What does one of the world's top yachties do on her weekends off the water?
If you are Olympic gold medalist, Jo Aleh, you 'relax' by riding one of New Zealand's toughest mountain bike races, the Magellan Whaka 100, in Rotorua's legendary Whakarewarewa Forest at Labour Weekend.
"I figure if I am going to do a bike race, I may as well do the hardest bike race... why go easy when you can go hard." says Aleh, who won gold at the London Olympics in the 470 class with teammate, Olivia Powrie. "I did the Whaka 100 in 2011 and really enjoyed it, so it was just cool to come back again and give it another go. I beat my last year's time by nearly an hour, so all good."
Her time of 5.41 was outstanding, finishing third behind winner Kim Hurst, of Wellington and race record holder, Annika Smail of Rotorua.
"The women's record still stands," says race organizer, Rawiri Bhana of Nduro Events. "But any time under 6 hours for 100 kilometres of demanding technical single track that will kick you into the ferns if you aren't focused plus fast forest roads and over 2500 metres of steep climbs is just mind-blowing."
For Aleh the race was tough, but not as hard as she remembered.
"I do find the down hills much harder work than the up hills," she continues with a laugh. "Luckily there were enough up hills to tire out all the fast downhillers around me.
I passed people going up, then they smacked me going down - I am a little too brake happy and seem to be rather skilled at the slow topple crash technique."
She hopes to be back in 2013 with improved technical skills and an eye on the race record.
"Rotorua is an awesome mountain biking venue and I'm always keen to get out in that Forest," says Aleh.
"The only problem I have found is that sailing always seems to get in the way of my mountain biking."
Aleh's Olympic gold medal-winning teammate, Olivia (Polly) Powrie also raced on Labour Weekend, but in the slightly less-demanding Whaka 50.
"I enjoy just getting out on some great trails and the Whaka is a good excuse to do that," says Polly. "There is so much variety you can ride in Rotorua without ever leaving the Forest."
She'll be back in 2013.
"For sure. I love coming to Rotorua and getting out mountain biking."
Fast becoming one of New Zealand's classic off-road bike races, the Magellan Whaka 100 is in its sixth year.
"It's a real test of endurance, fitness and mental toughness for the very best - and a really satisfying challenge for any mountain biker," says Bhana. "This year we had nearly 70 Australians entered, so it's brilliant it is being recognized as a 'must-do', over the ditch, as well."
Every year thousands of people enjoy the fast, flowing Whakarewarewa trails in an exotic forest of giant Californian Redwoods, Australian Eucalyptus, Pine and native silver ferns.
"We just put most of the trail network together in a single day," adds Bhana.
The next big event in Rotorua will be the inaugural Bike Festival, from February 8-17, 2013.
"In a way, Rotorua has a bike festival all year round with events, most weekends," says Martin Croft from Rotorua Events and Venues. "The Festival will focus that bike-friendliness into a 10 day celebration of all things cycling with a broad ranges of events from the serious to the entertaining."
The Festival website went live recently and has a full programme, with more to come – www.rotoruabikefestival.com.
