The Speight's Coast to Coast has announced exciting new developments and a documentary cinema release that could inspire more people than ever to experience New Zealand's challenge of choice.
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 243km across the South Island to finish on Sumner Beach in Christchurch.
In the 30 years since almost 20,000 people from 46 countries have completed the six-stage event, comprising a 3km run, 55km road cycle, 33km mountain run, 15km road cycle, 67km kayak and 70km road cycle, either as individuals or two-person teams.
In 2013, however, Speight's Coast to Coast organiser Robin Judkins is opening the event up to three person teams, and also to people just wanting to experience the mountain run or final cycle section.
It's a change that has been at the back of Judkins' mind for a while: "We want the Speight's Coast to Coast experience to be more accessible to more people," he explains.
"A newcomer might start out trying a bike ride, then come back and try the mountain run or kayak section. They can now get that introduction by themselves, or try it with a mate in the two or three person team, and eventually complete the course as an individual. It's a progressive thing helping people get into multisport."
Judkins thinks it will reinvigorate the sport by opening it up to a wider range of age, ability and experience.
"Society is changing," he says. "People don't necessarily grow up close to physical adventure. More and more it's something they drift into during their late-20s, 30s, 40s, even later. These changes offer more people a chance to be involved."
In 2013 the new three team option will be opened to 100 entries, while 200 entries will be available for the new 33k Mountain Run and the final 70k Road Cycle Ride options.
Each section will have their own Race Bib amd finisher medals. The new three-person team will compete in the same sections as the traditional two-person teams while the new mountain run and last cycle options will have their own merit prizes. Entries will open online at 7pm on Sunday September 30th, 2012 and will be on a first come first served basis.
To help inspire this new wave of multisporters Judkins has also announced a documentary cinema release of 2012's 30th anniversary Speight's Coast to Coast.
Scheduled for September 23 at Auckland's Rialto Newmarket cinema, the 2012 documentary follows last year's successful tour of 22 cinemas nationwide.
"I'm over the moon" said Mr Judkins. "The coverage is superb," he says. "As well as the first husband and wife triumph for Richard Ussher and Elina Ussher it follows people like Neelu Memon becoming the first blind finisher, sixty year old Joe Sherriff competing 30 years after winning 1983's very first Speight's Coast to Coast, a Maori team following the footsteps of ancient ancestors, an ex-All Black taking on new challenges, and a husband and wife team doing it after his brain surgery."
The coverage also looks at Christchurch's ongoing earthquake recovery. Judkins own home was heavily damaged and his event too has suffered from the earthquakes as local multisporters have been forced to hang up bikes, shoes and kayaks to sort out challenging life issues.
The documentary has been shot and edited by Sportzhub.com, who used multisporters to shoot coverage on the rugged route across the South Island's Central Divide.
"That was the secret to it," says Judkins. "Multisporters know their sport better than anyone. It looks great; they've really captured the essence of the Speight's Coast to Coast from the competitor viewpoint, especially on the kayaking and mountain running sections."
"It's all up close, tight and sweaty and inspirational. Everyone who goes into that cinema will leave wanting a taste of the Speight's Coast to Coast for themselves."
