‘Podium in Paradise’

It’s long been trumpeted as the most picturesque half in the world and Challenge Wānaka now has Sebastian Kienle’s weighty seal of approval to add to the mystique.

“It’s difficult not to speak in superlatives but I think it is the most beautiful race I have ever done in my whole career,” the 2014 Ironman world champion told TQ after finishing third behind Aucklander Jack Moody and Ironman New Zealand-bound Cantabrian Mike Phillips.

“Obviously I’ve watched YouTube videos and the weather here is probably not always that nice, maybe it was a little bit of a present for me, I don’t know. But it’s just everything. It’s the community, it’s the kids event which is absolutely cool, 1000 kids racing on Friday…I mean Challenge Family here is not just a label. It ticks all the boxes man.”

The 38-year-old German wasn’t at 100 percent for the opening race of his year-long, global retirement tour but the picture postcard views at Glendhu, which his team captured in a breathtaking race recap video, took away the pain.

“Under normal circumstances, I would be pissed like hell not to win this beautiful race. But with coming in here being a little bit sick and struggling a little bit with the jet lag, I’ll take the podium. To be honest, two days ago I wasn’t 100 percent sure it would be a good idea to even be on the start line so the podium feels pretty good…it‘s the first podium since South Africa 2020 so quite some time ago, so I’m very happy.”

With one final year to tick off of his remaining bucket list races, Kienle was never going to sign out with a series of stock-standard races. But even he agrees he’s taking his year-long ‘Discountinued’ circumnavigation from the sublime in Wānaka and Taupō for Ironman NZ on March 4 to the ridiculous at Norway’s notorious Zalaris Norseman Xtreme Triathlon.

The 3.8km swim, 180km cycle, 42km run test in August is considered the toughest tri on the planet, finishing with a 1600m climb up a beast they call Zombie Hill.

“Many sports have a mecca. Alpine skiing has Kitzbühel, and tennis has Wimbledon. For extreme triathlon, Zalaris Norseman is the mecca. I have to say that it was no easy decision, I definitely am a little scared of the race, I think even the best athletes in the world look at this and say, ‘this is a little crazy’,” Kienle said.

Before the crazy, there is Taupō to tick off his must-race list, a rematch with Phillips and a resumption of friendly hostilities with defending IMNZ champion Braden Currie.

“I wasn’t looking forward to it three days ago but I think I’m on the right track now,” Kienle said in Wānaka.