Shorter event aims to lure multisporters

RUN, BIKE, PADDLE: The Mountain to Sea organisers and competitors gearing up for March 2016. From left, Mark Stoneman (race director), Bev Foster, Jim Campbell, Matt Foster, George Taylor, Ken Pawson, Amie Simpson, Kylie Gibson, Peter Lock and Kat Wade.PHOTO/STUART MUNRO

A new course layout and chance to win a free flight over the region will hopefully bring out the entries as the Wanganui Events Trust tries to bring the Mountains to Sea (M2C) race back with a bang this coming April.

After being introduced with 75 entries in 2014, the 270km multisport race from Turoa to Whanganui was put on hold this year after only attracting 20 competitors in the leadup to the start in March.

New features for the 2016 edition - set to run on April 8-9 - include changing the event from three days to two, which had been done by shortening the length of the Stage 4 kayak leg from 90km to 45km from Pipiriki to Atene.

There will now be three running stages, beginning early on the Friday morning with the run from Turoa Base Area down to Ohakune, then a trail run on the Atene Skyline on Saturday, and the final run from Whanganui out to the new finishing point at the North Mole on Castlecliff beach.

In between, there will be mountain biking from Ohakune to Ruatiti Rd, followed by a road bike section to Pipiriki and another from Atene into Whanganui.

The start times on both the Friday and Saturday will be between 7am-8.30am.

The events trust co-ordinates the race with support partner Department of Conservation, which allows the use of "untouched native forests" for the mountain runs, as mentioned in the Trust's press release.

There will be two-person kayaks for larger teams, which can comprise from 2-5 people, as well as individual entries.

Event entries have now opened and everyone who signs up before Friday, December 18, will go into the draw to win a scenic flight for six people covering the Mountains to Sea area, which is valued at $2500 for Air Wanganui.

In the first year of 2014, the entry limit was capped at 100 people, but the Trust would like to have double that number in 2016.

Head to www.m2c.kiwi.nz for all the race information and to enter.

Race Details

-Day 1, April 8.

Stage 1: Mountain run - Turoa to Ohakune, 18.5km.

Stage 2: Mountain bike - Ohakune to Ruatiti Road, 32km.

Stage 3: Road bike - Ruatiti Road to Pipiriki, 62km.

-Day 2, April 9.

Stage 4: Kayak - Pipiriki to Atene, 45km.

Stage 5: Trail run - Atene Skyline, 14km.

Stage 6: Road cycle - Atene to Whanganui, 34km.

Stage 7: Road and trail run - Whanganui to Tasman Sea, 9km