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Panui - Trans Taupo Race
Just under a year ago, in unique and iconic fashion, the TRANS Taupo brought together all the main human powered water craft (Sea Kayaks, Surf Ski’s, Waka ama, and Ocean Rowers) and challenged them to paddle/row 44km across the pure crystal mountai
The TRANS Taupo is back, even bigger and better.
Such was the inaugural events attraction it became the largest multi-craft open water paddle event in the country with 77 different craft and over 100 paddlers aboard.
With the second annual event just one month away on Saturday 28th March, the Dare 2 Sweat Events Director and TRANS Taupo event Organiser Neil Gellatly enthusiastically talks about the progress of the forthcoming event, what’s new and in store for entrants.
“After the wonderful turnout to last year’s event; the flood of fantastic feedback we received from competitors, supporters and sponsors; and following constant inquiries from interested paddlers/rowers wanting to know when the next event would be; there was absolutely no question the event had a future and would be back on the calendar. Dead set on making the event an even bigger success, we are stoked to say we have acted on and implemented all suggestions received from all those involved in the inaugural event, which will please entrants, supporters and sponsors alikeâ€.
“This year there are even greater ways to enter the event. We separated the single sea kayak division into two, with plastic and composite craft classes. We modified the course so we now have 4 distinct spectator friendly legs of varying distance allowing for relay teams to split the event into four legs – this will make the event more achievable to newcomers to the sport and widen the events appeal to Waka-ama teams (giving them the option of land based transitions as well as open water changeovers from personal support/escort vessels… which out of interest there is a rebate for providing). Plus we have incorporated age grouping with an under or over 50 separation. All up there is now an incredible 59 different ways to enter the TRANS Taupo.â€
In the face of an economic recession which is affecting entry numbers and sponsorship of events worldwide, Gellatly went on to say…
“The response has been great. We have four times the number of entries we had this time out from the event last year… half of whom are coming back for their second time. Some sponsors have understandably cut back their contributions a little but on the same note others have increased their support and we have many more great new sponsors onboard this year. As things stand, we are set to get a bumper field and will have a prize pool (of cash/service and product) to offer in excess of $20,000.00 valueâ€.
Such is the challenge and increasing lure of the TRANS Taupo, Gellatly is on well track to making the event irresistible to all paddler and rowers.
If you are looking for a challenge and wanting to put your hard earned summer paddling/rowing fitness to good use, you best visit the event webpage www.transtaupo.co.nz and get your entry in ASAP to secure your spot on the start line.
With the list growing daily, current 2009 TRANS Taupo sponsors include… Canoe & kayak; Mighty River Power; Icebreaker; Prorack; Q-Kayaks; Barracuda Kayaks; Ruahine Kayaks; JKK kayaks; Concept 2; Rasdex; SharkSkin; Hammer Nutrition; Em’s Power Cookies; Liquor King; NZ Kayak Magazine; Adventure Multisport Options; Day Two; Forte Body; North Shore Beach Series; King of the Harbor; Bhutt Moore-morial Race; Superdune; Sportzhub.com; PhotoChick.co.nz; and Destination Lake Taupo.
Such was the inaugural events attraction it became the largest multi-craft open water paddle event in the country with 77 different craft and over 100 paddlers aboard.
With the second annual event just one month away on Saturday 28th March, the Dare 2 Sweat Events Director and TRANS Taupo event Organiser Neil Gellatly enthusiastically talks about the progress of the forthcoming event, what’s new and in store for entrants.
“After the wonderful turnout to last year’s event; the flood of fantastic feedback we received from competitors, supporters and sponsors; and following constant inquiries from interested paddlers/rowers wanting to know when the next event would be; there was absolutely no question the event had a future and would be back on the calendar. Dead set on making the event an even bigger success, we are stoked to say we have acted on and implemented all suggestions received from all those involved in the inaugural event, which will please entrants, supporters and sponsors alikeâ€.
“This year there are even greater ways to enter the event. We separated the single sea kayak division into two, with plastic and composite craft classes. We modified the course so we now have 4 distinct spectator friendly legs of varying distance allowing for relay teams to split the event into four legs – this will make the event more achievable to newcomers to the sport and widen the events appeal to Waka-ama teams (giving them the option of land based transitions as well as open water changeovers from personal support/escort vessels… which out of interest there is a rebate for providing). Plus we have incorporated age grouping with an under or over 50 separation. All up there is now an incredible 59 different ways to enter the TRANS Taupo.â€
In the face of an economic recession which is affecting entry numbers and sponsorship of events worldwide, Gellatly went on to say…
“The response has been great. We have four times the number of entries we had this time out from the event last year… half of whom are coming back for their second time. Some sponsors have understandably cut back their contributions a little but on the same note others have increased their support and we have many more great new sponsors onboard this year. As things stand, we are set to get a bumper field and will have a prize pool (of cash/service and product) to offer in excess of $20,000.00 valueâ€.
Such is the challenge and increasing lure of the TRANS Taupo, Gellatly is on well track to making the event irresistible to all paddler and rowers.
If you are looking for a challenge and wanting to put your hard earned summer paddling/rowing fitness to good use, you best visit the event webpage www.transtaupo.co.nz and get your entry in ASAP to secure your spot on the start line.
With the list growing daily, current 2009 TRANS Taupo sponsors include… Canoe & kayak; Mighty River Power; Icebreaker; Prorack; Q-Kayaks; Barracuda Kayaks; Ruahine Kayaks; JKK kayaks; Concept 2; Rasdex; SharkSkin; Hammer Nutrition; Em’s Power Cookies; Liquor King; NZ Kayak Magazine; Adventure Multisport Options; Day Two; Forte Body; North Shore Beach Series; King of the Harbor; Bhutt Moore-morial Race; Superdune; Sportzhub.com; PhotoChick.co.nz; and Destination Lake Taupo.
