Kayaking, mountain biking and skiing (or snowboarding) are among the disciplines that make up the Peak to Peak event.

Some of New Zealand's highest profile multisport athletes will converge on Queenstown next month for the 17th annual North Face Peak to Peak, taking competitors from high on the Remarkables ski area to the finish line at Coronet Peak.

The event incorporates skiing or snowboarding, mountain biking, kayaking, running and cycling over the 44km course.

Race director Geoff Hunt said numbers for the prestigious race were increasing all the time and while elite athletes like Mark Williams, Dougal Allan, and Gavin Mason continued to create record-breaking times, the Peak to Peak was achievable for all levels of competitors.

"For people who like to do multisport events or want to start out, the Peak to Peak offers a great opportunity either to race as an individual or in a team.

"While the top of the field battles it out for individual honours, it is the teams event which always creates the most interest and camaraderie."

The race begins with a 2km ski or snowboard on the Remarkables down to the access road and is followed by a 17km mountain bike down the gruelling high-altitude road to the shores of Lake Wakatipu at Frankton.

A 7km paddle on the lake is completed in Queenstown Bay, where the changeover is made for a 9km run from Queenstown through Arthurs Point to the Coronet Alpine Hotel near the Coronet Peak turnoff.

The last stage - which is always hotly contested - is a 9km cycle up the challenging ski area road to the base building and the finish line.

Race categories included male, female, veteran and junior individuals.

The teams sections included open, female, mixed, business, school and veteran.

"Every year there is growing interest in the Peak to Peak," Mr Hunt said.

"We are seeing more women and more teams taking part, in particular, and there is always a huge buzz around the event.

"There is something about standing at the top of the Remarkables and looking across to Coronet Peak at the finish line, and knowing that is the goal to achieve.

"People who complete the race for the first time find it hard to express just how satisfying that achievement is."

The 2010 event is scheduled for July 24.