Trans Taupo News
Trans Taupo Media 5
16 March 2010
From Nick Reader
'Olympic Athlete lines up the Trans Taupo'
The challenge for anyone trying to win the Trans Taupo paddling race across Lake Taupo this Saturday just got quite a bit harder. Mike Walker, one of NZ’s best all round kayakers, has made the decision to take on the prestigious open water event.
Walker is probably best known for his performance at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing where he finished 5th in the K-2 1000m event partnered with Steven Fergusson.
But there is a lot more to Walker than just being an incredible flat water paddler. Walker grew up on Waiheke Island and was paddling from the age of 4. White Water slalom kayaking was the original attraction and Walker’s formative years (1992-1999) were spent representing NZ in Slalom Kayaking.
The focus changed from white water to flat water in 2004. This focus soon paid off with the 5th placing at Beijing in 2008.
Open Water events like the Trans Taupo could be classed as flat water kayaking on a calm day or almost a cross between white water kayaking and surfing on a windy day with swell, but rough conditions won’t be a problem to Walker.
Walker says about the Trans Taupo “Surf ski racing has always been great fun, something that comes naturally to me after growing up on the ocean. I am not sure what conditions we will have this Saturday on Lake Taupo, but I am sure it will be fun and challenging”.
Currently based in Mount Maunganui, Walker’s next focus is the 2012 London Olympics competing in the flat water events. After that he hopes to take on more international Open water Ski races including the most well known open water event called ‘Molokai’, a 32 mile race in the Hawaii Islands.
A win for Walker is by no means a sure thing. 2 times defending Trans Taupo champion Simon Mclaren will be doing all he can to make sure he keeps his grip on the title to make it 3 wins in a row.
At this point there are 85 entrants ready to line up at Tokaanu this Saturday in a huge variety of craft. There are Surf skis, Ocean Rowers, Sea Kayaks (including a triple sea kayak) and 4 Waka ama Canoes.
At 8:00am sharp Mount Tauhara will be sited, paddles will be firmly gripped and 44km later the challenge will be accomplished.
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Trans Taupo News #3
8 March 2010
'McLaren back to defend title'
Reigning champion Ski paddler Simon McLaren is back for the 3rd year to defend his Trans Taupo title. In just 2 weeks McLaren will line up amongst 100 other paddlers ready to take on the 44km lake crossing on March 20.
On recent form 49 year old Mclaren should still be the man to beat. In the Mount Pacific Downwind event run in Tauranga Feb 20, McLaren placed second just over half a minute behind the winner Olympian Kayaker Mike Walker. Walker has not entered the Trans Taupo, but one of Mclaren's main rivals Tim Grammar has.
Grammar has been a very close 2nd to McLaren in the 2008 and 2009 Trans Taupo events and was 3rd in the recent Mt Pacific Downwind. It might be time for Grammer to take the #1 spot?
One interesting feature of this race is that the course is changed depending upon the weather. The goal is to produce a tail wind for the competitors as a headwind would be very difficult to paddle into. With a Southerly wind being the most common wind in Taupo, the most likely start line is Tokaanu at the southern end of the lake with a finish at the Taupo yacht club.
One stand out female entry is from Jill Westenra who is a multi time Speights Coast to Coast winner in the early part of the last decade. Jill has entered the double sea kayak mixed division and will be very tough to beat.
In fact by far the majority of entries so far are from sea kayaks, with surf skis the next most popular craft. However there has also been 3-4 Waka ama 6 person teams threatening to enter including a local team from the Taupo nui a tia College in Taupo. So we look forward to some big canoes joining the action.
The eligible craft are surf skis, sea kayaks, ocean rowers and waka ama. These craft can all handle rough water well. The craft and paddlers need to be capable of the swells, chop and wind that can turn Lake Taupo from a mill pond to conditions that resemble the open sea with swells of up to one metre.
Interest has been high in the new 6km fun race from Wharewaka Point to the Taupo yacht club. This new addition to the event is all about giving novice paddlers an achievable distance to take on and still be part of the Trans Taupo. Entry is on the day and free to encourage Taupo locals to get out on the lake before summer disappears.
This is the last week for entries at the normal price before late entry fees are applied.
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By Nick Reader Nick "at" epicevents.co.nz 021 983766
Trans Taupo news 2
24 February 2010
'Entries open now'
Just over 3 weeks to go until the 3rd annual Trans Taupo race takes place on lake Taupo. Entries are now open on line - See www.epicevents.co.nz/page/52-Trans-Taupo
I’ve been spending a lot of time kayaking on Lake Taupo with a mate on his Waka ama single. We are up to 2 hour paddles now and have to say just how warm the water is and how great it is to be out on the great Lake.
