Blue Lake Multisport Festival attracts global stars

Xterra Asia-Pacific champion, Sam Osborne, of Rotorua, will compete for the King of the Lake crown at the Blue Lake Multisport Festival this weekend. Photo / Getty Images

Those competing in the Blue Lake Multisport Festival this weekend have the opportunity to go up against some genuine multisport superstars.

Among those competing for the King and Queen of the Lake crowns are Rotorua's own Xterra Asia-Pacific Tour winner Sam Osborne, winner of last year's King of the Lake Kieran McPherson, also an Xterra athlete, and the current Queen of the Lake, Samantha Warriner, who is a former Triathlon World Cup winner and Commonwealth Games silver medallist.

The three-race King and Queen of the Lake series comprise an aquathon and 2km open water swim on Saturday followed by a sprint triathlon on Sunday.

Competing in the 2km swim but not the King of the Lake series is eight-time world champion and London Olympics silver medalist Javier Gomez, of Spain. When it comes to multisport there are not many with a better record than Gomez - in 112 starts he has a record of 78 podiums and 43 wins.

In 2016 Gomez won the Rotorua Half Ironman. He has convinced his physio and training partner, Oscar Vicente Rodriguez, to join him this weekend. He will compete in the full King of the Lake series. Rodriguez finished in the top 20 in the World Triathlon Series in 2013.

There will also be a wealth of up-and-coming New Zealand junior triathletes competing in the event, including 2017 Tinman Triathlon winner Josiah Ney and Hannah Knighton, who was the fifth fastest junior woman in last year's ITU World Triathlon Grand Final.

Osborne said he always looked forward to racing in his "own backyard" and the event would be helpful in preparing for this year's Asia-Pacific tour.

"I haven't done it for a couple of years, but when I was right into road triathlon it was always the week before nationals and a good hit-out. It's always a good form finder, which is the reason I'm doing it again, I just need to have a race before I crack into the overseas stuff.

"The aquathon is probably the most horrendous way to have an aquathon, going run then swim, but that's all part of it - it's a good way to test yourself and make sure you get your pacing right.

"I always enjoy racing at home, it's not something you get to do a lot in a year. This and Xterra Rotorua are the only two triathlons I do at home. It's always good to get out in front of all your family and friends," he said.

Race director Marie Heaphy said entries were sitting at 385 in total, including the maximum of 150 in the children's events. Adults online entries close tonight,but they can still enter on the day with a $10 entry fee.

The festival is being held on Saturday and Sunday at the Blue Lake Reserve on Tarawera Rd and has the option of five events: aquathon, open water swim, kids triathlon, sprint triathlon and 5km fun run/walk.

Sign up at rats.org.nz/events/blue-lake-multisport-festival or enter on the day.