Chris Forne’s Yealands Family Wines team will join 300 competitors at the starting line in Queenstown Bay at 7am today.
The teams of four must stay within 100m of each other as they kayak, mountain bike, trek, raft and climb over 410km of wilderness.
It will be the shortest race in the event’s six-year history — 100km shorter than last year’s edition in the Tasman district — but the fastest teams are unlikely to finish until Tuesday night, at the earliest.
Forne told the Otago Daily Times the course had plenty of hills but less bush than he had anticipated.
That could put more emphasis on speed, "but it’s still a long race and you have to manage yourself".
None of the teams would know exactly what they were in for until they were out on the course.
"I think we’re pretty versatile, so I’m not too concerned about anything in particular."
Forne has an unbeaten record in Godzone, and is a member of the Seagate team that has won the past three adventure race world championships.
He will tackle Godzone with Wanaka’s Simone Maier, Picton’s Dan Moore and Nelson’s Dan Busch. The two Dans return from last year’s victorious team.
"We’re just going out there to enjoy it, rather than be too stressed.
"Obviously we’re aiming to win, but definitely the key requirement is to have fun."
