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Newsletter 1

100% PURE Racing is proud to present Chapter 7 of GODZone, hosted by stunning Te Anau, Fiordland National Park, located in south western New Zealand. This Newsletter, the first of three released in the build up to Chapter 7, is predominantly aimed at race competitors. However, for official volunteers, invited VIPs and accredited media there may be useful information you may appreciate. If you or your friends, family or supporters wish to keep up to date with developments then please remember to visit or like our Facebook page. If this Newsletter raises any questions or you are uncertain about any aspect of the event then please feel free to get in touch with us via the following options:

Competitor Enquiries	General Event Enquiries
Contact: Keren McSkimming Bennetts	Contact: Anna Bastin
Mobile: 029 269 5263 (international +64 29 269 5263)	Mobile: 027 441 8004 (international +64 27 441 8004)
Email: competitor@godzoneadventure.com	Email: info@godzoneadventure.com
Address: PO Box 1600, Queenstown, New Zealand, 9348	Address: PO Box 1600, Queenstown, New Zealand, 9348

Alternatively you can contact us on our Facebook page or by completing the form on the Contact Us page of this website. It is also worth checking our Frequently Asked Questions page to see if you can find your answer there.

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Welcome

First things first, thank you for supporting the event. It’s heartening to see so much interest in the sport that we love and the positive impact it is having on so many people – competitors, fans, volunteers and the local communities we pass through. It’s a great time to be involved in adventure racing in New Zealand. The sport continues to strengthen and it’s fantastic to see new events springing up all over the country, with many of them reporting ballooning numbers. We’re particularly excited about the developments that are occurring with the new Adventure 1 (or A1) NZ Series. This new series unifies 5 existing races in New Zealand and we hope to play a big part in helping to showcase those events to AR fans, new and old. It is our intention to put our technological skills to good work and provide Live Coverage/Tracking at each of these qualifying events which should help to encourage more people into this awesome sport. Many of you competing at GODZone are seasoned campaigners and will have your own reasons for taking part in A1 NZ. Perhaps you want to be crowed National Champions? Or, you may just want to get some quality racing and training in? Either way we highly recommend you supporting these 5 events. We also encourage you to promote these events to your peers, friends and adventure racing wannabes…it’s the best way we can future proof our sport and develop it for the 21st century.

The rosy picture painted above is reflected in the rude health of GODZone. We opened up entries on the 1st of July and by the close of the day we had 90 teams officially entered (our largest field ever) with teams asking to be let in. We made the decision to increase the field size to 100 on the basis of this demand and that also sold out very quickly.

100 teams is an astonishing number to bring to an expedition race. We are very grateful to all of you who have supported us on this amazing journey to this point. We hope we can continue to lead this incredible sport from the front and create the spark that captures the dreams and aspirations of new people looking for an Adventure Like No Other. We hope to build on that success with another scenic stunner in Queenstown and will be doing our best to capture all the action as the event unfolds.

A team list will be added to the website (and released to the media) when you wonderful team captains have prompted your team to populate a bit more information about yourselves using your unique log in (details on how to do this below). Remember, you can update your team information at any time by following the instructions below:

• Visit the Enter Now page
• Tick the ‘I have read the Important Information and Pre-Requisites on this page’ box
• Click the Login button
• Enter your email address and password (the one you used when you first registered)
• Click the Login button
• Use the <Team Info> section to update general information about your team (remember to press the Submit button – located at the bottom – before you close the page)
• Click on <Team Members Page> to update biographical information about your team of four (remember to press the Submit button – located at the bottom – before you close the page)
• The information collected here will be used to populate Live Coverage so it is in your interest to do it
• Teams have plenty of time to update their information and can make changes at any time. However, if you want to see a full team list and have your team showcased on social media then it would be great if you could input the information at your earliest convenience. We often receive requests from the media about teams from certain locations or those that have interesting dynamics. Unless we know who you are racing with, we can’t point the media to you. Help us to help you

Race Apparel

To ensure you get the correct sized race tops please update your Team Information (see above) where you can select your sizes. Deadline for correct sizing selection is Friday 7th October 2016.

We have made it clear over the past few Chapters that GODZone tries to do things a bit differently to other races. We really like technically challenging stages. We love to test your skills right across the board. We want every stage to feel different and to have a unique character. We like you to feel like you are being pushed out of your comfort zone and give you tough decisions to consider. Chapter 6 – given it’s proximity to extremely high mountains and a very dynamic environment – will definitely be an event to push the teams to the limits of their abilities. Do not underestimate the challenge ahead and get yourself well prepared – it’s going to be epic.

An important note: If you are going to do one bit of planning in the next couple of weeks then we would urge you to sort your accommodation out – see below. Queenstown is hugely popular with tourists and come race time, it will be very busy. We strongly recommend you get on with this part of your trip planning as soon as possible otherwise you may face the prospect of staying out of town which may not be terribly convenient.

Host Location & Venue

Chapter 6 of GODZone will be hosted within the Queenstown, Central Lakes District with pre and post event activities being focused in Queenstown. Internationally renowned, Queenstown is the Southern Hemisphere’s premier four season lake and alpine resort. Surrounded by majestic mountains and nestled on the shores of crystal clear Lake Wakatipu, Queenstown’s stunning scenery is challenging, yet inspiring, and offers unparalleled scope in terms of wilderness and the very best of what nature has to offer.

