The new five-stage multisport race, to be held at Glendhu Bay on December 4 is called .3, but the reason for its name is being kept secret for a while yet.
Organiser Danielle Nicholson confirmed the changes were initially triggered by technical issues relating to the Department of Conservation concession for commercial uses of Treble Cone skifield.
By the time confirmation was received that the M2M could proceed for the next two years, the plans for .3 had been put in place, Mrs Nicholson said.
The new race concept and how the race name relates would be revealed "soon".
"It ended up working out really well. We think this may just make the event more popular with people further afield," she said.
The M2M started at Treble Cone and finished at the Snow Park, with a string of transitions and spectators following the field from the Matukituki Valley to Cardrona.
In the .3, all transitions will come and go from a single point at Glendhu Bay.
"It will make it easier for athletes to get crew, and hopefully also maybe quite a few people come out and have a family day out there," she said.
The .3 race will include an optional swim stage.
University of Otago mathematicians have been asked to derive a formula to help set the distance of a swim leg course so it is comparable to the kayak option, ensuring fairness.
When the .3 race details are released in about two weeks, information will be emailed to all former M2M competitors.
