It took the best of 200 of the 243-kilometre course for Wanaka’s Simone Maier to shake four-time champion Elina Ussher and add her name to the Kathmandu Coast to Coast Longest Day women’s trophy for the second time.  

The Wanaka multisporter and Nelson’s Elina Ussher linked arm and arm in order to safely cross the Otira River at the start of the 30.5-kilometre Mountain Run and again mere seconds split the pair as they headed into the 70-kilometre paddle from Mt White Bridge to the Waimakariri Gorge Bridge yesterday (Saturday February 13).

“It was pretty unreal hanging out on the run together and then on the paddle together and then she got a bit of a head start at the final bike. I knew I would catch her on the bike, but also you never know what’s going to happen,” Simone said.

It was the perfect way for the new champion to celebrate turning 41 yesterday and shrug off any agonising memories from last year's result when she was forced to withdraw due to the cold.

“It’s the best birthday present ever, I can’t believe it actually, it was a hard day.

“Yes, I was pretty focused on this result. I started to coach myself again and did everything I did in 2019 when I won the title before.”

Simone paid tribute to Elina who was feeling a little banged up, competing in her 16th Kathmandu Coast to Coast.

“That woman! I have got a lot of respect for her, she put on a stellar performance today,” Simone said.

Tauranga’s Ali Wilson slipped into the Mountain Run 40 seconds ahead of Simone and Elina, but was quickly passed on the unfamiliar terrain. 

"Those girls can just move over that terrain and I was making silly mistakes. But at the end of the day I was just outclassed."

Ali recovered from a ‘munted foot’ and a hole in her kayak to finish in third place in a time of 12 hours 54 minutes 03, nearly twenty minutes behind Simone who stopped the clock in 12 hours 34:49 and Ussher in 12:49:25.

2021 Results – Top 5 Women 

1st - Simone Maier - 12:34:49 - Wanaka/Germany 

2nd - Elina Ussher - 12:49:25 - Nelson/Finland

3rd - Alison Wilson - 12:54:03 - Tauranga/England 

4th Fiona Dowling - 13:05:38 - Christchurch/ Ireland 

5th Claire Bell - 13:22:46 - Te Anau