Champ wants less drama before Longest Day start

Braden Currie says he's in good race condition and knowing he has a target on his back is just extra motivation to win. Photo / Supplied

Reigning Coast to Coast Longest Day champion Braden Currie is counting on a more settled start to today's race after some last-minute drama threatened his place at the start line of last year's event.

With his sponsor's car packed with his bike and equipment and the engine running, a crew member accidentally locked the vehicle with the keys in the ignition just as they were set to leave their hotel for the race start at Kumara beach.

One broken window later and they were on the road, albeit with shattered glass lining the seats and floor, before the 28-year-old Wanaka local went on to claim victory in just 11 hours and 18 minutes.

This time round, Currie has focused on staying stress-free during the final 24 hours ahead of his second consecutive title defence.

"It's a bit of a nerve-racking day waiting around but I'll try and do what I normally do, have a coffee, go for a walk and try to not think about the race too much," he said.

"I'll get out and do a short bike ride and a bit of a paddle later on in the afternoon just to liven the legs up a touch. But a race this long it's not about the start it's about the finish so I've got plenty of time to wind it up."

Relaxation has been a theme over the past seven days, with Currie preferring to taper off his training rather than push himself in the days leading into the Speight's Coast to Coast.

"Last week was about the end of it [training]," he said. "I'm a big fan of tapering. I seem to do well after having a good long taper and being as fresh as possible. I take the balance with a few days off training but I'm going to be maybe 20 minutes fresher on the day."

His measured approach is understandable considering he will also tackle his first full ironman distance event at Challenge Wanaka next weekend, before rounding out a tough month of racing with the OTU Cross Triathlon Oceania Championships in Australia on February 28.

"Challenge Wanaka is really a quick way of pushing myself to the next level in on-road sports as well as competing in my debut ironman in an area I love racing in," he said.

Meanwhile, at the halfway point in the men's two-day individual race, Canterbury local Nathan Jones was the first to complete yesterday's 55km cycle and 33km mountain run, and Christchurch-born Aucklander Hannah Norton was the first to cross the line in the women's event.

Today's one-day event will take centre stage however, with the race getting under way at 6am.

• David Skipwith travelled to Christchurch with the assistance of ThermaTech.