A demonstration sport in the Winter Games, the TaxRefunds.co.nz Winter Triathlon consisted of 7km run followed by a 12km mountain bike ride and 10km cross country ski, all on hard packed snow.

For Kiwi fans, the race was a highlight of the Winter Games and provided some of New Zealand’s best chances to win medals - it didn’t disappoint.

And the winner is
Anglem crossed the finish line a convincing 1km ahead of the second place getter Ben Koons from Wanaka and Andrew Pohl from Dunedin in third.

In the women’s race first-time racer Laetitia Roux a member of the French national ski mountaineering team decided to rent some gear and give it a go. She took first place and is now considering entering the World Winter Triathlon Championships. Andrea Fancy from Wellington came second and Christchurch’s Yvonne Pfluger was in third.
It was the country’s top cross country skiers who took the top places in near perfect conditions at Snow Farm.

Anglem is a cross country-skiiing specialist and he has the 2010 Winter Olympics in his sights.
“I had a great time out there today. It’s a fantastic course and an all round perfect day for it. It’s a such a fun event. But it is heavily tipped in skiers’ favour,” he says.

Summer vs winter
Sponsor of the event and TaxRefunds.co.nz director, Geoff Matthews says Winter Triathlon was potentially New Zealand’s best hope for medals in future Olympic Games.

“Mountain biking and running are already popular sports here and cross country skiing can be mastered in a weekend. We have the perfect terrain and we already produce many world-class multisport athletes,” he says.

In the winter version of triathlon, cross-country skiing is substituted for swimming and many Northern Hemisphere multisport athletes use the sport to train in the long winters. It provides a high-intensity training regime, while improving balance and endurance in high altitudes.

A former international Winter Triathlon competitor, Matthews says the diversity of the training means it is less gym orientated, allowing for more outdoor training.
 

For many this is ideal as they’re not restricted to the gym, and they can make the most of their surroundings. For many multisporters, adventure racers and skiers, Winter Triathlon has provided a platform for a host of talents that have never before been combined on the snow,” he says.

He says the general consensus is that skiers have the upper hand on the triathletes as cross country skiing is a more technical sport.

Triathlon New Zealand CEO Dave Beeche was at Snow Farm to watch the winter verison of his sport for the first time and was impressed by what he saw.

“I think this is a great sport. It really does look tough. Not often do you see top competitors like these, cramping up and there was more than one out there looking for attention. If we can get sufficient interest in the sport then I think it can go places,” he says.

Beech says the summer triathletes who competed in TaxRefunds.co.nz Winter Triathlon held their own.

“All you need is enough of a lead, in the bike and run then you are in with a chance. But the fact that cross country skiing is the most technical of all three, gives the skiers an edge up on the competition,” Beeche says.

It’s all here
Matthews says New Zealand athletes have the surroundings and training facilities needed to create a successul winter triathlete.

He says alpine facilities such as Snow Farm and a strong base of homegrown talent means Winter Triathlon is progressing every year in terms of popularity and its professionalism.

“Snow Farm is recognised as one of the best cross country skifields in the world, and many national teams travel thousands of miles just to use the facilities,” Matthews says.

Winter Traithlon athletes such as Nat Anglem, who first picked up cross country skiing in 2005, train at Snowfarm regularly.

He says there are few facilities around that will benefit an athlete the way that some long hard miles at altitude does. For many combining the endurance of cross country skiing with other disciplines is an attractive choice.

Looking ahead
Dave Beeche believes that given enough support, Winter Triathlon could be the next big thing.
“ITU are trying to create a pathway for the sport to succeed and if we can get sufficient interest in the sport then I think it can go places.

“The key to this sport is a pinnacle event, we need something that will capture the imagination of a wide spectrum fans. We are hope Winter Triathlon’s status as a demonstartion sport in the next Winter Olympics will be the solution,” Mr Beeche says.
 

The first Winter Triathlons in New Zealand was in 2006. Since then support and interest in the sport has grown immensely.

Matthews says the beauty of the sport is the pool of talent that New Zealand already has in reserve.

“New Zealanders have been the frontrunners of World Cup and Olympic summer triathlons since the 1980s and the winter version provides great off-season training for athletes. Mountain biking and running are already popular sports here and cross-country skiing can be mastered in a weekend. We have the perfect terrain and we already produce many world-class multisport athletes,” he says.

Getting technical
Matthews says while running and mountain biking are popular sports with Kiwis, attempting them on snow requires different techniques.

“Running requires a higher turnover with a mid foot to forefoot strike, because those who over stride dig into the snow too much and many competitors felt it on the day.
“Mountain biking also requires more balance than normal as over-steering causes you to lose balance”.

He says the general technique is to keep to a certain course once set and reduce the air in the bike tyres for better traction.

Cross country skiing is the only natural sport on the snow and there are two techniques, either classic or skating.

Matthews says skating is around three times faster than classic or traditional.
“Cross country skiiers really suit Winter Triathlon and last year Canada’s Olympic cross country ski representative, Robin Mckeevey came second. It shows that traversing sports don’t have to hold you back”.

The field at the TaxRefunds.co.nz Winter Triathlon included many cross country skiers. Laetitia Roux of France who won the women’s race, is a member of the French National Ski Mountaineering Team and has won numerous alpine races, however, none as impromptu as the Winter Triathon.

She entered the race late, and with a borrowed bike and rented skis, she led the field from the start. Having never biked or run on snow before she created an ever increasing gap on the first lap of the run and advanced this with each lap of the course, for a convincing win.

Following the race she told reporters, “I was very surprised with my win, this gives me great motivation to compete in more winter triathlon races. I may even look at the World Champs, now that I have qualified,” she says.
 

Image: Gavin Mason or Wanaka on the mountain bike section by Andy Peskett www.andypeskett.com