The Race
Race Options
The Coast to Coast has become almost
a
rite of passage for multisport athletes from around the world with over 20,000
people having completed the event in the 39 years to date.
Held every February, the race starts on the West Coast, at Kumara Beach and traverses the width of the South Island, crossing the main divide and finishing on the East Coast with the finish at the Pier on New Brighton Beach in Christchurch.
The race is one of the world's longest running multi-sports events and is older even than the Hawaiian Ironman. From similar roots, Robin Judkins founded the event in 1983 when just 25 hardy souls took on the 243km challenge over two days.
Over the years that grew to a peak of close to 1000 competitors and the event has grown with different sections to suit all those from the professional athletes to the weekend warriors.
The One Day race was introduced in 1989 and has the title of the World Multisport Championship with the top athletes covering the entire course in close to 11 hours. The other end of the field sees some competitors in the Two Day race taking closer to 24 hours.
Competitors leave on foot from the black sands and lush windswept landscapes on the West Coast, running 2.2km inland to their waiting bikes. They then follow the Taramakau River to the foothills of the Southern Alps where they switch their bikes for runners and the first true test of the course.
The 30.5km run is mainly off trail with the rocky riverbed often the only direct line up the valley. Competitors encounter multiple river crossings with frigid crystal clear water and an elevation gain of nearly 800m on their way to Goat Pass and the start of the descent.
With the very fastest athletes taking nearly 3 hours the run is as much a test of co-ordination and strength as it is outright speed.
A short 15km ride follows before the second jewel in the course. The mighty Waimakariri River. 70kms of braids and a stunning gorge, the river section is for many both the highlight and the crux of the race. The water flows swiftly in places and mixes long calm sections with rapids up to grade 2 in size.
It takes competitors from the heart of the Southern Alps out on to the Canterbury Plains where just one final 70km ride stands between competitors and the finish on the East Coast at the New Brighton Pier amongst a vibrant beachside festival.
While the One Day athletes complete the distance in a day, the majority of competitors take two days to cover the same course, with an overnight camp at the end of the Mountain run stage.
| Event Category | Early Bird | Standard Tier 1 | Standard Tier 2 | Late |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| First 250 entries (all events) or until 30 June 2019, whichever occurs first. | Until 31 Oct 2019. All prices are in $NZD and include GST. 2% surcharge applies to all credit card payments. | 1 Nov 2019 - 10 Jan 2020. All prices are in $NZD and include GST. 2% surcharge applies to all credit card payments. | From 10 Jan 2020. All prices are in $NZD and include GST. 2% surcharge applies to all credit card payments. | |
| One Day Individual | $ 935 | $ 995 | $ 1,095 | $ 1,245 |
The One Day race is the World Multisport Championship event and is also referred to as the "Longest Day".
There are Age Group and Elite categories for the One Day event. If you want to be eligible for the prize money you MUST enter the Elite category.
The minimum age for One Day competitors is 18 years of age at 8th February 2020.
The One Day race is only open to individuals and as the name suggests sees competitors complete the full 243km course in one day.
There are relatively tight cut-offs and it is recommended competitors tackle the two day event prior to the one day event unless they have considerable endurance racing experience.
| Event Category | Early Bird | Standard Tier 1 | Standard Tier 2 | Late |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| First 250 entries (all events) or until 30 June 2019, whichever occurs first. | Until 31 Oct 2019. All prices are in $NZD and include GST. 2% surcharge applies to all credit card payments. | 1 Nov 2019 - 10 Jan 2020. All prices are in $NZD and include GST. 2% surcharge applies to all credit card payments. | From 10 Jan 2020. All prices are in $NZD and include GST. 2% surcharge applies to all credit card payments. | |
| Two Day Individual | $ 935 | $ 995 | $ 1,095 | $ 1,245 |
| Two Day team (2 person relay) | $1,495 | $1,595 | $1,695 | $1,845 |
| Two Day team (3 person relay) | $1,695 | $1,795 | $1,895 | $2,145 |
The Two Day event covers the same course as the One Day event but starts a day earlier (Friday) and competitors camp overnight at Klondyke Corner, after the Mountain Run stage before tackling the river and final ride on the Saturday.
The Two Day event is open to individuals, relay teams and tandem teams and is the event most people undertake as their Coast to Coast experience.
