The Whangamata Adventure Race is happening again on the 7th October 2023!
The 2023 Whangamata Adventure race will be on the 7th October, and entries are now open. Spots will be limited so get your teams together and get ready to enter as soon as possible. This race can sell out very quickly.
Adventure Racing is an exciting & challenging team sport. It involves travelling on foot and by mountain bike to collect checkpoints marked on a map. The course will take teams on an exciting, cross country adventure through native bush, streams, farmland trails and forestry. The course will be kept secret until the day of the race and you will receive your maps before race start so you can plan your strategy and route choice.
Disciplines
- Mountain Biking: The mountain biking will take place on forestry roads, gravel roads and farm land. There’s not much flat land around Whangamata so be prepared for some steep hills, up and down!
- Trekking: The trekking will be a mixture of trails, streams, native bush and forestry.
- Navigation: A key part of the race is navigating to the checkpoints using map and compass. No GPS allowed. Maps are provided and are generally 1:25000 topographical style maps. The 6hr race will be beginner – intermediate level with some optional checkpoints being trickier to navigate to. The 12hr event will feature challenging off track bush navigation. Be prepared to use your compass and traverse some tricky terrain.
- Kayaking: There is a kayak option for the 12hr race. The kayak will be on the open ocean and you must be competent kayaking in swell, wind, chop and tidal currents. Single and double kayaks are allowed. Ensure you are confident handling your kayak in open ocean conditions.
- Mystery Activities: These will be revealed on the day. Previous mystery activities have included suduko, MTB seesaw, mud run, paint ball shooting, scrabble and quoits!
Race Types
- 3hr Race: The 3hr event is designed for families and beginners to Adventure Racing. If you’re keen to try an adventure race but unsure if you could do it then this is the race for you. It’s also a great race for parents to do with their children and typically over half the field in the 3hr are families.
- 6hr Race: The 6hr event is designed so the everyday athlete can complete the course (provided you done some training & navigation practice!). The navigation in this event will be based around tracks, roads and rivers making it achievable for those new to navigation.
- 12hr Race: This 12hr event is designed to be an exciting challenge for more experienced adventure racers. The navigation in the 12hr race will be much more challenging and will require a competent navigator in your team. There will be off track navigation (aka bush bashing), route choice options and some night navigation. Hint – you will need to be able to accurately navigate through bush at night.
Team Sizes
You can race in a team of 2, 3 or 4 people. 2 & 3 person teams are in the same category.
School Teams
- There are two age categories for school team. Junior (yr 9 – 10) and Senior (yr 11 – 13).
- Experienced senior school teams can compete in the 12hr event. Junior teams should enter the 6hr.
- Mixed school teams must have two boys and two girls.
- The premier events for schools are the 12hr duathlon for seniors and the 6hr for juniors.
Find Out More: whangamataevents.co.nz
We have compiled a list of helpful gear for this events.
If you are just starting out, or an experienced competitor, we have you covered. Check out these great options:
