person teams. So, Aotea College in Porirua will have, in February 2020, a large and enthusiastic contingent of athletes and support crew at the 2020 Kathmandu Coast to Coast.
By Arthur Tompkins
Fast forward to now, and with 7 Coast to Coasts behind him, Arthur is mentoring two student teams from Aotea College in Porirua who will again compete in the 2020 event. His involvement with Aotea College began in mid-2018, when he approached a university friend, Kate Gainsford, now Aotea’s principal, with the suggestion that he spearhead an effort to get a student team (and, as it turned out, a staff team also) to the Coast to Coast start line in February 2019.
Having found their team members and pulled together a team video, including a short support appearance from Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, the Aotea College 2019 student teams were successful in gaining the Kathmandu Academy support package. Despite their runner taking a couple of serious falls coming down from Goat Pass during the 2019 event and limping the last few kilometres to the finish at Klondyke Corner their team came out winners in the Boys’ Student category.
Building on the momentum from that, Aotea College will, in 2020, have two student teams – one girl’s and one boy’s – lining up on Kumara beach at 7:00am on Friday 7th February 2020. With generous sponsorship from, amongst others, Rutherford & Bond Toyota and Yakima Roof Racks, the team’s kayakers headed to the Rangitikei River at Mangaweka last weekend for their first on-river training day. The students are looking forward to their Grade Two kayak assessments at the same location shortly, and then the whole group will be heading south in mid-December (thanks Interislander for your help!) for the Rasdex Classic River Race on Saturday 14th December. Whilst the kayakers are paddling the Gorge, that same day the runners will be heading over Goat Pass, and the cyclists will be reconnoitring the cycle stages.
In addition to the six students competing in the 2020 event, two of the successful 2019 Aotea College team are returning in 2020, as members of two separate Two-Day two-person teams. So, Aotea College in Porirua will have, in February 2020, a large and enthusiastic contingent of athletes and support crew at the 2020 Kathmandu Coast to Coast.
By Arthur Tompkins
Grab a sneak peak at the 243 km course from Kumara on the West Coast to New Brighton on the East
Hear from 2019 men's Champion Dougal Allan and gain some further insight into what to expect from the start of the Kathmandu Coast to Coast with Richard Greer and TeamCP.
Dave Maitland has been competing in the Kathmandu Coast to Coast for more than a quarter of a century.
Next years event will in fact be his 26th .
Of course, there’s the obvious question that Maitland gets whenever he discloses this to people.
Why does he keep doing it? The answer is pretty simple.
“Because I enjoy it. That’s why.”
Maitland said for him, the event offers up something new every time he does it.
“I know that there’s people who do the event only once because it’s something on their bucket list and they want to tick it off and there’s nothing wrong with that. “For me though the event is strongly aligns with what I enjoy in life. I like a challenge and I love being outdoors so I do it because I enjoy it.”
Maitland will be 60 when he competes in 2020 and after overcoming some health issues, he’s looking forward to tackling it again. “I think the build up and the preparation is different every time that I compete and I think that keeps it interesting as well.
“Every year you’re in a different stage of life with different commitments and responsibilities, so some years have been tougher than others. I’m very lucky that I have such a supportive family.
“The first few years I competed I was married but had no children and then over other years we had young kids and more commitments but I’d train when the kids were in bed. It teaches you a lot about real commitment and having that honesty and accountability in your life - if you get that wrong it bites.
“You’ve got to be ready on the day. When the gun goes the bullshit stops.”
Maitland said while the course has been the same over the years, there’s always something different and the event has never got mundane. “I like how it’s a challenge but it’s certainly achievable and it’s achievable for anyone. You look around and you see things that you haven’t noticed before and the landscape changes too.
“I’ve never been bored with it. I don’t do boring and I don’t procrastinate.”
Maitland said over the years he has developed a deeper appreciation for the event rules and preparation.
He said when he first started competing, he was one of those people who challenged why things had to be done a certain way for health and safety – thinking it was all a bit unnecessary but that view has changed.
