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Braden Currie to race at the inaugural Breca Wanaka swimrun

By Braden Currie

Red Bull athlete Braden Currie will contest the inaugural Breca Wanaka swimrun, pitting himself against technical trails and deep glacial waters, to stake his claim as an intrepid pioneer of the New Zealand swimrun scene.
 
Joining Currie will be teams of two competing in the Saturday 25th March 2017 event in New Zealand's first swimrun race around the dramatic shores of Lake Wanaka. Set in the heart of the Southern Lakes district, against the awesome backdrop of the Mount Aspiring National Park, this race is not for the faint-hearted.
 
Currie has the credentials to succeed over the challenging course, courtesy of his varied and successful race career, which has seen him win the Coast to Coast three times; finish runner-up in the World XTERRA Championships and claim numerous wins and podiums in both on and off-road triathlons. Earlier this month he won the IRONMAN 70.3 Taupo. It is no surprise then that this dexterous Wanaka athlete has decided to enter this Breca event in his hometown.  


“After my first taste of swimrun race in 2014 in Stockholm, Sweden, I’ve been waiting for the opportunity to compete in one of these races again. I'm excited by the chance to race this style of event in my own backyard,” Currie says.
 
He and his team mate - whose name will be released in February - will be racing over the epic, Breca Wanaka swimrun course, which involves a total length of 50km. Running makes up 42km and they will swim a total of 8km, with 16 transitions between the two disciplines. The race starts at the Outlet track and finishes at the Edgewater resort.
 

Entrants can also opt for the Wanaka Sprint course, which has a total length of 17km, with the run component 13km, swim 4km and 10 transitions in between.
 
Breca Swimrun founder Ben de Rivaz says: “Wanaka is the natural place for us to launch swimrun in New Zealand. It has everything we look for in a Breca course - it’s an extraordinary landscape, with beautiful swimming and outstanding trails. I couldn’t think of a better place to become the home of New Zealand swimrun.”
 
As the pioneer edition, entries are limited next year and there will be a reduced price of NZ$220 per person for the full course and NZ$150 per person for the sprint.
 
Visit the website www.brecaswimrun.com to enter. The course is available online and click here for the route card.
 
The organisers may be required to amend the courses and any changes will be sent to the athletes and explained during the race safety briefing.
 
You can also find important information on the website, including tips on how to fuel and hydrate your body in this unique race concept where entrants are in and out of the water.
 
There is also an informative article on whether to use swim-assisting paddles on your hands in the water.