Riders in the 15th annual Westpac Chopper Bike Ride, raising money for Queenstown’s Lakes District Air Rescue Trust, are gearing up for next Friday’s 235km slog from Queenstown to Invercargill.
Co-organiser Phil Taylor, Westpac NZ’s lower South Island consumer banking regional manager, is the only person to have taken part in every edition, while broadcaster Paddy Gower’s back for a third year.
First-timers in this year’s event, which will take 12 hours, include downhill mountain bike champ Brook Macdonald and track and field Olympian Sarah Cowley-Ross.
This year, the 100-odd riders are aiming to raise $150,000 for LDART, which flew almost 2300 missions last year — to donate, visit ‘Chopper Bike Ride 2026’ on Givealittle.
As of Tuesday afternoon, $53,445 had been raised.
