Walkers and runners from all over the world will be here for these events.
The TaraweraUltramarathon was sold out months ago. Organiser, Paul Charteris has done a superb job building the race into one of the premium long distance running events in the world. Because of the extended dry spell, Paul's also contending with the extreme fire risk in the forest and has had to re-route the course. How efficiently this was done is a measure of Paul's skill and confidence as an organiser.
In many ways, not having too many mountain bike events on this month qualifies as a good thing, because April is packed.
Xterra is on Saturday, April 13, with a range of events from walking to a separate mountain biking event to the individuals and teams Xterra off-road triathlon.
I missed last year's 10th anniversary of Xterra. When I say missed it, I don't mean entering. I'd probably drown on the swim and running isn't something my knees enjoy.
I mean marshalling. I did that from the first Xterra, so I really regretted missing the 10th edition. It'll be good to return in 2013.
It's a really well organised event and Dave Donaldson runs a slick machine, marshalling the mountain bike course.
Over the years, the casualty rate on Xterra was always relatively low. Even with the large entry numbers and especially considering the inexperience of a lot of the riders on forest trails.
Most of the marshals have done the event for a while and know the forest, so evacuation of riders who do get bitten by the single track or forest roads is fast and efficient.
Part of the reason for the low level of carnage is that weather for Xterra is always pretty good. That isn't by accident. Frank Clarke, who runs Xterra, looked at weather patterns before deciding on the April date. Apparently, it is one of the most settled months of the year and Frank's trust in meteorological history is well placed.
It's a good day out for competitors and the team helping make it happen.
There's more information at xterra.co.nz.
The week after Xterra will see another Nduro event as the 24 Hours of Rotorua returns after a four-year break.
The finale of a big month at our place will be the Pig & Whistle New Zealand Singlespeed Championships on Saturday, April 27.
I've run out of words, so the 24 Hours and the Singlespeeds will have to wait until next week.
