Wanaka's Braden Currie will have a target on his back at Ironman new Zealand in Taupo this weekend. Photo / Delly Carr
Wanaka's Braden Currie will have a target on his back at Ironman new Zealand in Taupo this weekend. Photo / Delly Carr
The men's race at Kellogg's Nutri-Grain Ironman New Zealand shapes as one of the most competitive in recent years and the majority of the big contenders fly the Kiwi flag.
It is fitting that the men's field is so deep and the Kiwis so strong, as Ironman New Zealand celebrates 20 years in Taupo and 35 years in total.
Heading the Kiwi list is defending champion Braden Currie, of Wanaka. After finishing second at Challenge Wanaka a week and a half ago, the 30-year-old is feeling great in mind and body as he approaches one of his favourite events.
"Racing last weekend in a half distance was a great chance for me to have a good hit out before Ironman New Zealand in Taupo.
"Ironman New Zealand is a very special event for me. Taupo turns it on, it's a beautiful place and I am looking forward to heading up there and having some downtime with my family, as much as I am also looking forward to racing," Currie said.
The Taupo event has been Currie's focus for the summer. Moments after finishing the Ironman World Championships in Kona in October, Currie announced his commitment to return in 2018.
Since then his focus has been on building on the endurance base he developed from Kona last year, staying healthy and building speed on the run.
"After a solid summer of consistent training I am feeling really good going into my biggest event of the New Zealand summer.
"After racing Kona last year and having a few setbacks but also a lot of learning, I am hoping to go back again this year and have the chance to race the race. Last year was brutal, but I don't mind the suffer fest that comes with this event."
Cameron Brown is one of the top New Zealand athletes competing at Ironman New Zealand in Taupo this weekend. Photo / File
Leading the challengers to Currie's crown is a man who has won it 12 times already. Now 45, Cameron Brown is the King of Taupo and has no plans to let Father Time, or anyone else, stop him from being a contender again.
"I still have the mindset of wanting to win and achieve my goals, just like I did when I first started doing Ironman. My motivation comes from different things now as well, doing well for my family, putting food on the table, trying to beat the younger guys," Brown said.
Brown is better placed than most to comment on the 20-year anniversary in Taupo, he has won here 12 times and started every one of the previous 19 races.
"The event has grown from 700-800 athletes in the first year and a small crowd of supporters to close to 2000 athletes, fantastic crowd support and a huge volunteer base, so the Taupo community has really got behind the event."
Auckland's Terenzo Bozzone will likely be a huge factor on race day. While the 32-year-old is yet to win in Taupo, he has stood on the podium five times since his 2008 debut and is respected worldwide as a competitor.
After enduring an interrupted first half to 2017, Bozzone came good in the latter part of the year, with a sixth-place finish at Kona suggesting the best is yet to come from the long striding Aucklander.
