The annual adventure race, based in Wanaka this year, got under way at 8am on Saturday when 52 teams crossed the start line at Fantail Falls beside the Haast Pass Highway.
The course - which remained secret until the final few hours before the event - began with a 22km mountaineering section in the northwest section of Mt Aspiring National Park, followed by a 22km kayak paddle on the Makarora River.
On Saturday night, the front running teams climbed 2400m and covered 56km while passing the Albert Burn saddle in the western arm of the national park before moving down into the Matukituki Valley.
During yesterday's 41km kayaking and coasteering section on the fast flowing Matukituki River, Seagate, led by Nathan Fa'avae, pushed its lead time ahead only to slow down on the coasteering section with a slight leg injury.
''It was a bit of a shock to see them move so slowly after their storming start in the race ... but from what we can gather, Chris Forne had a fall on the Albert Burn trek overnight and so he's hobbling slightly,'' race director Warren Bates said yesterday.
Making quick times on the canoe and in second place, New Zealand team Swordfox started the coasteering section in West Wanaka just 40 minutes behind Seagate.
''Swordfox are having an excellent race and have the bit between their teeth to try and take this year's race.
''They have placed in the top 10 in the last two events and are looking strong at this stage for a podium finish,'' Mr Bates said.
In third place was world No 1 team Vidaraid, of Brazil and Spain, which completed the river section 40 minutes after Swordfox. Last night, the teams were biking 137km over the Criffel Range to Lake Wakatipu, before kayaking to Kingston.
The first teams to cross the finish line at Lake Wanaka's waterfront are expected to take three to four days, while the middle and rear teams have until Saturday to complete the course.
Blenheim team Absolute Wilderness pulled out yesterday after a team member developed a knee problem.
