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Download your sporting summer wallchart here
OCTOBER
Saturday 20
Urban Downhill MTB
Downhill mountain bike racing returns to the streets of Wanaka on Labour weekend from 3-7pm.
www.bigpines.co.nz
Sunday 21
Wanaka 10-hour endurance MTB race
Bikers ride 10km laps of Deans Bank track in Albert Town until their legs fall off. Whoever completes the most laps in 10 hours wins.
www.lakewanakacycling.ning.com
Cromwell Summer Series Half Marathon and 10k
Runners take in the sights and sounds of Cromwell as they pound along 21km or 10km courses.
www.cromwell.org.nz
Saturday 27
Frontrunner Series
Runners take on 5km, 10km and half-marathon distances at Jack’s Point Golf Course in Queenstown.
www.activeqt.co.nz
Sunday 28 – Saturday Nov 3
Tour of Southland (cycling)
New Zealand’s premier multi-stage race is the highlight of the Australasian road cycling calendar.
www.tourofsouthland.com
Wedesday 31
Ladies who Ride
7 Mile (Wilson Bay) session for MTB ladies featuring skills training from Outside Sports riders. The group meets every Wednesday from December 5 to ride the trails at Queenstown Bike Park.
www.outsidesports.co.nz
NOVEMBER
Saturday 3
Queenstown Hill Challenge
Race from Tucker Beach to Lake Johnson (6km) or the top of Queenstown Hill (15km) and back to raise funds for Wakatipu High School.
www.wakatipu.school.nz
The Downhill Southern Series
The mountain bike downhill series hits Queenstown Bike Park for the fourth race of its calendar. After four weeks of gondola-assisted action, riders should be ready to rock.
www.queenstownmtb.co.nz
Wednesday 7
Ladies who Ride
7 Mile (Wilson Bay) session for MTB ladies featuring skills training from Outside Sports riders. The group meets every Wednesday from December 5 to ride the trails at Queenstown Bike Park.
www.outsidesports.co.nz
Saturday 10
Kathmandu River Run Trial Series
Race one of the series follows the stunning Hawea River Track from Albert Town to Lake Hawea township, near Wanaka, with 5km, 10k and half-marathon distances.
www.trailseries.co.nz
Friday 9 – Saturday 10
Tour de Femme
This cycle race for women through Cardrona Valley from Wanaka and back offers a social 22km distance, 44km challenge, 70km for the committed or a ‘full tour’ including time trial for road warriors.
www.tourdefemme.co.nz
Thursday 15 – Monday 19
Southern Alps Tour
Serious cycling from Christchurch to Wanaka through some of the most stunning scenery in the world.
www.southernalpstour.co.nz
Saturday 17
Downhill Southern Series
The race series finale sees riders thrash around the epic Dirt Park track in Wanaka.
www.lakewanakacycling.ning.com
Central Otago 24-hour/12-hour option
Multisport round-the-clock race from Cromwell for hardy endurance athletes.
www.southernlakesmultisportclub.com
Wednesday 21
Ladies who Ride
Zoot shuttles up Coronet Peak for MTB ladies from 6pm. The group meets every Wednesday from December 5 to ride the trails at Queenstown Bike Park.
www.outsidesports.co.nz
Saturday 24
Frontrunner Series
Runners take on 5km, 10km and half-marathon distances at Jack’s Point Golf Course in Queenstown
www.activeqt.co.nz
Garston to Bannockburn Gutbuster
Pub-to-pub 65km MTB race stacked with uphill climbs and downhill blasts for adventurous riders.
www.cromwell.org.nz
DECEMBER
Saturday 1
Kepler Challenge
The iconic 60km Kepler Track run, now in its 25th year, is the premier mountain running event in New Zealand.
www.keplerchallenge.co.nz
Sunday 2
Queenstown Downhill Series (race 1)
Queenstown MTB Club introduces a brand new low-key DH series this summer. This first race is likely to be at Queenstown Bike Park.
www.queenstownmtb.co.nz
Saturday 8
8hrs at Jack’s
Social and sweaty eight-hour relay mountain bike race on an 8km scenic and challenging loop track at Jack’s Point.
www.southerntraverse.com
Sunday 16
Queenstown Downhill Series (race 2)
Queenstown MTB Club’s brand new low-key DH series runs through the summer. Venue is TBC.
www.queenstownmtb.co.nz
Thursday 27
Lake Hayes Christmas Tri
The Lake Hayes triathlon is the oldest in New Zealand and one of the most picturesque.
www.activeqt.co.nz
Saturday 29
Clutha Classic Kayak Race
Kayak 48km from the Wanaka foreshore down the Lindis River.
www.southernlakesmultisportclub.com
Sunday 30
Bannockburn MTB Classic
Three rides to challenge different abilities – the classic 35km over mountain terrain with a 600m climb, the 22km sport ride, or the 10km for families and first-timers.
