SBS ITU TRIATHLON WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS 2003

Queenstown, New Zealand

 

QUEENSTOWN SECURES AQUATHLON WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS

Queenstown will host the Aquathlon (swim-bike) World Championships as part of the buildup to the SBS Triathlon World Championships. The Aquathlon will be held on Tuesday 2 December in central Queenstown and the Triathlon World Championships on 6-7 December.

The proposed course for the Aquathlon includes the swim in Lake Wakatipu and multi-lap run along the waterfront.

Event Director, Arthur Klap, said that Triathlon New Zealand was keen to base the championships on the waterfront so that it was easy for the public to watch.

The cooler waters in Lake Wakatipu will necessitate the use of for the event which has become a popular part of the world championship activities.

Triathlon New Zealand gained a dispensation from the usual swim-run-swim format used for the world championships because of the difficulty for competitors to change into wetsuits for a second time. As a result, the technical committee of the International Triathlon Union has approved a swim-run format for Queenstown. The competitors will now swim 1000m followed by a 5km run.

Klap said that the aquathlon is fast and entertaining for spectators and competitors because of the short distances involved.

"Interestingly, in recent years the Aquathlon has been a very good form guide for the Triathlon World Championships later in the week." Klap said.

"In Canada in 2001, American Siri Lindley won both Aquathlon and Triathlon World titles."

Christchurch’s Kris Gemmell will defend the men’s championship that he won in Cancun, Mexico. He went on to place ninth in the ITU Triathlon World Championships later the same week.

For further information contact: Arthur Klap 04 386 4992 or 025 477 844