As new owners of the Trans Taupo event, we want to keep all the good stuff that Neil Gellatly (event founder) created, plus add some more good event elements.
We have reduced the fees for 3-6 man craft. We really want to see more Waka ama boats involved, especially the big 6 person boats. If we get at least three 6 person Waka, we will make an annual trophy for teams to compete for.
We also want to make sure the event has options to suit all levels of paddling experience. The full course is 44km and is a true challenge for even the strongest paddlers. But there are shorter options available for people who want to cross the lake, but do not want to do the full 44km.
Teams relay. For 2010, there are 2 legs to the relay (not 4 as there have been in the past). Leg one is 25km and leg 2 is 19km. Any craft can take part in the relay, be they a surf ski, double sea kayak or large Waka.
5km fun race. We also want to see more kids involved so we have created a 5km race from Wharewaka Point to the finish line at the Yacht club. The target of this smaller race are kids and novice paddlers. The accepted craft are sit-on-top plastic boats, the kind of kayaks that occupy NZ lakes, coastline and rivers throughout summer. Entry for the 5km race is free thanks to our sponsor Mighty River Power and there are spot prizes up for grabs. This race is all about taking part.
Most of the sponsors from 2009 are back on board which means fantastic spot prizes will be awarded at the event prizegiving.
So take the time now to check out the event on the new event website, put your entry in then crank up your training!
For more info, please see www.epicevents.co.nz
Trans Taupo News 1
3rd February 2010
'Trans Taupo has new local owners'
The country’s biggest open water paddle race – the ‘ Trans Taupo’, taking place 20 March on Lake Taupo now has new local owners. Excited Taupo resident Nick Reader from Epic Events Ltd take ownership of on February 1st, seven weeks out from the third annual running of the race.
The iconic water sports event across Australasia’s largest fresh water lake was created by Neil Gellatly from Dare2sweat Events Ltd in 2008 and has attracted top quality fields of kayakers and rowers. Categories include Surf Skis, Sea Kayaks, Waka Ama and Ocean Rowers. Competitors race the length of the lake with the wind at their backs, so the start line is either Turangi or Taupo with the decision made on the morning of the event.
Keen to get stuck in Nick Reader said… I am really excited to have taken over the reins of the Trans Taupo. When I first heard of the event, I thought ‘damn, why didn’t I think of that race’. I have spent 12 years living in Taupo and think the lake is perfectly set up for a paddling/rowing race. The Great Lake is a fantastic pool of water with amazing scenery all around. Taupo is the event capital of NZ and is a great event host for this and the multitude of other events on the calendar.
Neil Gellatly has created an exciting and challenging event and I want to build upon his good work. Neil has a focus on safety and looking after the competitors and those 2 elements will remain the focus. My vision is to build the event up to 200 competitors crossing the lake within 2 years. I believe there is the potential to add a wider variety of craft.
My Company Epic Events organizes a diverse range of events including off road Motorcycle races, Mountain bike races, a Half Marathon run/walk and now a Kayak, all within 20 minutes of Taupo. The Trans Taupo adds great variety to our event collection.
My personal paddling experience is more limited. I have done a few races including the Motu Challenge (kayak leg) and the Montys Revenge race in Whakatane. I regularly paddle leg 4 of the Trans Taupo (Wharewaka to the Yacht Club). However I need to do quite a bit more training to take on the whole lake which I intend to do before the Trans Taupo event.
Trans Taupo creator and former owner/ event organiser Neil Gellatly from Dare2sweat Events Ltd is directing his energies to his new young family; promising career opportunities that are evolving; and the establishment of a radical new event – the “Mount Pacific Downwind”.
Speaking candidly about the sale of the Trans Taupo, Gellatly believes the event is in very good hands… “Nick is passionate about water sports and loves the epic nature of the event. He has expressed great vision and drive to expand the event in years to come. The event has enormous potential and it will be a delight to watch it grow in stature under his guidance”.
Highly respected for putting on a quality event, Gellatly will not be far from the action when the Trans Taupo comes around. Recognizing his expertise, Reader has appointed Gellatly as Race Director and Timekeeper in 2010 to ensure a smooth running event in 2010. Thereafter Gellatly hopes to eventually get to be a regular competitor in the event he first established… “I’ve found challenge and fun in my new sport of Surf Ski paddling and am keen to be able to compete in one of the few big tailwind events there are in this country for paddlers”.
Given the nations love for water sports and the rise in participation in paddling in the last few years, Reader expects Gellatly will have plenty of boats of all types surrounding him on the Lake in future years.