Andrea Hewitt is lining up in a new venue this weekend as she takes part in the opening ITU World Triathlon Series event of the season in Abu Dhabi, before returning home to compete in the Barfoot & Thompson Auckland race at the end of March.
Hewitt is cautiously optimistic about this weekend based on some good training in the off-season.
"This is my first race of the year, training has been good in Wanaka for the last two weeks. We were working with the Tri NZ HP team and two other French girls that Laurent is coaching, it was a good group and training was going well. It has been a long trip to get here though, I am feeling well rested but it is a long trip."
There is a great deal of the unknown about a new race venue such as Abu Dhabi and a new sprint distance course, but Hewitt is experienced enough not to let that phase her.
"I am not sure about the weather, it is changing so much, it could be really hot or it could be 20 degrees and while there could be wind it will be the same for everyone. Anything can change in a year, everyone has done different training I guess but I enjoy both distances, but anything can happen."
