Wanaka retailers yesterday responded to critics of the Triathlon New Zealand Contact Cup Series race course by saying a town closure for one night was something to be embraced.
The Challenge Wanaka Triathlon Festival organisers this year were criticised by a group of retailers in Wanaka's central business district because the course required some streets to be closed or partially closed so cyclists could ride through Dunmore and Helwick Sts.
The criterion-style course around Pembroke Park has since been amended and will take cyclists further up Mt Aspiring Rd before a turn around back to town and around the park.
Public submissions close on Friday and the new course will be discussed at the Wanaka Community Board meeting next month.
The short-course Contact Cup series has featured some of New Zealand's professional triathletes.
It is run on the Friday night before the long-distance Challenge Wanaka race.
None of the businesses which initially opposed the course was at Challenge Wanaka's public annual meeting yesterday.
Wanaka retailer Ross McRobie, who owns event sponsor United Travel and is the chairman of Lake Wanaka Tourism, said, "I think it is appalling we have to bend over backwards for these two retailers or if there are more of them, then there's three ...
It is one of those things that a town should be able to put up with for one night."
Mr McRobie agreed with real estate agent Mary-Louise Roulston's interjection that the town should "embrace it", not "put up with it".
Racers Edge retailer and event sponsor Lucy Fullerton said she would be "mortified" if lots of customers were in her bike shop during the racing and she would be telling them to "get out" and watch it.
The festival was not just about one race.
It was about four or five days of races, bringing people to town for a significant period.
Event director Victoria Murray-Orr said her goal was to work with retailers to help them get more leverage from the festival.
Triathletes seemed to be reasonably well-heeled and brought supporters with them. Opportunities existed, such as offering specials to athletes and their followers, she said.
