Rotorua hosts the first round of the Contact Tri Series in November – which in itself is not new, the Rotorua event has been the traditional season opener for some time.
What has changed though for the Blue Lake event is the timing, coming forward two weeks to November 5th to accommodate the Barfoot & Thompson ITU World Cup race in Auckland on November 20.
But far from being seen as a negative, the triathlon community has embraced the idea with many seeing it as a perfect lead in race to the Auckland event, with two weeks to then put the finishing touches to their preparation.
Contact Tri Series Event Director Haidee Stratford says the response has been great.
"Any concerns we had over the early start to the season have been put to bed with the enthusiastic response to Rotorua and in particular the two week break between this and the Auckland World Cup event.
"Auckland for both sprint and standard distance is a qualifying event for the 2012 World Champs at the same waterfront venue, so age group triathletes want to be right at the top of their form very early in the season. This puts a premium on getting some racing under their belts before Auckland and Rotorua is perfect both for timing, race distances and the incredible venue – how can you not love racing around the Blue Lake!
"We are extremely grateful of the wonderful support we get from the Rotorua District Council as well as all the local residents. This really is an event for them to be proud of and showcases their hometown."
Olympic rower Nathan Twaddle is one to take up the challenge, the 35-year-old won bronze at the Beijing Olympic Games in the coxless pairs and is a former world champion in the same discipline. Twaddle has entered the sprint race at Rotorua and will find himself in the water instead of on top of the water for a change.
Also on the start line in the sprint event is New Zealand's latest world champion, 17-year-old Mikayla Nielsen. Mikayla will race for the first time since winning the ITU Elite Junior Women's race in Beijing last month.
The Rotorua event however is most popular with the everyday Kiwis, the thousands of weekend warriors who swap their weekly routine, suits, laptops, mobile phones and offices for wetsuits, bikes and running shoes to chase their own goals and dreams in the sport of triathlon – often with families in tow supporting them every swim stroke, pedal of the bike or step of the way.
Indeed Rotorua offers racing for everyone from the kids in the Contact 1:2:1 (100 metre swim, 2km bike, 1km run), the 3:9:3 for beginners, sprint distance, standard distance and for those looking to sharpen up on one discipline in particular, teams racing is a popular option.
Participants hoping for the early entry discount will have to be quick however, that discount disappears as of midnight this Friday night so be quick and get your entry in at www.triseries.co.nz.
