Wanaka Community Board chairman Lyal Cocks highlighted the proposal during his monthly report to the board last week, noting it would be a highly visible event for spectators and was expected to attract more competitors to town during the Challenge Wanaka season.
It would be organised by Evenz and come under the same umbrella and consents procedure as the Challenge Wanaka long- distance triathlon.
Meanwhile, Wanaka rookie professional Ironman athlete Merryn Greenwood is preparing to compete in the Quelle Challenge Roth, in Germany, on July 13.
The town's multisport and triathlon community raised $3000 for her bid at an informal get-together on Saturday.
The race has attracted 2800 individuals and 515 teams from 50 countries and the women's race in Roth has one of the strongest Ironman fields put together this year.
It includes defending champion Yvonne van Vlerken, of the Netherlands, German star Nina Eggert, Challenge Wanaka 2007 champion Belinda Granger, of Australia, and rising New Zealand star Gina Ferguson, of Christchurch (Challenge Wanaka 2008 champion).
Australian athlete and world Ironman champion Chris McCormack will defend his Roth title for the fourth time in a field that also includes top Danish triathlete Torbjorn Sindballe and Challenge Wanaka champions Luke Dragstra, of Canada (2007), and Marc Pschebizin, of Germany (2008), as well as Keiran Doe, of New Zealand.
The global race organisation behind Challenge Wanaka and Quelle Challenge Roth has announced it is expanding into Spain next year.
TeamChallenge director Felix Walchshofer said in a media release yesterday a half-ironman and full ironman distance race would be held in the Costa del Maresme region in 2009 on May 10 and October 4, respectively.
