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Sports Event of the Year Finalist
Kathmandu Coast to Coast named Event of the Year Finalist at the New Zealand Sport and Recreation Awards
Being recognised as a finalist in the Event of the Year category at the New Zealand Sport and Recreation Awards is testament to the culture and vibe of the Kathmandu Coast to Coast, according to Race Director Glen Currie.
With 1,035 entrants in 2019, New Zealand’s longest running Multisport event sold out for the first time in more than a decade, which was more than double the number of entries in 2015 when Queenstown-based owners Trojan Holdings purchased the event.
And in less than a week, the reinvigorated event had again sold out for the following year.
‘Completing the Kathmandu Coast to Coast is a massive achievement,’ said Race Director Glen Currie.
‘But that’s only half the story,’ he went on to say.
‘The months leading up to the event weekend, training in your local area, finding new places to train, the people you meet and the community that has been created around the Kathmandu Coast to Coast is something that we feel gives the event such a unique flavour and plays a big part in why Kiwis have fallen in love with the event again.’
Under new ownership in 2015 the Kathmandu Coast to Coast focused on making the event accessible for anyone who was prepared to put in the work.
‘For a long time, the event was primarily about who could get from one side of the South Island to the other the fastest. But through opening up categories such as the tandem, the three-person team, the Sport Canterbury Schools competition and also a stand alone Mountain Run, competitors with a much wider range of abilities are able to find ways to take part in the event, and once they get to experience the event first hand, they invariably want to do more or find other new ways to be involved in the event.’
‘We’re really happy that we’ve been able to expand those categories, whilst still maintaining the event in its original format too. The competition in both the men’s and women’s longest days has been immense over the past few years, with both local and international competitors taking out the event.’
Currie made special mention of the raft of commercial partners that also add their special vibe to the event, ‘we’re really blessed to have a great bunch of like-minded supporters that share our passion for the outdoors. To run an event like the Kathmandu Coast to Coast takes a lot of moving parts and without the likes of Kathmandu and all the others, we simply wouldn’t be able to achieve what we do.’
In 2019, the Kathmandu Coast to Coast won the Event of the Year Award at the Sport Canterbury Awards.
The media team don’t usually let me near the article and press release aspect of the Kathmandu Coast to Coast, and technically, at this time of the year, I should be revising the Health and Safety Plan and finalising operation issues. But one of the reasons I love this job and the event so much is due to the ‘Elite Category’. So, I’m going to pull rank and share my opinions on the race this year.
How would you celebrate 30 years since receiving a life-saving liver transplant? By lining up to tackle the iconic Kathmandu Coast to Coast, of course!
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In what promises to be one of the most thrilling showdowns in recent history, the Kathmandu Coast to Coast anticipates an electrifying battle in the Women's Longest Day category.
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In a strategic move to foster the next generation of multisport athletes, The Kathmandu Coast to Coast, New Zealand's iconic multisport event, proudly announces the introduction of the 'Elite Youth' division in the Two-Day individual race.
There’s almost a sort of “Hotel California” thing going with the Kathmandu Coast to Coast: “You can check out any time you like, but you can never leave.” People get hooked, and they keep coming back, either working their way through the various events and age groups or targeting personal bests year by year. Two-time champion Kristina Anglem did manage to check out and for the most part, has left, but not before generating an awful lot of goodwill with fellow competitors, officials and general supporters. Competing initially under her maiden name, Kristina Strode Penny only raced the Coast to Coast on four occasions. Still, she certainly cast a long (warm) shadow over the race and ushered in a new younger group of women who would dominate the event in the years to come. Growing up in Wellington, Kristina’s initial sporting passion was gymnastics, but she retired at the ripe old age of 11. “After that, I always yearned to be out in nature. I would take myself off for walks or runs along the eastern walkway. Wellington is loaded with walkways.” Her two older brothers were keen on bashing about in the outdoors, and one arranged for a mountain bike for his sister. “I rode all the trails, and around the same time, I got into rock climbing and joined the Wellington Tramping and Mountaineering Club.” Helicopter parents in the new millennium would be horrified by the teenage Kristina’s next move into outdoor sports. “We lived by the sea and got given an old kayak – an old canvas thing that I laugh at now. I would take myself out into the bay and figure out how to roll, then off and yonder in the sea! Looking back at some of those things now as a parent, I’m glad my Mum didn’t have a clue what was going on! I’d paddle out to these rocks and come back – miss the Picton ferry by chance!”
Are you a high school student in New Zealand with a thirst for adventure and a love for the outdoors?
In our second episode of Season 5 Richard Greer from TeamCP provides some key insights including how to best manage your bike, running and kayaking training six months out from race day, along with an event update from our Race Director Glen Currie. Plus, we have previous podcast guest Sophie Beaumont sharing tips and tricks for first-time athletes. Listen online here
The Kathmandu Coast to Coast, New Zealand’s iconic multisport event, recognises the invaluable role of New Zealand's Backcountry Huts in ensuring the enjoyment of all those who experience the wild places of Aotearoa.
