Last weekend (Saturday February 15), Wanaka hosted day seven of the BMW International GS Trophy which featured 22 teams, 130 BMW GS motorbikes and almost 200 competitors.

The three-person teams from all over the world descended on New Zealand for the 2020 Oceania challenge and rode almost 3000km across the country from Rotorua to Coronet Peak, Queenstown, in eight days. 

The GS Trophy is not a race. It is a skill and endurance challenge that tests GS riders on their team spirit, fitness, tenacity and riding capability. The adventure challenge for amateur riders is hosted by BMW and features the BMW GS (“Gelande Strasse” - off road/on-road) dual purpose motorcycles.

Day six was spent in the MacKenzie Basin and day seven’s route to Wanaka negotiated four mountain passes and plenty of river crossings, according to a Trophy challenge report on BMW’s website, including through the Hakataramea, over Danseys Pass where the riders stopped for lunch at its famous hotel, and across the Maniototo.

As well as traversing the routes the riders also had to complete a series of tasks and mini challenges which tested their riding skills, such as a ‘gate clutch start’ - bump starting and crash braking without stalling over the shortest distance.

The final day saw an early departure from Wanaka up the Cardrona Valley, over the hills to Arrowtown, and an eventual finish at Coronet Peak. 

In a very closely fought contest, defending champions Team South Africa managed to hold off Team France (second) and Team Italy (third) to take the honours for the third time on the trot. 

The GS Trophy challenge is held every two years, since 2006, and South Africa won the trophy in Mongolia in 2018 and Thailand in 2016. 

Mt Aspiring Holiday Park owner Jo Hogg accommodated all the teams and support staff last Saturday under tents and roofs. The park also provided space for a large marquee for the 200 guests sitting down for dinner and the evening presentation.

Jo said the event was supported by a number of local businesses including caterers and septic tanks services.