The Southern Lakes Multisport Club's inaugural Cromwell 24 Hour Adventure Race has attracted at least 60 entrants, who will race in teams of four on a secret course to be revealed on Friday night.
Club secretary Bill Godsall said yesterday he was pleased with entries, after recent concerns the sport's popularity was on the wane as athletes turned to long-distance triathlon and other single-stage events.
The last southern 24-hour race was held in Glenorchy in 2008 by Southern Traverse.
Adventure racing has always been a minority sport in New Zealand but has produced international champions who compete on overseas circuits.
"I am [pleased with entries]. Absolutely. I think [the club race] will grow in numbers. It is really good. A real cross section of people have entered, from a school team to some guys who used to race way back, and some newbies. It's tapping into all sectors we want to tap into.
"I think multisport is in good heart. It is here to stay. Strategies are being put in place and we are hoping in the future the sport will grow again," Godsall said.
Godsall said multisport was quite different from other endurance sports and athletes had to acquire a range of additional skills such as navigation and rope skills.
One big problem for athletes had been finding support crews, so the club had decided to alleviate that pressure by having one central transition hub to which athletes return after each stage, Mr Godsall said.
Among the teams to race on Saturday will be a women's team from the Auckland club Macpac Girls On Top, which boasts some of New Zealand's top female long-distance racers, Debbie Chambers, Zoe Albon, Anne Lowerson and Erin Roberts.
They will be racing the novice Team Outside Sports from Wanaka, comprising Jo Williams (36), Floortje Draisma (33), Ailsa Rollinson (25) and Simone Maier (30).
While there are not enough women-only teams to form a category and win prizes (three teams are needed), the Wanaka quartet said they were looking forward to their first experience of team racing, with the rules stating they must remain within 100m of each other at all times.
"I am doing it for the challenge. I like the activity change. I like to have fun with the girls and work together on this big mission," Draisma said.
To have two full women's teams in an adventure race field was a rare thing, Williams said.
Rules require each team of four to have at least one female but because there were fewer female racers, men found it hard to "get the girl".
Some women also liked to race in mixed teams for the performance challenge, she said.
The stages include mountain-biking, kayaking, abseiling and a walk/run.
