Multisport: Simson to go in new direction

Jess Simson.
Jess Simson.
Defending Coast to Coast champion Jess Simson has announced her retirement.

Simson, who has been a fulltime multisport professional for the past three years, and has amassed eight records across a range of disciplines, announced her decision to retire earlier this week, wanting to put a priority on her health.

The 31-year-old has won the past two Coast to Coast events but will not be lining up again as her life takes a new direction.

After taking a well-earned rest, her career plans involve teaching Yin Yoga.

She will remain active - potentially competing in The Pioneer seven-day mountain bike race with Queenstown cross-country mountain biker Kate Fluker at the end of next month.

She and husband Hazen intend to move to Canmore in Canada in February.

She said winning the one-day, Coast to Coast for the first time in 2014 rates as one of her absolute career highlights.

''To me that was when I learned that you really can do anything you put your mind to,'' Simson said.

She also loved racing as part of Team NZ Adventure throughout China, in particular winning the Wulong Mountain Quest in 2014 with Wanaka-based team-mates Dougal Allan and Braden Currie.

''I really did come into this sport guns blazing and of little race experience and training. I climbed the ranks quickly but only because I had people around me encouraging me to do so and sharing their knowledge with me so I could learn from their experiences and fast track this otherwise lengthy process.''

She described racing and training fulltime as a massive commitment that can be very exhausting mentally, physically and emotionally.

''It gives you the opportunity to be out of your comfort zone on a regular basis and it is in this place that I believe you can learn a lot about yourself, both in your body and mind.''

Simson is looking forward to getting out and about in the Wanaka area without the restrictions of a daily, discipline-specific training regime and the recovery periods it entails.

 


Career Victories

2015

Alberta Canada XterraRundles Revenge 50km mountain bike, 25km run (Canada)

Magnetic Island Adventurethon (Australia)

Pro-female Motatapu Xterra (Wanaka)

Coast to Coast Longest Day

2014

Clutha Classic 56km kayak race (Wanaka)

Kananaskis three-day mountain run (Canada)

Coast to Coast Longest Day

2013

Coast to Coast Two-Day individual (Record-breaking time)

Crazyman multisport race (Wellington)

Big Day at the Office multisport race (Methven) 


 

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