The Xterra Rotorua Festival is the biggest multisport event in New Zealand and the biggest Xterra held anywhere in the world.
This weekend about 2000 athletes will converge on Rotorua's stunning Tikitapu (Blue Lake) and Whakarewarewa Forest to take part in the off-road race.
Among them will be entrants fromseven different countries including triathlon defending champions Ben Alan from Australia and his girlfriend Jacqui Slack from England.
"Xterra Rotorua is one of the best in the world, if not the best in the world.
"It offers a very scenic venue whilst pushing your body to the limit and enjoying the opportunities Xterra has to offer. Being part of the biggest Xterra race on the planet is an amazing experience. The whole event captivates the true spirit of the sport and everything about the event is world class," Mr Alan said.
The event, in its 11th year, is made up of trail walks, trail runs, mountain bike events and a triathlon-style swim, mountain bike and trail run event for individuals and teams.
Teams and individuals taking part in the triathlon will take on a 1km swim, 26km mountain bike and an 11km run while there are plenty of other options available for the not so competitive athletes.
In the women's event Rotorua's Annika Smail and Nic Leary will be looking to improve on their second and fourth places from last year while Rotorua's Mark Leishman will be looking to improve on his forth place position.
Some of the biggest names in New Zealand multisport have won the men's division, including Richard Ussher, Hamish Carter and Terenzo Bozzone. Registration is on today at the Distinction Rotorua Hotel from 3pm to 9pm.
Racing starts at 8am tomorrow at Tikitapu with individual and teams racing from 11am and 11.45am.
An awards ceremony will be held at the Energy Events Centre from 7pm on Saturday.
The Xterra global tour stops at 16 national championship races around the world on its way to the Xterra World Championship in Maui, Hawaii each October.
