At a pre-race press conference this week, some of the likely contenders in the event from Australia and New Zealand good-naturedly baited each other.
"We thrashed them [Australia] in the rugby so we'll thrash them in the Challenge Wanaka ... that's what's going to go down," New Zealander Bryan Rhodes (38), of Rangiora, joked.
"Aussies versus Kiwis," one of the top female contenders, Christie Sym (36), of Australia, agreed.
Sym, third in last year's Challenge Wanaka, had been plagued by illness for years and had surgery to remove her gall bladder eight weeks ago.
"It might seem like a bit of a setback but it's actually a step forward. I might not be as fit as I used to be but I'm healthy and that's a big thing," she said.
Three-time Challenge Wanaka champion Gina Crawford (31) was also feeling at the top of her game, despite giving birth to her first child six months ago.
After a year off competition during her pregnancy in 2011, Crawford is hoping for a fourth Challenge Wanaka title and to beat the course record which she holds, but hometown hero and 2011 second-placed woman Simone Maier (28) will be hot on her heels, with local knowledge on her side.
"I definitely think you have an advantage from being a local racing here, knowing the course, knowing what's around the corner, knowing the weather conditions," Maier said.
"And I think it also helps me having the local support. It really drives me and keeps me going."
Other women to watch are Nicole Ward and Jodi Scott, of Australia, and New Zealanders Candice Hammond and Tamsyn Hayes.
Men's defending champion Jamie Whyte (30), of Auckland, was a surprise winner of the 2011 Challenge Wanaka - only his second professional appearance at the 226km distance - and hopes to repeat the feat today.
"Things have been going great. I've targeted this race as the big race for the summer. I'm peaking for this and training's been spot on," Whyte said.
Multiple ironman champion Courtney Ogden (39), of Australia, who finished second last January, hoped for calmer conditions than in the 2011 race, when a gale knocked cyclists from their bikes.
"Because of the wind, it was probably the hardest race I've ever done, actually."
Also in the running is Kieran Doe, of Auckland, who became a first-time father earlier this week. He hopes to cap an exciting week in style, by gaining a podium spot, despite a tough lead-up to the race after being hit by a car during a training ride several weeks ago.
"Most of the hard work had been done by the time it happened and I've recovered well. Nothing's changed, I'll be there on the start line and there to win," Doe said.
Doe won the Rotorua Half Ironman last month and previous results also include victory at the Calgary 70.3, the Asia long distance championships and Ironman Canada.
Petr Vabrousek, of the Czech Republic, Jimmy Johnsen, of Denmark, Marc Pschebizin, of Germany, Aaron Farlow, of Australia, and Keegan Williams, of New Zealand, are other top-ranked pro athletes competing today.
The Metservice predicts high cloud, northwesterlies and a chance of late rain for Challenge Wanaka, which will be held alongside the Lake Wanaka Half triathlon event. A maximum temperature of 23degC is forecast.
Challenge Wanaka
At a glance
• Total athletes: 1234
• Individual Challenge athletes: 237
• Challenge teams: 41
• Individual Lake Wanaka Half athletes: 418
• Lake Wanaka Half teams: 152
• Countries represented: 26
• Youngest competitor: Kenzie Findlay (13), of Wanaka, swimming in the Lake Wanaka Half teams event
• Oldest individual competitor: 75-year-old Garth Barfoot, of Auckland
• Challenge Wanaka distances: swim 3.8km, bike 180km, run 42.2km, total 226km
• Lake Wanaka Half distances: swim 1.9km, bike 90km, run 42.4km, total 113km
• Fastest men's time: Richard Ussher (NZL), 8hr 34min 41sec, 2010
• Fastest women's time: Gina Crawford (NZL), 9hr 28min 27sec, 2009
Tips for spectators
ROAD CLOSURES
• All day: Ardmore St from Lakeside Road to Macdougall St, Dungarvon St from Brownston St to Ardmore St.
• 6.45am-noon: Mt Aspiring Road from Meadowstone Drive. Access permitted to residents and tourism operators only. There will be no access to the national park for casual traffic during this time. All tourism activities operating from Hospital Flat and the national park will have access as usual.
DELAYS:
• Luggate Red Bridge between 9am and 1pm.
PARKING:
• Lakefront car parks will be closed until 3am tomorrow. The log cabin car park will remain open throughout but with both the exit and entry through the exit on the corner of Lakeside Rd. Alternative car parking is provided at the Wanaka Show Grounds.
