2 minute read
Warm Up
by TQ.kiwi
A quick spin around the swim, bike, run world
STREAM DREAM
Can’t be there to see Hayden Wilde at World Cup New Plymouth? Triathlonlive.tv has your back with live streams of both men’s and women’s races on March 26. Before then, catch Wilde, Kyle Smith & Ainsley Thorpe at WTCS in Abu Dhabi on March 3. Triathlonlive.tv
Poddie Pleasure
After a seven-year, marathon-infused break from the blue carpet, Rio 2016 Olympic champion Gwen Jorgensen is making her comeback to tri. In Taupo and New Plymouth no less! Get up to speed with episode #70 of the World Triathlon Podcast at Spotify, Apple and Google
Standard Bearers
A fourth WTCS title and a record smashing Kona masterclass earned Dame Flora Duffy and Gustav Iden the inaugural ‘best athlete’ Global Triathlon Awards. Well deserved and 2023 fuel for Hayden Wilde, a worthy finalist after his Super League success and WTCS 3rd.
HOLLYWOOD BABY!
Para triathlon debuted at the Rio 2016 Paralympics and will offer more medal events than ever at next year’s Paris Paralympic Games. Even better news is tri is one of 22 para sports locked in for Los Angeles 2028 after an International Paralympic Committee review. Choice.
SPEEDY RECOVERY
Garth Barfoot, 86 years young, ticked off the 21km Mount run in a smart 3:47:59 to leave everyone at the Mount Festival of Multisport in awe once more. Tri NZ’s Patron broke a hip not long after but is already back up timing his crutch assisted walks. What. An. Inspiration.
Gumboot Goodness
Cyclone Gabrielle has delayed the Due Drop Challenge, raising funds for child mental health via Mike King’s Gumboot Friday charity, till April. Support Rick Wells, Ian Jones, Richie Barnett and co. on their epic tri from Cape Reinga to Wgtn here: Due Drop Challenge Givealittle.
10
Tauranga Half victories for Cameron Brown.
2023 champ Braden
Currie is now just six shy of the Mount King.
GO FIGURE Triathlon in numbers
$15 Million
The 2022 elite triathlon prize trough, according to Triathlete.com. Long distance events contributed $12m.
1
Super League champ and WTCS No.3 Hayden Wilde enjoyed a $235k bounty to top the men’s short course ranking.
$480k
Kristian Blummenfelt took the greatest share, with PTO standout Ashleigh Gentle next best with $351k.
8:50:13
Dan Plews winning 2022 IMNZ time, achieved after 8 weeks training. Plews coaches World IM champ Chelsea Sodaro.
Wānaka pain gains
The rise and rise of Kiwi middistance specialist Jack Moody continued apace at Challenge Wānaka on Feb. 18 when the Auckland 29-year-old added the “world’s most picturesque half” title to his triathlon palmarès. Moody overcame a bike crash to fittingly make his race-winning break, on foot, near the summit of the ‘Bike Glendhu’ mountain bike park, drawing on all his reserves to overtake Mike Phillips and win going away in 3:58:01. It might have been a picture postcard day but Moody had little time to take in the views, either down across Glendhu Bay and out over Lake Wānaka or up to Treble Cone Skifield in its splendid summer hue. “That’s the hardest run I’ve ever done,” Moody said of the 21.1km half marathon that came with quite the kick, two circuits of the MTB circuit for a combined 580m of elevation gain/pain. If that hasn’t put you off, the date for Integrity Homes Challenge Wānaka 2024 has been set for Feb. 17 next year. You can enter here: challenge-wanaka.com
Sean Beale/seanbeale.com
