Challenge Wanaka

Challenge Wanaka may be one of the most beautiful races in the world, but it's no walk in the park. Here's our guide to this iconic race in New Zealand...

session 2 in your weekly schedule to build up vital bike strength. The run is undulating, with most of it off-road. The road surface is also rough so consider tyre pressures pre-race to ensure a smooth ride. And how can you beat the course and make it to the finish line? But the lake can cut up really rough, so it’s critical that in your prep you do plenty of open-water swimming in all conditions. This means there is currently no long-distance triathlon at Challenge Wanaka anymore.

The RaceRanger triathlon drafting detection system is being tested by elite fields at Challenge Wanaka in New Zealand.

In future, the system will detect when infringements are occurring and send this data to technical officials patrolling the course, via a tablet app interface. The rear unit features three coloured lights that signal backwards to a following competitor, providing information about their following distance. Currently, determination of drafting distances by athletes and the technical officials policing them are made with subjective naked eye judgements. We are looking forward to showcasing the RaceRanger system’s performance at these distances. I’ve been coming here for family holidays my whole life, and am lucky to now call Wanaka home; and for Dylan this race in particular, which he won three times in his racing career, has always been special.” It’s like starting out in triathlon as an athlete; every time you race, you learn something new.

It is renowned as one of the sport's most scenic venues (hence, part of Sebastian Kienle's “bucket list” retirement tour – see below), but that's hardly ...

Moody started the run 4:08 behind in fifth place. — Challenge Family (@ChallengeFamily) [Jack Moody runs his way to Challenge Wanaka title](https://triathlonmagazine.ca/racing/jack-moody-runs-his-way-to-challenge-wanaka-title/)

Elite sprint triathlon made a successful return after a decade-long absence in Wanaka tonight as part of the Integrity Homes Challenge Wanaka triathlon ...

That left an eight-strong group including New Zealanders Taylor Reid and Kyle Smith and Australian Callum McClusky to contest the run, with McClusky edging away on the final sprint to finish ahead of Smith and Reid. The men’s race was a tight affair with little separating the big names out of the water and onto the bike. Elite sprint triathlon made a successful return after a decade-long absence in Wanaka tonight as part of the Integrity Homes Challenge Wanaka triathlon festival.

Strong running performances in brutally hot conditions have earned Aucklander Jack Moody and Australian Grace Thek titles at the Integrity Homes Challenge ...

"I was having a bit of a tough time on the bike - these boys can really ride these days. I’m pretty happy, I felt like I was in control most of the day. "The whole course there was no real time to ease off, it was just full gas the whole way. To finally get the top step means everything, and to do it so late in the race is really special." "I’ve been doing some big weeks for Taupo the past few weeks and didn’t think I’d have the extra gear today. I’m stoked to take the win."

The men's race was won by Jack Moody, who ran a resounding victory after a minor crash on the bike. Mike Phillips finished second, while race favourite ...

The race attracts a strong field of international athletes every year, with the course being considered one of the most challenging in the world. What they are saying: Moody, who had a minor crash during the bike ride, said, "Watching the big Australian and German powerhouses come by on the bike is a pretty humbling experience, but I knew my run was in good shape. However, Moody, who fell off the bike due to a minor crash, ran an unrivalled race, closing the gap with Phillips during the off-road run and eventually taking the win in a time of 3:58:01.