Multisport legend Richard Ussher (pictured) is among the names taking part in the ThermaTech 3D Rotorua Multisport Festival this month.
Multisport legend Richard Ussher (pictured) is among the names taking part in the ThermaTech 3D Rotorua Multisport Festival this month.
Another all-star cast is lining up for this month's ThermaTech 3D Rotorua Multisport Festival in Rotorua.
The 50km New Zealand Multisport Championship will again be the feature race of the festival on Sunday, May 31.
Two-time winners Richard and Elina Ussher will be back, along with top Coast to Coastperformers Sam Clark (Whakatane), Trevor Voyce (Nelson) and 2013 3D winner Simone Maier (Wanaka).
The 50km race will include a 9km paddle on Tikitapu (Blue Lake), 30km mountain bike in the Whakarewarewa Forest and 11km run.
While he is delighted with the calibre of the elite field, race director Neil Gellatly was also thrilled with the amount of families entering.
"Families have always been a huge focus for us at the 3D events and it's really pleasing to see the next generation coming through," Gellatly said.
"We've created an environment where mum or dad can be off doing one of the longer races while the kids are getting their first taste of adventure in the amazing Redwoods and Whakarewarewa Forests."
Sport Gisborne Tairawhiti active health manager Toni Hoskin said her whole family would be involved in the event this year.
Her daughter Alicia, 15, will line up in the 25km Grassroots race, which doubles as the New Zealand secondary school championships, while Toni will tackle the full 50km distance for the first time.
"This sort of event is fantastic for us as a family - [my husband] Craig has started running again after many years and hopes to compete if his sore calf will let him, while [our daughter] Courtney will be our support crew for the weekend, so it's a real family affair and we are really looking forward to it."
The 50km and 25km multisport races will run alongside eight other options, including a 2km under-10 fun run, 5.5km and 10.5km trail run or walk, a half marathon, a stand-alone 9km paddle and 31km mountain bike race, as well as a 42km duathlon, which this year has a team as well as individual option.
Paddle boarders can also compete, either in the 9km paddle or in a separate division in the 25km multisport race.
-For more information and to enter visit the websites www.rotoruamultisport.co.nz or www.3drotorua.co.nz
