Autumn 102 & 51
Autumn 102 &51
Autumn 102- take it for a test, 11 did and had a blast!
11 crashtest dummies arrive at the Kerr Bay start-line of Autumn 102 keen to have a crack at what will become an icon event within the Tasman/Marlborough area and we may even let outsiders in.
As they looked down the lake the steam was rising fromthe lake, which was easy as there was a frost on the ground and the lake temerture was 12 dergrees!
The answer was what most were hoping for (other than the heaverly hairy men), No swim, lets do Autumn 100 – the long Duathlon.
We all decided to do the wait. That was once we completed each stage we would re-group then all start he next stage together.
Once the first run had been completed, we started the bike, but as we head down the Wairau Valley toward Blenheim the thrill of riding over 50kph was ended as when we turned to head back to St Arnaud into the southerly that has been lashing Nelson all day. The only releif from the head wind was on the granny gear climb up the Rainboow Hill to Tophouse before the Wasp stinging descent (for one) into St Arnaud. The second lap was much the same with the wind increasing. Once we had re-grouped we completed the run again and retired to the local cafe to discuss the day and reflect on a good day out. You can check out all the photos on www.3rd-eye.co.nz
The test drive format will be as follows – You can either race or wait – you decide.
Race – you do the race non stop as in the normal race format, or Wait race with a group during all 3 stages.
You will need to bring with you the following and have this gear set up at the back of your car, there will be no transition area, but all vehicles will be parked together. You must have warm clothing for the bike, leggings, jacket, full gloves etc.. I would suggest wearing a camelback withyour drink in it and carry your food with you as on the full bike course you will not be riding past you cars. On the run you should carry a drink in a bottle bag or camelback, but you will run pass your cars as you start the second lap so you can swap bottles. Kayakers, please make sure you have warm clothing with you to wear and swimmers a neoprene cap and a swim cap is compulsory.
The course
The swim will be around 3 buoys situated in Kerr Bay, this may be 4 x 500m or 2 x 1km.
The kayak will be around the lake edge to a situated buoy and return or to Whisky Falls Jetty and return.
The bike, you will leave Kerr Bay, turn left and head to the Ice skating rink, turn right at the cone on the side of the road the head towards Blenheim until you pass over the 3rd one-way bridge and again turn right at the cone on the side of the road. You the head back to the ice rink cone and repeat the lap if you are doing the full course. if you are only doing the half race then when you ride back into St Arnaud you will turn left and head back to Kerr Bay and you cars.
The run will start from your cars and you will climb out of Kerr Bay, turn left at DOC then take the first right up Ward street, follow the track to the road and turn right then left onto the Moraine walk around Black Hill to the Buller river and then along Robbert road to the Brunner Peninsula track with takes you back to Kerr Bay. Those doing the long will repeat the run.
So for those who are keen, you can meet me at 7.30am at Kerr Bay and we will start at 8.00am
The Event….when it finally happens and it will happen will go like this……
Will find out who is the best overall racer, is the swimmer quicker that the kayaker or will it be the other way round?
So for what could be a first in New Zealand Triathlon & Multisport circles that a kayaker will race against a swimmer to win the overall Autumn 102 titles.
The day of reckoning or showdown of sorts. The start will be staggered to allow the kayakers to finish the kayak as the swimmers finish their 2km swim making it a race for the finish line and overall champion.
The Autumn 102 Trophies win will go to the first male & female competitor across the finish- line
Autumn 102 is a long distance triathlon & multisport race based from St Arnaud at the Nelson Lakes.
Autumn 51 is the ½ course alternative.
Competitors will either Swim or Kayak before road cycling and running on the planned course.
The course options are as follows,
Swim – Autumn 102 S2-B84-R16 or Autumn 51 S1–B42–R8
Kayak – Autumn 112 K12–B84-R16 or Autumn 68 K12–B48–R8
Duathlon – Autumn 100 R8–B84–R8 or Autumn 58 R8–B42–R8
Autumn 102 & 51 is design to allow competitors to step up from the shorter distance events to try a long distance alternative.
For those who swim, the summer has been spent honing your skills for either Ironman, Challenge Wanaka, Lake Wanaka Half, National Tri Champs either in Sprint and Olympic distances and the local Sprint Triathlon series.
Those who kayak, then your summer could have been about doing the Coast to Coast or the Goldrush.
However many would have watch all of the main events and thought, what do I need to do to complete and full or half Ironman or the Coast to Coast? Could this be something I could train for during the winter..?