“I’ve witnessed when things have gone wrong and how much worse they could have been if they didn’t have the processes and policies in place that they do so I have a lot of respect for the way the event is run.”
For Maitland he said his next event will be about proving to himself that despite being 60 and having had some health battles he still has what it takes.
Having lived many years in Hokitika before venturing on to Kaikoura and then Christchurch. Maitland believes he has had some of the best training backdrops in the country to help him prepare for the event over the years. He never tires of the training and believes training for the event actually makes him better in other aspects of his life – it gives him “a fizz.”
“I just love the event and what it represents. Being in the outdoors, it’s motivational and most importantly it’s achievable.”
Next years event will in fact be his 26th .
Of course, there’s the obvious question that Maitland gets whenever he discloses this to people.
Why does he keep doing it? The answer is pretty simple.
“Because I enjoy it. That’s why.”
Maitland said for him, the event offers up something new every time he does it.
“I know that there’s people who do the event only once because it’s something on their bucket list and they want to tick it off and there’s nothing wrong with that. “For me though the event is strongly aligns with what I enjoy in life. I like a challenge and I love being outdoors so I do it because I enjoy it.”
Maitland will be 60 when he competes in 2020 and after overcoming some health issues, he’s looking forward to tackling it again. “I think the build up and the preparation is different every time that I compete and I think that keeps it interesting as well.
“Every year you’re in a different stage of life with different commitments and responsibilities, so some years have been tougher than others. I’m very lucky that I have such a supportive family.
“The first few years I competed I was married but had no children and then over other years we had young kids and more commitments but I’d train when the kids were in bed. It teaches you a lot about real commitment and having that honesty and accountability in your life - if you get that wrong it bites.
“You’ve got to be ready on the day. When the gun goes the bullshit stops.”
Maitland said while the course has been the same over the years, there’s always something different and the event has never got mundane. “I like how it’s a challenge but it’s certainly achievable and it’s achievable for anyone. You look around and you see things that you haven’t noticed before and the landscape changes too.
“I’ve never been bored with it. I don’t do boring and I don’t procrastinate.”
Maitland said over the years he has developed a deeper appreciation for the event rules and preparation.
He said when he first started competing, he was one of those people who challenged why things had to be done a certain way for health and safety – thinking it was all a bit unnecessary but that view has changed.
“I’ve witnessed when things have gone wrong and how much worse they could have been if they didn’t have the processes and policies in place that they do so I have a lot of respect for the way the event is run.”
For Maitland he said his next event will be about proving to himself that despite being 60 and having had some health battles he still has what it takes.
Having lived many years in Hokitika before venturing on to Kaikoura and then Christchurch. Maitland believes he has had some of the best training backdrops in the country to help him prepare for the event over the years. He never tires of the training and believes training for the event actually makes him better in other aspects of his life – it gives him “a fizz.”
“I just love the event and what it represents. Being in the outdoors, it’s motivational and most importantly it’s achievable.”
For Trish Hastie the timing is finally right in life to do the Coast to Coast.
Her interest in the event was peaked more than 20 years ago when at just 11 years old her teacher first introduced her to the idea.
“That teacher had been involved in Outward Bound and I just thought it sounded so cool and I wanted to do it too.
“I was really interested in being outdoors and was always looking for new challenges.”
When Hastie was 21, she completed the Outward Bound. The programme is designed to help young people experience a perfect balance of adventure and reflection. It encourages them to challenge themselves outdoors in Anakiwa in the Marlborough Sounds.
“After having completed that I was inspired for the next outdoor challenge in life.
“When I was in Teacher’s College, I had thought about doing the Coast to Coast then, but I’m glad I didn’t.
“I don’t think the timing would have been right to take on such a big training commitment.”
It would take more than a decade later for the timing to finally be right.
“For the first few years after I was qualified you have wedding season and we always seemed to have a wedding on that weekend of the Coast to Coast.
