A new course layout and chance to win a free flight over the region will hopefully bring out the entries as the Wanganui Events Trust tries to bring the Mountains to Sea (M2C) race back with a bang this coming April.
After being introduced with 75 entries in 2014, the 270km multisport race from Turoa to Whanganui was put on hold this year after only attracting 20 competitors in the leadup to the start in March.
New features for the 2016 edition - set to run on April 8-9 - include changing the event from three days to two, which had been done by shortening the length of the Stage 4 kayak leg from 90km to 45km from Pipiriki to Atene.
There will now be three running stages, beginning early on the Friday morning with the run from Turoa Base Area down to Ohakune, then a trail run on the Atene Skyline on Saturday, and the final run from Whanganui out to the new finishing point at the North Mole on Castlecliff beach.
In between, there will be mountain biking from Ohakune to Ruatiti Rd, followed by a road bike section to Pipiriki and another from Atene into Whanganui.