Challenge Wanaka Triathlon Festival – 18-21 February 2016

Bike Checks are now open at Racers Edge. Challenge Wanaka features one of the world’s toughest and most honest long distance triathlon courses set against the stunning alpine backdrop of New Zealand’s Southern Alps and the Te Wahipounamu World Heritage Area. It is New Zealand’s largest triathlon festival, featuring events for all ages and abilities involving over 2,000 participants, attracting 10,000 spectators and a global audience of millions. Watch multiple world champion Chris ‘Macca’ McCormack talk about Challenge Wanaka here:   Part of the legendary Challenge Family global series of long distance triathlons, renowned the world over for their memorable events, Challenge Wanaka is the race of a lifetime for athletes wanting to compete and holiday in paradise. Watch over 1,500 top professional and amateur athletes from all over the globe compete on the world’s most scenic iron distance course in the 3.8km swim in crystal clear waters, the 180km bike taking in two alpine lakes and the 42.2km run which is 75% off-road along the water’s edge. The festival includes the Puzzling World Junior Challenge for budding triathletes aged six to fifteen. There’s also the Fun Run and Swim the Course during the week before the two highlight events. The week culminates with the flagship Challenge Wanaka race on Saturday 20 February 2016 which runs simultaneously with the Lake Wanaka Half. Thousands of spectators line the route and finish chute cheering on these inspirational contenders as they compete in the most arduous of the triathlon disciplines. The finish line is in the heart of the Lake Wanaka township and, in true ‘Challenge’ style, there’s a fun finish line party with music and fireworks to welcome the athletes home late into the night.   The Challenge Wanaka Sports Trust Challenge Wanaka is run by The Challenge Wanaka Sports Trust together with a team of dedicated individuals with many of years of event experience between them, all united by the desire to provide athletes with one of the most memorable long distance races of their careers.   Charitable Trust The Challenge Wanaka Sports Trust is a charitable trust whose primary objective is to arrange and provide events and activities having a sporting, recreational and/or social value for the benefit of the citizens of both the Southern Lakes area and the citizens of New Zealand in general. It applies the trust funds in and towards the benefit of the community and New Zealand in general by way of financial contribution towards the establishment and maintenance of recreational, educational and health facilities and services with particular reference to people having disabilities or other extraordinary needs. To read about the causes supported by the Trust click here.