Unique Queenstown 45 Adventure Race
16 Nov 2006
Next Easter weekend (April 7-9 2007), Queenstown will play host to a new breed of adventure race that combines elements of a traditional race, with a new ‘booty’ concept.
In what organisers believe is a world first, the three day event offers competitors of all levels the chance to test their skills with an added temptation of collecting hidden ‘booty’ along the way.
With a nod to popular adventure television contest, 'The Amazing Race', the course will be dotted with hidden treasure that competitors can seek out.
Race director and New Zealand adventure sport personality John Knight believes the twist will add an extra level of excitement to the event, with prizes based on the complexity of their associated challenge.
‘Basically prizes will be hidden on the course and teams can stop racing and go looking for the booty, but they will have to undertake a physical or mental task to win them.
‘The significant thing is that every time they do deviate from the course to try and find the booty they will get a time penalty,’ says Knight.
Knight also says it’s no coincidence that the race is situated in New Zealand’s adventure capital.
‘We want to create a race that is unashamedly Queenstown based. The great thing about Queenstown is that there is so much variety of terrain that you could run a race on a different course every year for 10 years.’
David Kennedy, CEO of Destination Queenstown, is also pleased to introduce the concept to the international adventure racing calendar.
‘It’s good to see adventure racing coming back to its home roots in Queenstown where the town has forged an international reputation on adventure.’
The race will still retain an adventure race core, with traditional disciplines of mountain running, mountain biking, kayaking, rafting and navigation present. Knight and his fellow directors are keen to see the race establish itself as an iconic race.
‘We’re planning to create a sustainable race that athletes and their supporters want to keep coming back to which means it won’t be physically shattering and it will be affordable to enter.’
Further information:
Margo Berryman
Queenstown 45 Adventure Race
Phone +64 21 032 9299
Email margo@queenstown45.co.nz
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