After two years of disruption due to Covid-19 the one day off-road Motatapu event is back for 2023.

Competitors traverse the pristine trails of the Motatapu, Soho, and Glencoe stations, through terrain which is only accessible to the public one weekend a year for the Motatapu event.

Motatapu race director and co-owner Gemma Peskett said she is excited to present the event next year after cancelling the event in 2021 and 2022.

“We’re carrying forward entrants from the past two years,” Gemma said.

“We expect good demand with just over 3,000 signed up now and expect 4,000 by race day.”

Gemma said entrants come from across the country with 12 percent from Auckland and more than 60 percent from Canterbury, Otago and Southland. 

While upbeat about the future for Motatapu, Gemma acknowledges the last two years have been challenging due to Covid-19 and the loss of the title sponsor MacPac.

“MacPac will remain a sponsor but at a lower level, so we’re looking for a new title sponsor,” she said.

Now the event is back Gemma says they can look at the potential capacity and what new trails and events can be incorporated in the future.

Motatapu consists of six events, all taking place on the same day; a 47 kilometre mountain bike, 42 kilometre off road marathon, 15.7 kilometre miners trail, 52.5 kilometre ultra run, 4 kilometre junior trail run, and the 56 kilometre Coronet loop mountain bike.

The event is scheduled for Saturday March 4 2023. Find more information here.

PHOTO: Supplied