Challenge Wanaka 2010

The fourth running of the annual Challenge Wanaka event delivered an amazing day that initially tricked competitors into thinking it was going to be cruisey. The wicked wind of past years competitors had faced for 100 kilometres from Cromwell back to the finish line, had this year swung around providing a homeward tailwind. And, what started out as 11 degrees for a swim start finished with 30 degrees by mid-afternoon – just in time for the marathon.

Our Brisbane group arrived at Queenstown a week before the January race and heard snow had fallen the night before and was clearly visible on all the towering mountain peaks. The first training swim in the 13-degree waters of Lake Wanaka was a brain freeze moment. It was not only the beautiful scenery that took our breath away but the water as well. We were seriously worried!

The cold snap ended on Tuesday and as the sun began to show more of its powerful face and the air temperature crept up each day, the lake slowly responded. By race day, we were swimming in a balmy 15-degree spa bath! Thermal skullcaps were compulsory and booties and gloves were optional. No wind at all was present, the lake was dead flat and clear as glass. The towering majestic mountains surrounding the lake seemingly communicated all was good to proceed.  

Besides the nippy, tantalising swim, the drawcard for the event is the unique one-lap, 180-kilometre bike course, which very few Iron distance events around the world can lay claim to. The challenging bike course involves 1800 metres of climbing and the ever-changing, kaleidoscopic scenery makes the kilometres quickly tick by. The two-lap run course is one of the prettiest and hardest you will find, thanks to some brutal climbs and up to 12 kilometres of each lap being on dirt roads.