Competitors will complete a gruelling multisport course beginning at the Remarkables Ski Area and ending at the Coronet Peak base building, on August 6.
Normally held in July, the change in timing this year was due to the later New Zealand school holiday period, race director Geoff Hunt said.
"We don't expect the change from the traditional July date to have any impact.
"There is a lot of interest already building out there among both returning and first time athletes.
"There are a number of school teams competing, which is good to see as we are keen to foster the younger multisporters who are the future of the sport."
This year the Remarkables Ski Area team, headed by assistant manager Ed Bezett, has challenged all the ski areas in the region to compete with them in the race.
"We have been competing for several years and last year had an inter-mountain challenge with Coronet Peak and Mt Hutt, but this year we have thrown it out to all the other fields to enter and provide a bit of friendly rivalry," Mr Bezett said.
To reinforce the challenge, a prize will be included this year for the fastest skifield team and the fastest individual skifield employee.
Other challenges were made by local businesses, including the construction industry, which "should make the results interesting", Mr Hunt said.
Competition was expected to be tough in the 44km race, which begins with a 2km ski or snowboard at the Remarkables on the Homeward Bound run, finishing at the skifield access road.
From there, a 17km mountain bike ride down the skifield access road finishes at Frankton Beach and will be followed by a 7km paddle to Queenstown Bay.
After that, a 9km run to the foot of Coronet Peak will lead to the final leg, a 9km cycle straight up the Coronet access road, to finish at the base building.
Last year's event was won by Queenstown's Fergburger team and the open men's race was a "cliffhanger", with Adam Milne, of Christchurch, beating Gavin Mason, of Wanaka. The women's open was won by first-time entrant Simone Maier, of Wanaka.
Competition was open to men and women competing in open and veteran individual classes.
The teams section included male, female, mixed, business house, veteran or school.
