Schoolchildren from years 1-8 participating in this year’s junior and intermediate Challenge Wanaka events will experience the new Challenge Wanaka course at Glendhu Bay.

“The new Challenge Wanaka course in the magical setting of Glendhu Bay will be something they will remember for years to come,” junior and intermediate event manager Annabel Anderson said.

She said she hoped even more children would enter this year’s junior and intermediate events. 

“Going to events like this can be scary, especially for the first time, but we’re here to make it easy and create a fun experience,” she said.

The youngest children (years 1-3) will tackle a duathlon (run-bike-run - no swimming) while both the older juniors (years 4-6) and the intermediate (years 7-8) athletes will complete a triathlon. 

The 2021 junior course will take place at Glendhu Bay for the first time. IMAGE: Supplied

The triathlon course begins with a swim in the lake starting near the boat ramp at Rotary Park, beside the Glendhu Bay Motor Camp, followed by three laps of the bike leg on and off Mt Aspiring Road, and finishing with a run from the Glendhu Station woolshed to Glendhu Bike Park, along Motatapu Road and back to the woolshed.

Distances vary from a swim of 50-200m, a 3-6km bike ride, and a run of 1-3km.

“It’s a miniature version of Challenge Wanaka with the same transition points, same swim start,” Annabel said. 

The junior and intermediate events precede Challenge Wanaka which runs on Saturday February 20.

This year’s swim leg will be in the lake off Rotary Park, Glendhu. PHOTO: Sean Beale Photography

The junior event is for individuals only but entries to the intermediate can be as individuals or teams.

With the events being held at Glendhu Bay for the first time, event organisers are also providing transport for the registered athletes taking part in this year’s intermediate and junior Challenge events on February 18 and 19 respectively.

"With the change of location, Challenge Wanaka is stepping in to assist parents and schools by providing buses on the days of the events to and from schools and assistance with the transportation of bikes from schools to Glendhu and back,” Annabel said.

She said Puzzling World, which has generously sponsored and supported these junior events for many years, will give a special prize to every child who crosses the finish line. 

“Like every year, the prize is a secret until you finish the event on race day,” Annabel said.

She said this year’s prize giving would also run to a different format. 

Unlike previous years when there was a mass prize giving at the end of the day, awards for the top three placegetters in each event will be recognised in a prize giving at the conclusion of each year group wave.

Registration for both events has already opened and Challenge can cater for as many as 1,000 juniors and 400 intermediates.

For local primary school student (years 1-6) registration forms can be found here, and for local school students (year 7-8) registration forms can be found here.

Children who reside outside the Upper Clutha or do not attend a local school may also participate but need to register via the Challenge Wanaka website here.

For further information and updates regarding the running of the day and information on the Challenge Wanaka website and from your school check here.