“Then we had children and it wouldn’t have been possible to train properly when they were really small but now, they are 10, 8 and 6 and I can train while they are at school.”
Hastie also teaches part time at Hornby High School and has completed other events over the years before deciding to tackle the Coast to Coast.
“I’ve done the Spring Challenge, The Kepler – which I really enjoyed. I also did a half Ironman in 2016.”
Hastie’s husband is also into multisport, he completed the Abel Tasman this year.
She says she loves the example that events like this set for their children.
“It’s about doing it for yourself, to challenge yourself. I think it’s one of those events that not many people enter because they think they will win it. It’s about training and working hard toward for your own goal and accomplishment and that’s what’s important.”
Hastie’s niece who was born when she was 11 – right around the same time she was being inspired by the Coast to Coast is also competing in the event in 2020.
“It’s been great we’ve done some training together and it’s awesome to have that support – we are competing but not against each other.”
For Hastie, she has her preferred disciplines and a definite least preferred.
“The kayaking is the toughest for me. I actually really enjoy it but it’s by far my most difficult component. I enjoy running the best.”
Hastie is also grateful for having so many areas to train right on her back doorstep.
“I love Kennedy’s Bush and The Crater Rim and there’s also lots of events to enter in the lead up to the Coast to Coast as well which has been great.”
With the days getting longer and the temperatures warming up Hastie is looking forward to no more “freezing” mid-winter bike rides. She also hasn’t ruled out competing in the event more than once.
“I just really want to enjoy it and then wait and see if I want to do it again, I think it’s one of those events which would be different every year.”
Her interest in the event was peaked more than 20 years ago when at just 11 years old her teacher first introduced her to the idea.
“That teacher had been involved in Outward Bound and I just thought it sounded so cool and I wanted to do it too.
“I was really interested in being outdoors and was always looking for new challenges.”
When Hastie was 21, she completed the Outward Bound. The programme is designed to help young people experience a perfect balance of adventure and reflection. It encourages them to challenge themselves outdoors in Anakiwa in the Marlborough Sounds.
“After having completed that I was inspired for the next outdoor challenge in life.
“When I was in Teacher’s College, I had thought about doing the Coast to Coast then, but I’m glad I didn’t.
“I don’t think the timing would have been right to take on such a big training commitment.”
It would take more than a decade later for the timing to finally be right.
“For the first few years after I was qualified you have wedding season and we always seemed to have a wedding on that weekend of the Coast to Coast.
“Then we had children and it wouldn’t have been possible to train properly when they were really small but now, they are 10, 8 and 6 and I can train while they are at school.”
Hastie also teaches part time at Hornby High School and has completed other events over the years before deciding to tackle the Coast to Coast.
“I’ve done the Spring Challenge, The Kepler – which I really enjoyed. I also did a half Ironman in 2016.”
Hastie’s husband is also into multisport, he completed the Abel Tasman this year.
She says she loves the example that events like this set for their children.
“It’s about doing it for yourself, to challenge yourself. I think it’s one of those events that not many people enter because they think they will win it. It’s about training and working hard toward for your own goal and accomplishment and that’s what’s important.”
Hastie’s niece who was born when she was 11 – right around the same time she was being inspired by the Coast to Coast is also competing in the event in 2020.
“It’s been great we’ve done some training together and it’s awesome to have that support – we are competing but not against each other.”
For Hastie, she has her preferred disciplines and a definite least preferred.
“The kayaking is the toughest for me. I actually really enjoy it but it’s by far my most difficult component. I enjoy running the best.”
Hastie is also grateful for having so many areas to train right on her back doorstep.
“I love Kennedy’s Bush and The Crater Rim and there’s also lots of events to enter in the lead up to the Coast to Coast as well which has been great.”
With the days getting longer and the temperatures warming up Hastie is looking forward to no more “freezing” mid-winter bike rides. She also hasn’t ruled out competing in the event more than once.
“I just really want to enjoy it and then wait and see if I want to do it again, I think it’s one of those events which would be different every year.”
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