The Speight's Coast to Coast was awarded the prestigious OutdoorsMark last week following a rigorous Outdoor New Zealand audit of safety and operational procedures. This is essentially the highest recognition available in New Zealand for outdoor organisations, operators and events, and the Speight's Coast to Coast is the first multisport event to receive this recognition.
The OutdoorsMark was launched in 2004 by then Minister of Sport, Trevor Mallard. Administered by Outdoors New Zealand, which oversees and represents New Zealand's outdoor recreation and education sector, it is an industry certification that audits the robustness of operational safety policies, procedures and practices.
The OutdoorsMark has been recognised as the national standard for outdoor safety certification by ACC, SPARC, Department of Conservation, Ministry of Education, Maritime New Zealand, NZ Mountain Safety Council, Water Safety NZ, NZ Outdoor Instructors Association and Education Outdoors New Zealand.
Speight's Coast to Coast race director, Robin Judkins, says the OutdoorsMark is recognition of the professionalism behind New Zealand's best known event.
"Safety has always been our number one priority at the Speight's Coast to Coast," says Judkins.
"We have up to 800 participants, 1500 supporters and 300 officials involved in extreme endurance sports in what can be an extreme environment. Having our organisation audited and certified is part of our responsibility to ensure that everyone involved in the event is looked after, and that they know they are looked after."
Established in 1983, the Speight's Coast to Coast is the world's longest running multisport event. Recognised as the World Multisport Championship, it starts on the West Coast's Kumara Beach and races 243k across the South Island via a 3k run, 55k road cycle, 33k mountain run, 15k road cycle, 67k white water kayak and 70k road cycle, to finish on Sumner Beach in Christchurch.
In 2012 the Speight's Coast to Coast celebrates its 30th anniversary, and Judkins says the recent Canterbury earthquakes will not affect what has became an iconic Kiwi challenge. Race dates for 2012 are February 10th and 11th.