www.cromwell.org.nz
JANUARY
Wednesday 2
Lake Dunstan Triathlon
Swim 300m or kayak 5.5km then road cycle 22.4km and run 5.8km to start the new year with a bang.
www.cromwell.org.nz
Sunday 6
Race the Train Kingston
Runners test their speed over 12km and 5km distances against iconic vintage steam train The Kingston Flyer. Are you quick enough to beat the train?
www.activeqt.co.nz
Saturday 12
Ultimate Tri Series Jack’s Point Golf Course
Swim in the clubhouse lake, then bike and run triathlon distances along tracks on the golf course grounds.
www.activeqt.co.nz
Sunday 13
Lake Dunstan Cycle Challenge
A 96km cycle race on sealed road from Cromwell around Lake Dunstan and back.
www.cromwell.org.nz
Friday 18
Contact Tri Wanaka
Race four of the seven race series comes to Wanaka in January. More than 3500 people took part this year with ages ranging from six to 80.
www.triseries.co.nz
Saturday 19
Challenge Wanaka
Suit up for the world’s most scenic iron distance triathlon and swim, cycle and run 226km with Mt Aspiring National Park as a backdrop.
www.challenge-wanaka.com
Saturday 26
Big Easy MTB and Mountain Marathon
The 48km mountain bike race up Mt Pisa near Wanaka and 42km mountain marathon prove ‘easy’ is a relative term.
www.highlandevents.co.nz
Wynyard Freeride Jam
Freestyle mountain bike jam, air, beats and BBQ at the Fernhill terrain park.
www.queenstownmtb.co.nz
FEBRUARY
Friday 9 – Saturday 10
Coast to Coast
Traverse New Zealand from the Tasman to the Pacific in the world’s premier multi-sport event.
www.coasttocoast.co.nz
Saturday 19
Ultimate Tri Series – Paradise
Off-road race options include triathlon or duathlon near Glenorchy.
www.activeqt.co.nz
Saturday 23
Moonlight Mountain Marathon
Scenic trot from Pipeline Bridge above the Shotover River to the Ben Lomond Station woolshed at Moke Lake. Also 5km, 10km and 21km options.
www.activeqt.co.nz
Rail Trail Duathlon
The 150km two-day run and mountain bike race from Clyde to Middlemarch is now in its 14th year.
www.railtrailduathlon.co.nz
Alpine Classic Cycle Race
Queenstown to Wanaka and back via the majestic Crown Range – 140km all up.
www.southernlakesmultisportclub.com
Sunday 24
Kids Duathlon – Queenstown
One to keep the kids occupied and get them outdoors on a Sunday.
www.morefm.co.nz
MARCH
Saturday 2
Fresh Choice Women’s Triathlon/Duathlon
Relaxed event for women wanting to give it a go – you even get to sleep in, starts at 11am.
www.southerntraverse.com
Friday 8 – Saturday 16
GODZone Adventure Race
Team endurance event traversing a secret course across the Wakatipu and beyond – not for the faint-hearted.
www.godzoneadventure.com
Saturday 9
Motatapu mountain bike/marathon
Hugely popular high-country race from Wanaka to Arrowtown – plenty of options available.
www.iconicadventures.co.nz
Saturday 16
Ultimate Tri Series Moke Lake
Stunning setting for a triathlon at the foot of Ben Lomond, short drive from Queenstown.
www.activeqt.co.nz
Saturday 23
Super D Enduro
Hell on a mountain bike – as far as you can go at the Queenstown Bike Park for six hours.
www.southerntraverse.com
Saturday 23 – Sunday 24
Northburn 100, Ultra Run Northburn Station
Consists of two 50km loops plus a final 60km at Northburn Station, Cromwell. Stunning scenery, epic distance. It’s tiring just thinking about it.
www.northburn100.co.nz
Saturday 23 – Monday 25
Goldrush Three-day Multisport Event
Relive the gold-rush trail across a 375km three-day race comprising kayaking, mountain biking, running and road biking. Starts and finishes in Alexandra.
www.goldrush.co.nz
Friday 29
Ultimate Tri Series Lake Hayes
It’s the last in the ActiveQT series – and at yet another stunning lakeside location.
www.activeqt.co.nz
Saturday 30
Tour de Wakatipu
Odds on Lance Armstrong making a guest appearance? Not good.
www.southerntraverse.com
Sunday 31
Southern Lakes Half-Marathon and 10k
The half starts just below the Cardrona Skifield entrance.
All downhill – possibly the country’s fastest and most scenic half-marathon.
www.highlandevents.co.nz
DirtMasters Downhill
You start at the top of the Queenstown Bike Park, you finish (hopefully) at the downtown Brecon Street stairs.
www.southerntraverse.com
OCTOBER
OCTOBER
OCTOBER
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