The Peak to Peak was born and it is now New Zealand’s longest-running winter multisport event, marking its 25th anniversary today.
When it comes to the race itself, the only change in the past quarter of a century is moving the final transition from the former Arthurs Point Hotel to the Swiss Belresort, near the Coronet Peak access road.
The rest of the 44km event, which begins with a 2km ski or snowboard down the Remarkables Homeward Bound run, followed by a 17km downhill mountain bike, a 7km kayak from Frankton Beach to Queenstown Bay, a 9km run from Queenstown to Arthurs Point and a 9km uphill bike to the finish line at Coronet Peak, remains unchanged.
"The concept was to link the brand new Remarkables skifield to the winter festival, because it felt lonely out there all by itself ... there weren’t that many people going there, to the festival, to Coronet Peak," Hunt said.
"So, the idea is exactly the same."
One thing that had changed, however, was the red tape Hunt needed to get through to hold the event in today’s climate.
While initially the traffic management plan comprised "a few road cones" and an A-Frame board which said "Beware: Race Happening", Hunt now needs resource consent, full traffic management plans and health and safety systems.
The background work was "way more expensive and extensive" than it used to be. Additional requirements, such as Portaloos as well as public toilets, also add expenses.
"You deal with it," Hunt said.
"I’d hate to think if someone wanted to start one tomorrow — that would be quite hard to start from scratch."
At least 300 people will participate today, including seasoned multisporters with proven track records in the event and those who have never done anything like it before.
Hunt said the event’s popularity was partly because there was little else like it during the winter months, and partly because it was fun and achievable.
Many of those who had entered in the earlier years had returned and completed the event with their children.
For some, the Peak to Peak was the event that got them hooked on multisport.
That included Guy Carter who Hunt said entered as a bet while he was at university in Dunedin.
"He came up here and did it and just about threw up the whole way — he hated it.
"Now he rides the Tour of Southland ... he’s done the Coast to Coast and all sorts of things."
As for today’s race, Hunt has his eyes on last year’s winner and runner-up, Hamish Fleming and Eryn Cutler, both of Queenstown, to lead the field, while the women’s race is anyone’s as none of the previous winners has registered.
