Entries for next year's Motatapu mountain bike event have been closed off in record time.
Race director Gemma Boyle said 2000 riders from across New Zealand and overseas had signed up to compete in the 47km high country race on March 8, forcing organisers to close the field two weeks earlier than previously.
The Motatapu would be celebrating its 10th anniversary next year and Ms Boyle said it was ''fantastic'' to see how popular the event had become.
The mountain bike race begins at Glendhu Bay on the shores of Lake Wanaka and traverses countryside through the Motatapu, Soho and Glencoe Stations to finish in Arrowtown.
It follows a route used by early Maori for hunting and gathering.
''People love entering the ... mountain bike race because it gives them the opportunity to bike through a truly stunning part of New Zealand that's not usually accessible,'' she said.
''The 47km-long ride is an achievable goal. With the right training anyone can take this event on.
''There's also a great sense of camaraderie amongst the competitors and volunteers on race day that creates a really special atmosphere.''
Event organisers placed a cap of 2000 on the race to maintain the experience for competitors. There would be a waiting list for those who had missed out, Ms Boyle said.
Meanwhile, entries for other events at the Queenstown Trails Trust-owned Motatapu event are filling up fast. Entries for the Off-Road Marathon, the 15km Miners Trail, triathlon and 49km Team Adventure Run were still being accepted and would close on February 12.
