GIFT GIVERS: Challenge Roth chief executive officer Felix Walchshofer wears the Maori All Blacks jersey presented to him by the New Zealand team. PHOTO/SUPPLIED
GIFT GIVERS: Challenge Roth chief executive officer Felix Walchshofer wears the Maori All Blacks jersey presented to him by the New Zealand team. PHOTO/SUPPLIED
With about 260,000 spectators, close enough to high-five you as you run or bike past them, Challenge Roth is an event like no other.
The event comprises a 4km swim, 180km bike and 42km run through the German city of Roth. It has attracted 3400 individual participants and 650 relay teams.
Part of a 45-strong New Zealand team participating in the event last month were Rotorua athletes Ann Eastcott, Charlotte Porter, Jacque Webber, Moana Tapsell and Shirley Day, as well as Sjaan Sikking of Tokoroa.
Porter was the fastest of the Rotorua athletes, finishing 158th overall with a time of 12 hours, 12 minutes and 48 seconds.
Sikking finished third in the 20-year-old age group with a time of 14 hours, 22 minutes and 12 seconds.
"It was an amazing experience, the whole event. It certainly lived up to all the hype about the number of supporters.
"As soon as you left the swim you just heard this huge roar and you realise 'oh that's for me'. The people were 50-deep, lining the streets and cheering, whistling, drinking, it was amazing.
"You knew it was going to be tough in parts, especially on the bike going uphill, but the noise the crowd makes and the cheering gives you the enthusiasm to keep pedalling," Day said.
The Kiwis were a hit with locals after performing a haka at a Meet the Pros evening and at the official welcome.
"Before we arrived the CEO asked us to do a haka at the Meet the Pros night. We went along, and we also presented him with a Maori All Blacks jersey.
"As soon as he said we were going to do a haka all the guests there turned around and focused on us. On the basis of that reception and how well it went down he asked us to do another haka at the official welcome party," she said.
Their performance made it on to the front page of the local newspaper which ensured all the German supporters who turned up on race day knew all about the Kiwi athletes - some even asking for photos along the way.
CELEBRITIES: The New Zealand Challenge Roth team made the front page of a local newspaper after performing a haka at the opening ceremony. PHOTO/SUPPLIED
"Now I know what movie stars feel like.
"As soon as he said the word haka people rushed up to the stage and had their phones and cameras out to record it.
"The haka is really well known."
Day said the course itself was "indescribable".
"The swim was a bit congested, with about 3500 competitors, it was in a canal. There were arms and legs kicking, it wasn't a big wide swimming area like Taupo.
"The bike went through 36 villages and going up the hills was where the biggest crowd was. The more challenging part was the fast descent down the hills, because you have to be good at cornering and watch out for people.
"The run was a good hard run with a bit of hill work. There was nice variety, through little villages, along the canal, aid stations lined with spectators and a forest area.
"At the village where you turn around they had banners made by school children for every country that was represented. Ours had New Zealand with the silver fern and haere mai, it was so cool to see."