Then Autumn 102 & 51 is your next step towards your next finish-line
The courses
The Swim
The swim will be held in Kerr Bay between the Western Jetty and the Eastern Shoreline. This will be a 2km swim
2 laps – 2km swim for the long course and 1 lap – 1km swim for the ½ course.
The swim will start and finish beside the western jetty. They will swim around 3 buoys in a clockwise direction. When swimmers leave the water they will run up the beach and along the grass to the transition area.
The Kayak
The kayak will start and finish also beside the western jetty and will head to the Bullerriver mouth via West Bay jetty before returning. Kayakers will follow the shoreline and will stay between the shoreline and the situated buoys. They will turn clockwise around the buoy at the BullerRiver mouth.
This will be a single lap of approximately 10km.
When kayakers have finish the kayak they will carry there kayaks onto the grass area before running along the grass to the transition area.
The Transition area
This will be where the same area that the Nelson Triathlon & Multisport Club uses for there January Triathlon.
The area will be taped off and designed for a simple flow to occur. The transition will include a aid station and a finish line.
The Bike
The road bike course will have an Opus and TDC Traffic Management Plan in place.
There will be no drafting on the bike course. The drafting distance is 7 metres: this is the distance between the white centre lines on the road. The will be draft busters on the course. Drafting is cheating.
The competitors will cycle out of Kerr Bay to the highway. From the Give way sign they will turn left and follow State Highway 63 towards Murchison for 2km. Here competitors will turnround and then follow State Highway 63 towards Blenheim. This will take all competitors pass the Tophouse turn off to Nelson and down the Rainbow Hill. At 23km they will turn around and head back to St Arnaud. When they enter St Arnaud those doing Autumn 51 will turn left where they came out of Kerr Bay and head back into the transition area. Those doing Autumn 102 will repeat the lap again before returning to the transition area.
2 laps – 84km ride for the long course and 1 lap – 42km ride for the ½ course.
There will be 1 aid stations on the ride. This will be at the cycle course turnaround at 23km.
The Run
The 8km run will start and finish at the Kerr Bay Transition area. Competitors will follow the road out of Kerr Bay and turn left once they reach DOC, then right and up Ward Street to follow the walking track around Black Hill and onto the moraine track behind the West Bay camping ground to the Buller River. Once at the Buller River they will then turn left and once on Robert Road they will also turn left and run back to the West Bay jetty to follow the Brunner Peninsula track back to the Kerr Bay Transition area.
When you complete your final lap you will run up the finishes shoot, those doing 2 laps will run through transition and continue on their last lap.
2 laps – 16km run for the long course and 1 lap – 8km run for the ½ course.
There will be 2 aid stations on the run. There will be one the Kerr Bay transition and the other at West Bay Jetty.
Alternatives
With St Arnaud being in an Alpine environment the weather could have a factor in how the event happens. Local knowledge and advice will be considered when confirming the race course on the day.
Competitors must come prepared for a race in an Alpine environment and have the required race clothing for a cold day.
There will be a Duathlon option on offer, Run/Bike/Run, so if the water temperature or the wind and swell on the lake is deemed unsafe then the Swim and Kayak will be called off then the Duathlon option will apply to all.
The Duathlon option’s will be D100 – Run 8km, Bike 84km, Run 8km or D58 – Run 8km, Bike 42km, Run 8km.
Should the weather or any unforseen conditions see or cause the race to be cancelled there will no refunds given.
Adventure Nelson Refund Policy
A 70% refund will be given to those withdrawing before the 1st April 2010 or there entry fee can be credited to another Adventure Nelson event. After this date no refunds or event transfers will be given.
Safety
Swim / Kayak- On the water there will be support boats and kayakers.
Bike - on the road there will be manned road crossings and turnarounds with Radio communication with the race headquarters. There will be a tail end vehicle on the road. All competitors will enter knowing that they must obey the rules of the road. There is NO drafting allowed during the cycle stage.
Run – Tail-end runner will follow the last runner on there second lap. The West Bay Aid Station will be in Radio contact with the race headquarters.
Competitor counts- All competitors will be checked in and out of transition and at the aid stations during the bike & run. There bodies will be numbered and they will have helmet stickers on the front of there helmets along with race numbers that must be visible during the Cycle and Run stages.
There will be an Ambulance based at the Race Headquarters and will go from there to assist at any incident that could occur.