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Trident High School win Academy prize
Whakatane’s Trident High School have been awarded the 2022 Kathmandu Coast to Coast Academy prize pack, heading off a string of entries from all around the country.
The team of 3 have won an entry into the sold-out event, as well as kayak support from Barracuda, a $1000 clothing pack from principal partner Kathmandu, and coaching sessions from Kathmandu Coast to Coast Ambassadors.
“Trident’s entry stood out to us,” said Race Director Glen Currie, “they hadn’t managed to get an entry into the 2022 event but displayed a real passion for the outdoors. They’re regularly competing in mountain bike competitions and orienteering, even competing in the Motu Challenge last year. They clearly demonstrated that an opportunity to win the Academy prize pack would have a lasting influence on their lives and the people around them.”
Nearly a dozen entries were received for the 2022 award from as far afield as Fiordland College in the south, to Orewa College in the north, with a strong contingent of entries received from the McKenzie District, Canterbury and North Otago.
“It’s been a real focus of the Kathmandu Coast to Coast for a number of years now to make the event as accessible as possible. With the support of our principal partner Kathmandu, and a host of others we’re able to offer this opportunity,” Currie added.
“We’re really stoked to win this opportunity,” said Trident team member Bailey Fredrickson.
“The opportunity to compete in the Kathmandu Coast to Coast alongside my younger brother and my mate will be a very cool experience.”
Fredrickson, who is a keen cross country mountain biker will take on the three bike sections, with younger brother Ollie, who’s a handy sprint kayaker, set to add some white-water paddling to his repertoire, while Jack Wilson will combine his training for the Hillary Challenge with some ‘long runs’ as he prepares to take on Goat Pass.
“Whakatane is a real hub for multisport in the North Island, some of the most recent winners of the Longest Day, such as Sam Clarke and Corrine O’Donnell come from Whakatane, so it’s great to see their influence rubbing off on the next generation of multisporter’s and in the Kathmandu Coast to Coasters,” said Currie.
Trident High School alumni also includes Oliver Thompson a regular longest day competitor and 2-day individual champion in 2018.
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.
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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
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