The fast, the keen, the exhausted and the smelly have arrived
or are due to arrive in Queenstown this week after completing
one of the world's most scenic yet challenging races.
Danger and adventure are two of Nathan Fa'avae's favourite
things, but the captain of Team Seagate is not too fussed
over one of Queenstown's most popular adventure tourism
activities.
Despite eight injured competitors and a disrupted start,
organisers say the ninth annual Motatapu endurance race on
Saturday near Wanaka, has been one of the best.
Celebrated as the southern hemisphere's biking mecca,
Queenstown will host its third Bike Festival from next week
and organisers have promised events for the family, the
extremist and the casual bike rider.
As endurance athletes were arriving at the finish line of
five separate Motatapu events on Saturday afternoon, athletes
of one other adventure race set out for five days in
challenging terrain.
The director of the Civil Aviation Authority says the finding
a pilot flew carelessly out of Queenstown is a ''powerful
reminder'' to those in the industry.
