Steve McKinstry hopes he can go one better after taking the lead on the first day of the South Island's Coast to Coast multisport event yesterday.
The 24-year-old from Christchurch has a margin of just over 11 minutes in the 243km two-day individual race from Kumara Beach onthe West Coast to Sumner Beach near Christchurch.
At the first day's stop at Klondyke, near Arthurs Pass, McKinstry had a time of 5hm 3m 51s. Braden Currie of Ashburton was second at 5h 15m 07s.
Last year, McKinstry led after the first day but lost the lead on the water to eventual winner Benji Patterson.
He hopes his 11-minute buffer on Currie will be enough to give him victory today.
Experienced Christchurch competitor Bruce Clulow is third, less than a minute behind Currie.
Competitors faced a wet start to the 25th anniversary race with 9mm of rain falling on the main divide for the run over Goat Pass.
It gave way to superb conditions on the run down to Klondyke.
"Conditions were a lot tougher this year and despite the fact that I am in better shape, it was slower on the run," McKinstry said. "I've worked hard on my paddling in the last year so I hope it holds together [today]."
There will be a major battle for the women's honours with four competitors finishing within four minutes of each other.
Caroline Cross was first home in 6h 31m 11s to head a Christchurch quartet - Nina Wardell two minutes behind, Penny Willcocks a further minute back and Kim Johnston four minutes behind the leader.
The two-day competitors start with a 15km road cycle from Klondyke today, followed by 67km kayak to Gorge Bridge and 70km cycle to Sumner.
The world championship one-day competitors set off from Kumara at 6am today.
