Coast to Coast: Kaikohe troupe cycle their way to endurance race

A group of keen Kaikohe endurance racers are makinig their way to Greymouth for the annual Kathmandu Coast to Coast race, but not in a traditional way.

Organised by Kaikohe Kura principal Marea Timoke, the team are cycling and canoeing their way there, covering more than 1700km.

Speaking on 1 News, Timoko said she has taken a while to get to this point and hopes to keep on making progress with her fitness.

"It's taken me about three years to get to where I am and I hope I'll be half the size when I'm done," she said.

Kona Hippolite, 17, is also heading back down after the tough event, having not completed it last year.

Hippolite said it was a lack of training that hindered her success.

"We went in thinking 'train on the day'. That was our motto and yeah, it didn't really work out for us," she said.

"It's crazy but I guess it's a challenge. You don't normally see Maori people do this sort of thing."

The Coast to Coast is an iconic multisport event based in the South Island of New Zealand.

Held every February, the race starts on the West Coast at Kumara Beach and traverses the width of the South Island, corssing the main divide and finishing on the East Coast.

In 2017, the finish line will be at the Pier on New Brighton Beach in Christchurch.