TriWanaka will host a triathlon event at Wanaka’s Recreation Centre this Thursday (January 23) as an introduction for those athletes who have never attempted a triathlon.

The triathlon is designed as an entry-level event and is aimed at juniors and adults who want to try something new and for athletes who are taking their first steps in a multisport event. 

It’s a pool swim, a flat mountain bike course around the Rec Centre’s fields and buildings, and a run around the athletics oval. 

The distances range from a 25m swim; 1km bike and 400m run for kids under seven-years-old to a 200m swim; 2km bike and 2.4km run for adults and juniors 12-years-old and above.

TriWanaka’s Amanda Inkster said this introduction to triathlons was a chance to be exposed to the operation of a triathlon and to practise the transitions between the bike and the run, without the pressure of high-powered competition.

TriWanaka’s regular Friday night swim-run event will be replaced this week with the new entry-level triathlon this Thursday (January 23).

“It’s beginner-level and it should be fun,” she said.

Amanda said the one-off event would replace this week’s regular Friday night swim-run (on January 24) TriWanaka usually holds at the Watersports Facility. 

“The Highlanders are playing the Crusaders on the Friday (January 24) so rather than stick to our usual Friday meet we thought let’s do something different,” she said.

Online entries for the triathlon, which is sponsored by Racers Edge, Torpedo 7 Wanaka, and Outside Sports Wanaka, is free to all TriWanaka members and juniors (under 12) and $5 for everyone else. Enter online here.

Online entries close at 2:00pm on the day and entries after this until 4:30pm will cost $5 for juniors and $10 for adults. 

The triathlon starts at 5:50pm for juniors and 6:00pm for adults.

PHOTOS: Nic Blennerhasset