Changes to re-energise the Speight's Coast to Coast multi-sport event are on track, highlighted with current entries tracking 60 percent ahead of last year.
New Race Director and five time longest-day winner Richard Ussher says the new owners and management team now running the event have been working hard to breathe new life into the iconic event, being held on February 13 and 14 next year, and that they were very pleased to see current entry numbers well up on recent years.
 Richard Ussher racing on the first cycle leg in the World Championship Longest Day event.(Photo: Speight's Coast to Coast; click to enlarge) |
"We've listened to athletes and those with a long record of involvement with the event and have made some significant changes for next year lead by a focus on teams, a big reduction in entry fees and a change to the final bike leg and finish line which will now be at the New Brighton Pier in Christchurch," he said.
Ussher stressed he thought the reduction in entry fees played a significant role in the good early entry levels and that event organisers were very focused on delivering value for money.
"We looked hard at the cost of entering and have made some big changes, especially in the teams events."
Ussher said that when the Coast to Coast started it was the only multi-sport event of its kind but over the years many other events have been developed which provided far more choice for competitors.
"It's not about reinventing the wheel; it's about innovation and about doing what we think is right to keep improving the event. It was Juddy's (previous Race Director Robin Judkins) brainchild and he turned it into something really special. But it now has new owners and a new team that is very passionate about ensuring that it is the 'must do' multi-sport event in the world. We're focused on making it achievable, accessible and realistic to enter, and that started with cutting entry fees back where we could and looking at other ways to support athletes wanting to race."
 Previous race director Robin Judkins and new race director Richard Ussher(Photo: Speight's Coast to Coast; click to enlarge) |
Queenstown tourism company Trojan Holdings Limited bought the event from Judkins in May last year. Trojan Holdings operate several leading adventure and tourism-based businesses including NZ Ski (Coronet Peak, Remarkables and Mt Hutt ski areas), the Milford and Routeburn tracks and the The Hermitage at Mt Cook.
Ussher said his team was committed to not only increasing numbers again but on ensuring the quality of the experience was high. "We're not just looking at the elite elements of the race, we're very focused on the two day events as well as we want to ensure that the experience of competing in the Coast to Coast is a great one, whether you're racing in the World Championship One day event, the two day individual or teams races or even the new tandem event."
February's event will see a range of new initiatives, including live timing, GPS tracking, better use of social media and live updates during racing, refinements to some of the transitions and plans are also well advanced around the new finish line in New Brighton and the creation of what Ussher says will be 'a real festival style atmosphere.'
"It's really exciting," Ussher said. "Early indications are we are heading down the right track so that is really satafisying."
