Convinced a team that sweats together, also works best together, new owners of the Speight's Coast to Coast, Trojan Holdings, are challenging other businesses to enter the event's new Corporate Team Challenge.
"It's also a chance to win the ultimate bragging rights of the best corporate multi sporting company in New Zealand," Coast to Coast Event Director Richard Ussher said.
Trojan's Mike Davies said the company had already issued a challenge to a number of business's and that they were looking forward at getting involved and making the most of it with their own team.
Organisers have also included a charity element in the corporate section with one hundred dollars from every entry going directly to the Foundation for Youth Development, the official charity of the Speight's Coast to Coast race in 2015
"The Foundation for Youth Development was a natural fit for the Coast to Coast as its focus is on providing inspiration for school age New Zealand children to reach their full potential through outdoor programmes that help build self-esteem, promote good values and which teach valuable life, education and health skills," Ussher said.
He stressed the corporate teams challenge was very achievable as it involved a three person team, with each participant doing one element of the two day event, either running, cycling or kayaking, and was certain there were real benefits for company's getting involved regarding team dynamics and bonding opportunities.
"Teams will have to set goals, plan logistics, spend time training and then racing together and there's also the opportunity to involve other staff, family and friends as part of the support crew; it's a fantastic opportunity to invest in a company's culture, have some fun and support a really good cause."
Two of the team members must be employed and working for the same company, but Ussher said that did leave room to have an experienced third team member from outside the business.
Ussher, who has won the event five times, said it was possible he could help out corporate teams with tips and through the event's partners said there was plenty of support and information available for inexperienced teams in the lead up to the race in February.
"The Corporate Teams Challenge offers a great way to knock the event off your bucket list and you get the satisfaction of challenging other business colleagues and clients, and then beating them on the day and being the first business to win the Corporate Team Challenge trophy that will look great at reception," he said.
Trojan Holdings have also put up a package at the Hermitage at Mt Cook for the winning team if the section receives 15 or more entries.
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 a much improved festival style atmosphere.
