The Challenge long-distance triathlon brand this week announced the Australian "home of triathlon" had joined its growing stable of international sports events, with the inaugural Challenge Cairns Great Barrier Reef event to be held on June 5 next year.
Challenge Wanaka race director Victoria Murray-Orr is enthusiastic about the race and hopes it will help raise the profile of Challenge Wanaka in a key Australian market and encourage even more Australian athletes to compete here in years to come.
"Now we have another Challenge race on this side of the world, it will further strengthen the opportunities for Challenge both at a local and international level.
"Because of the high profile Cairns will have in Australia, it will build on the brand awareness Challenge Wanaka has already created, generating increased Australian visitor numbers to Wanaka," Mrs Murray-Orr said in an email from Noosa yesterday.
She is promoting Challenge Wanaka this week at the Noosa Triathlon, which attracts 12,000 participants.
A Challenge triathlon comprises a 3.8km swim, 180km road bike section and a 42.2km run.
The Challenge brand was launched in the German city of Roth in 2001, after the organisers parted ways with the Ironman brand. Challenge Wanaka was the second race to join the Challenge "family" in 2007 and there are now 10 Challenge events based in Germany, New Zealand, Spain, Denmark, Austria, the United Kingdom and Australia.
Challenge Wanaka has grown quickly since it was launched four years ago and this year attracted 1015 athletes, 600 volunteers and 6000 spectators.
About 250 of the athletes were from overseas.