The minimum age for Two Day individual competitors is 16 years of age, Two Day 2 Person team competitors is 15 years of age & Two Day 3 Person team competitors is 14 years of age at 7th February 2020.
There is an amazing atmosphere at the overnight camp and the Two Day event is suitable for anyone with a good level of fitness and an adventurous streak. See the Two Day handbooks
which are specific to each event for more details.
| Event Category | Early Bird | Standard Tier 1 | Standard Tier 2 | Late |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| First 250 entries (all events) or until 30 June 2019, whichever occurs first. | Until 31 Oct 2019. All prices are in $NZD and include GST. 2% surcharge applies to all credit card payments. | 1 Nov 2019 - 10 Jan 2020. All prices are in $NZD and include GST. 2% surcharge applies to all credit card payments. | From 10 Jan 2020. All prices are in $NZD and include GST. 2% surcharge applies to all credit card payments. | |
| Two Day - Tandem Team (2 person) | $2,150 | $2,300 | $2,350 | $2,550 |
The Two Day Tandem event is an event where teams of two complete the entire course over two days together. You must run and bike within 50m of each other at all times and teams paddle a supplied double kayak (Barracuda AR DUO) which is included in the entry fee. See the Two day Tandem handbook
for all the details.
A $150 damage deposit is required if organisers are supplying a kayak. Damage deposits, less any costs of repair, will be refunded within 10 days of the completion of the event. Refund will be processed back to the credit card used for payment, or to NZ based bank account which was used to make the payment.
If you have your own tandem kayak that you would like to use the entry fee will be at the early bird rate, please contact us. If you have a Barracuda AR Duo you will be in the competitive category, if you don't have a Barracuda AR Duo you will be in the recreational category.
The minimum age for Tandem competitors is 15 years of age at 7th February 2020.
| Event Category | Standard | Late |
|---|---|---|
| Until 10 Jan 2020 | From 10 Jan 2020 | |
| Mountain Run | $375 | $425 |
You can tackle just the famous Mountain run stage on the Friday when the two day competitors are on the Mountain stage of the course. There is transport available from the finish at Klondyke Corner to the start at Aickens in the morning (must be pre-booked) and all the details are available in the Mountain Run Handbook.
The minimum age for Mountain Run competitors is 14 years of age at 7th February 2020.
| Event Category | Standard |
|---|---|
| Until 10 Jan 2020 | |
| Two Day Individual | $595 |
| Two Day team (2 person) | $750 |
| Two Day team (3 person) | $750 |
| Two Day - Tandem Team (2 person) | $1,295 |
| Mountain Run | $195 |
The schools section is available to students still enrolled at High School on race day, and are between 14 and 18 years old (different age restrictions apply for each event). The Schools section is sanctioned by the NZSSSC and the official school section is the 3 person teams event.
The minimum age for Two Day Individual competitors is 16 years of age, Two Day 2 Person is 15 years of age, Two Day 3 Person & Mountain Run is 14 years of age at 7th February 2020.
There is a male, female and mixed category. One team member does the runs, one the bikes and the other the kayak section. There are discounts for all sections of the Coast to Coast for high school students. See the two day handbooks
for details on each event and what it entails.
| Event Category | Early Bird | Standard Tier 1 | Standard Tier 2 | Late |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| First 250 entries (all events) or until 30 June 2019, whichever occurs first. | Until 31 Oct 2019. All prices are in $NZD and include GST. 2% surcharge applies to all credit card payments. | 1 Nov 2019 - 10 Jan 2020. All prices are in $NZD and include GST. 2% surcharge applies to all credit card payments. | From 10 Jan 2020. All prices are in $NZD and include GST. 2% surcharge applies to all credit card payments. | |
| Two Day team (3 person) | $1,695 | $1,795 | $1,895 | $2,145 |
Have you ever wondered why the “team that sweats together also works best together”? Maybe it’s the shared experience of goal-setting? The time spent training together out of the office? The engagement of the entire team as participants, sponsors, supporters? The joint celebration of sweet success, or simply getting to the finish line?
The Corporate Challenge event is a three person team competing in the Two Day event. One person does the runs, one person completes the biking, and the other the kayak section.
At least two members of the team must be full time employees of the company and you can have one ring in.
The winning corporate team will be in line to win the coveted Corporate Team Challenge trophy that will look great at reception and of course bragging rights for twelve months!
