Major multisport names such as Braden Currie, Dougal Allan, Marcel Hagener, Simone Maier, Courtney Atkinson and Elina Ussher will be racing alongside other star power in Richie and Gemma McCaw, Bondi Rescue lifeguard Andrew Reid, and Rio Olympic sailing silver medallists Molly Meech and Alex Maloney.
The gruelling two-day race includes 71km of mountain biking, 39km of running, 40km of kayaking, and a 60m abseil. Each day finishes on the Wanaka lakefront.
Former Coast to Coast champion Jess Simson believed the race was one of a kind.
"If there is any multisport race to do in the world right now, Red Bull Defiance is it."
The course was designed by Currie to test athletes both mentally and physically, across a variety of disciplines.
He believed the conditions could have a part to play and have some effect on competitors, especially the overseas athletes.
"In New Zealand, you never know what’s going to happen and being too cold out on the course is common for doing these races. When you go up to altitude, you tend to underestimate what you’ll need."
Day one of the race will start today with a 43km bike at Minaret Station, followed by an 11km run up Rocky Mountain and 60m abseil, before finishing with a 20km kayak from the West Wanaka bridge, out of the mouth of the Matukituki River and across Lake Wanaka to the lakefront.
Tomorrow will begin with a 20km kayak down the Clutha River, before a quick claybird shoot leads athletes into a 28km bike over the Pisa Range into the Cardrona Valley. Finally, teams will run up the Skyline track, over the summits of both Mt Alpha and Roys Peak, before descending to finish on the Wanaka lakefront.
The weather is expected to be fine and hot, with temperatures expected to be around 30degC on both days.Former All Black skipper McCaw will be taking part in the race for the first time, partnering up with world adventure racing champion Bob McLachlan. The two had spent much of the week on the Hawea River, working on their kayaking skills before today’s race. McCaw has been motivated to earn bragging rights over his wife Gemma, who is racing with Bondi Rescue lifeguard Andrew Reid. McCaw and McLachlan are using the event as a warm-up for the 10-day GODZone Adventure race held in Fiordland in March. It will be the second time McCaw has raced in GODZone.
