Organisers of Snow Farm's annual Merino Muster cross-country ski event have laid down a challenge to Wanaka's many multisport and endurance athletes to change their running shoes for skis this winter.
Last year the Merino Muster race entered the Worldloppet Ski Federation circuit of international ski marathons and there were more overseas athletes on the start line than New Zealanders.
In response, Wanaka multisport guru Keith Murray joined forces with race organisers and Snow Farm management to try to increase the number of local competitors by issuing a ''Wanaka Winter Challenge'' to Mr Murray's fellow multisporters and endurance athletes, about 10 of whom are already on board.
Merino Muster chairman John Burridge said the challenge, on August 15, aimed to encourage those athletes to add a ski marathon to their list of achievements.
''They are a sector that we have failed to connect with in the past ... Their issue will be technique rather than fitness, but they will be surprised by the workout and what they will take back to their usual sports.''
Snow Farm general manager Andy Pohl, who also heads the ski school, is back from competing at the world cross-country skiing championships and has designed a preparatory training programme to make it easy for other athletes to try the sport and then compete in the Merino Muster.
His instructors include an ex-member of the Swedish national biathlon team.
Mr Murray, who uses cross-country skiing as winter cross training for his multisport ambitions, said he considered the sport an ideal break from normal training regimes.
It exercised almost every part of the body without stress, in inspiring scenery, with lightweight and easy-to-master equipment, he said.
