Photos courtesy MTBPursuits.com.
Looking for a way to celebrate the Queen of New Zealand’s birthday in style? Try manning up to the Run 79 Lake Tekapo mountain bike race on May 31. The 90Km (56 mile) undulating course goes around beautiful Lake Tekapo and features plenty of rocky stream crossings.
If you’re planning on heading down for the race remember it’s mid-autumn in New Zealand and race organizers recommend wind breakers, thermal leggings, and extra socks to keep warm on the 4-8 hour ride. The top male and female finisher each receive $1500 and the race is limited to 1500 riders. Just think, you can use that prize money to pay for your plane ticket…
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As a Kiwi living stateside…NZ has some of the best MTBing in the world..and this race will be no different…but it’s a raw environment, and where Tekapo is..you’re exposed to the elements coming over the Southern Alps from the Tasman or getting trounced by a system pouring in from the Pacific. Those stream crossings will be some of the coldest water you’ve come in contact with…it’s coming down from glaciers.
Summer down there is EPIC for the outdoors and the myriad of adventure racing that take place.
If you get down to the South Island..head to Hanmer Springs and buy some of the best MTB clothing on the planet at Krank Dirtwear.
Exchange rate is NZ=$.60 USD…you can’t go wrong. Flights are cheap right now…