Multisport: Kids come first in star-studded event

By Vicki Woolley

NZ Herald·

22 May, 2015 05:00 PM4 mins to read

Children of all ages are encouraged to join in at the festival. Photo / Jamie

Multisport spectacular will feature NZ’s best ... and the big names of the future

Despite a stellar cast of elite Kiwi athletes turning out for the ThermaTech 3D Rotorua Multisport Festival next Sunday, event director Neil Gellatly is more excited about the other end of the field.

"Families have always been a huge focus for us at the 3D events and it's really pleasing to see the next generation coming through," he said.

"We've created an environment where mum or dad can be off doing one of the longer races while the kids are getting their first taste of adventure in the amazing Redwoods and Whakarewarewa forests."

Gellatly expects nearly 1000 participants - elites, novices and families - at the festival on Queen's Birthday weekend.

With 10 events ranging from a 2km fun run for under 10-year-olds to the hotly contested 25km and 50km multisport events, there is something to suit everyone regardless of age and experience.

The Mills family are testimony to the growing demand for family-based participation events. Daughters Ava, 8, Lola, 6, and Olive, 4, will be tackling the 2km while mum Christie runs 5.5km and dad Duncan lines up for the 25km multisport.

Rotorua local Bieke Kostrewa's three young daughters will also be out on the 2km course while Kostrewa looks to see what she can do in the half marathon.

Gellatly is encouraging: "Long gone are the days of mum or dad disappearing into the wilderness for days on end - parents want to share their adventures with their kids and people want to line up and race with their mates."

The Hoskin family will travel from Gisborne for the event. Sport Tairawhiti active health manager Toni Hoskin usually plays a support role to husband Craig and daughters Alicia, 15, and Courtney, 17, as they pursue various outdoor activities.

These roles will be reversed on Sunday when Toni toes the 50km multisport start line.

"Preparing to complete this sort of distance has been so much fun, I've pretty much had to learn how to paddle properly - I didn't realise it required so much skill," she laughs. "This sort of event is fantastic for us as a family - Craig has started running again after many years and hopes to compete if his sore calf will let him, while Courtney will be our support crew for the weekend, so it's a real family affair and we are really looking forward to it.

"The girls have been so encouraging and are keen to have a turn at cheering."

Alicia won't miss any of the family fun as she lines up for the 25km Grassroots multisport, which is also the New Zealand Secondary School Multisport Championships.

The ThermaTech 3D Rotorua Multisport Festival is staged in one of the most scenic places in New Zealand. Its events include four run/walk distances ranging from 2km to half marathon, a 31km mountain-bike, a 42km duathlon, a 9km paddle and two multisport distances - 25km and 50km.

All the run courses take participants along the soft loamy trails of the magnificent Whakarewarewa Forest, commonly known as "the Redwoods".

Paddle events and multi-sporters begin their race at the Blue Lake carpark on the shores of Lake Tikitapu; multi-sporters then ride over to the Redwoods where they complete their run.

The event is now in its fifth year, and Gellatly continues to evolve it to cater to the changing requirements of the outdoor sport community. Short courses are available for children, and for the first time paddle boarders will be able to compete in the water leg, traditionally the domain of kayakers.

It is no wonder some of the biggest names in New Zealand multisport are attracted to the festival.

The 50km multisport is also the national championships, where the male and female NZ multisport champions are crowned.

Trevor Voyce (Nelson) returns to defend his title against two-time winner Richard Ussher (Nelson) and Sam Clarke (Whakatane).

Reigning female champion and local resident Nic Leary will be participating in the festival but not defending her title, leaving it open for 2011 and 2012 winner Elina Ussher (Nelson) and Simone Maier (Wanaka) to battle it out.