Rotorua's Lewis Ryan is aiming to podium at the King of the Lake series on the weekend. PHOTO/ SUPPPLIED
Rotorua's Lewis Ryan is aiming to podium at the King of the Lake series on the weekend. PHOTO/ SUPPPLIED
"It's unconventional and quirky but that's what will make it so special to compete in."
That's the view of Rotorua's Lewis Ryan, who is aiming to podium at the premier event at the unique Ecomist Blue Lake Multisport Festival this weekend.
Ryan, 18, will compete in the three-race King of the Lake series - an aquathon and 2km open water swim on Saturday followed by a sprint triathlon on Sunday - for the first time.
Ryan, a member of the Rotorua Association of Triathletes, said he felt prepared after training locally for the past two months but admitted to not fully knowing what to expect over the two days of competition.
"It's a real cool event and I've never entered because I'm usually away at this time of year," Ryan said. "I'm very excited to be a part of a different format and also to support this great Rotorua event.
"I feel pretty confident and training has been going well, if all things go well then I could make that podium. But I don't really know what to expect. It's definitely a run and swim dominant competition and usually I back myself on the bike."
Ryan will compete alongside 30 other triathletes with Christchurch's Bryan Rhodes, who won twice in the early 2000s, and New Plymouth's Clark Ellice ones to watch in the men's field.
Experienced New Zealand triathlete Bryan Rhodes. PHOTO/SUPPLIED
Olympian Sam Warriner and Auckland's Natasha Bowyer are likely to battle it out for the Queen of the Lake accolade.
Race director and president of Rotorua Association of Triathletes Graham Perks said spectators could expect a thrilling weekend of competition.
"There are a number of things that make the Blue Lake Multisport Festival special. The location is beautiful and iconic," Perks said.
"It's going to be a brilliant two days of competition. It's exciting for Rotorua to have someone like Lewis. He's an up and coming local athlete who will challenge some of the elite veterans out on the course."
Ryan, an amateur Xterra athlete, spent three months training in Oregon, USA, last year before he took to the season circuit alongside professionals.
Amateur Xterra athlete Lewis Ryan in action on the bike. PHOTO/ SUPPLIED
The local talent had mixed results leading up to this weekend - finishing fourth in the under-19 category at the Xterra World Championships one-off annual event in Hawaii in October.
And he finished second overall in the amateur field at the Australia ITU Cross Triathlon World Championships in November.
"Being in America really helped me," Ryan explained. "I was training with top coaches and it gave me a great insight into what it would be like to be a professional.
"Unfortunately I didn't have a million-dollar race in Hawaii. I wanted to finish higher but it's a bit of a tropical rollercoaster ride of a competition.
"Australia was better for me and I've taken a lot of confidence from that result."
Ryan said he would use the King of the Lake series as a springboard for the rest of the season with his aim to become a professional offroad triathlete.
"It's really helped growing up in Rotorua, because there isn't a better place to train," Ryan said. "I've seen what the professional Xterra circuit is like and I want to continue on this path."
2017 King and Queen of the Lake series
When: Saturday - Aquathon (start 8.30am) and 2km open water (start 4pm) / Sunday - Triathlon (start 8.30am)
Where: Blue Lake
Full list of Lake Multisport Festival events:
Saturday - aquathon (5km run and 800m swim), open water swim with 750m and 2km options.
