Ironman star Braden Currie's Hawke's Bay trial run: 'It's hard to come by a place where it's so easy to train'

Braden Currie says Hawke's Bay is a great place to train for multisport events. Photo / Paul Taylor

One of the world's top Ironman athletes has opted to train in Hawke's Bay ahead of his next event because of its brilliant facilities and natural assets.

New Zealander Braden Currie, who is the reigning Asia Pacific Ironman winner and a three-time World Multisport champion, is about halfway through a five-week training stint in the region.

The 34-year-old professional triathlete said his time in Hawke's Bay has been awesome so far.

"Everyone's been very supportive," Currie said.

Braden Currie making use of the running track at the Mitre 10 Regional Sports Park. Photo / Supplied

The Methven native said his only previous experience in the region was a visit for a talk with Triathlon Hawke's Bay about three years ago.

"I was blown away because there were 500-odd members at the club, and it was such a strong club," he said.

Currie was looking for a new training destination due to Covid, given he typically spends half the year overseas, and Hawke's Bay ticked all the boxes.

"The assets you guys have on your doorstep in the way of great cycling, trail running," he said, adding he was spending plenty of time at the Mitre 10 Regional Sports Park making use of the track, physio and high-performance gym.

"It's actually hard to come by a place where it's so easy to train and use facilities like this," Currie said.

Braden Currie training at Frimley Pools in Hastings. Photo / Paul Taylor

Currie will head straight from Hawke's Bay to the Port of Tauranga Half ironman event on January 23rd, with the Taupo Ironman coming up in March as well.

He said he is lucky to be able to race over the New Zealand summer, with no international events on the horizon at the moment.

"Obviously we just all cross our fingers and hope that by April/May this year that we'll be able to head overseas and start racing again in Europe and the [United States of America]," he said.