The area, also known as the Southern Lakes District, has a rich history of adventure racing having previously hosted Raid Gaulosies, Southern Traverse, Eco-Challenge and of course, Chapter 1 and 2 of GODZone. You can find out a lot more information about Queenstown by visiting www.queenstownnz.co.nz

Queenstown (Māori: Tāhuna) is a resort town in Otago in the south-west of New Zealand’s South Island. It is built around an inlet called Queenstown Bay on Lake Wakatipu, a long thin Z-shaped lake formed by glacial processes, and has spectacular views of nearby mountains such as The Remarkables, Cecil Peak, Walter Peak and just above the town; Ben Lomond and Queenstown Hill.

With five massive races now under our belts we felt it was time to showcase the place that has hosted more expedition races than any other – a venue considered the spiritual home of adventure racing. Chapter 6 will be based around one of of the most spectacular mountain locations in the World, one that is synonymous with adventure and excitement. Queenstown’s stunning scenery, huge range of activities and renowned warm welcome cement its reputation as New Zealand’s favourite visitor destination. Surrounded by majestic mountains and set on the shores of crystal clear Lake Wakatipu, the natural beauty and the unique energy of the region create the perfect backdrop for a visit full of adventure, exploration and adrenalin. A resort town, Queenstown boasts 220 adventure tourism activities – skiing and snowboarding, jet boating, whitewater rafting, bungy jumping, mountain biking, skateboarding, tramping, paragliding, sky diving and fly fishing are all popular – though we can’t promise you’ll do all of those at Chapter 6! Queenstown has hosted the biggest events in the history of the sport – attracted to the spectacularly varied and challenging environment that is on it’s doorstep. With national parks to explore, magnificent waterways to navigate, community love of adventure, and the fact that it is such a desirable place to visit, we think it’s going to be another incredible adventure for everyone involved.

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Climate

Queenstown, despite a relatively high altitude nestled among mountains and a southerly location, experiences an oceanic climate. Summer has long warm days with temperatures that can reach 35°C while winters are cold with temperatures often in single digits with frequent snowfall, although there is no permanent snow cover during the year. As with the rest of Central Otago, Queenstown lies within the rain shadow of the Southern Alps meaning that most precipitation falls to the west but cold ‘Southerlies’ are always a possibility.

The graph gives some indication of the variations in temperature you might experience. 35 degrees centigrade is possible but so is -5, or even lower in the high mountains. Teams must prepare for extremes of temperature and we would urge all internationals to respect the Sun’s burning power in New Zealand.

By far the largest number of ‘retirements’ in expedition races are heat, hydration and hypothermia related. Respect the weather at all times and plan for the effects of wind chill on high alpine summits and long exposed paddles. Those who experienced Chapter 1 & 4 will have some appreciation of how cold it can be in the mountains ‘down South’, even in summer. It is also worth remembering that a lot of the rivers and lakes are glacial fed which means they seldom get warm even by the end of summer. However, February and March are traditionally very settled month’s with low rainfall and warm, sunny days the norm.

In early March the teams will generally experience about 9 hours of what we’d call real darkness at night (civil twilight basis). That’s quite a long time and always adds to the challenges for the team navigators and tacticians. Ensure you have plenty of battery power to go the distance, particularly on your bikes (it’s not nice riding in the pitch black, especially given the technical riding that’s on offer around Queenstown), as there will not be any opportunity to charge batteries on the course.

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Registration & Race HQ

Registration, Briefing & Welcome

All registration, pre event administration, gear check, media interviews, official welcome and race briefings for both the GZ Pure and GZ Pursuit teams will take place in Central Queenstown on Friday 24th February (left hand map below). Be prepared for an early start on Friday (more information to follow in subsequent Newsletters).

Race HQ

Race HQ, the Event Hub and (our coolest ever) post race celebrations will be located at Sherwood Community Hotel (right hand map above), situated only a couple of minutes drive from central Queenstown and just 10 minutes from Queenstown Airport. Sherwood is also our preferred accommodation provider – see below. Teams will be able to pick up any hire or purchase items from Race HQ on the afternoon of Thursday 23rd February. Alternatively these will be available for pick up Race HQ after registration on Friday. More specific information about timing and schedules will be released in subsequent Newsletters.

Set on three acres of alpine hillside in Queenstown overlooking Lake Wakatipu and the Remarkables range, Sherwood offers a unique setting to unwind, and reconnect with self and nature. The recently renovated guest rooms traverse the humble luxury of a lakeside studio to the communal comfort of a queen-size bunkroom and cater for any independent traveller seeking atmosphere and authenticity. You’ll find the sheltered central garden perfect for spontaneous leisure, sun drenched breakfasts, late afternoon cocktails or a fireside sing-along – while the surrounding bike track, kitchen gardens, orchard and sunset tipi provide many a hidden spot for a picnic or snooze.

The culinary team specializes in fresh, seasonal, soul food harvested from their own kitchen gardens, orchards and surrounding farms – while the bar team curates an ever-changing selection of independent craft beers, fine natural wine, and rare spirits. Yoga, pilates and meditation instructor plus an Ayurvedic massage offering, along with an ever changing line up of live music, film, writers and artists in residence. Everything Sherwood does is about reflecting a sense of place, a connection to nature and a moment in time.

Gear Box Drop

All gear and bike boxes will be checked in and collected in Central Queenstown prior to the GZ Pure race start (GZ Pursuit teams will retain all equipment with their support crews and will not need to check in any gear or bike boxes) and will be returned to Race HQ for collection after you finish. More specific information about timing and schedules will be released in subsequent Newsletters.

Post-Race Celebrations

Further details will be released in Newsletter 2 regarding all post-race celebrations and formalities. These will will take place late afternoon of Saturday 4th March at Sherwood Community Hotel.

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Accommodation & Travel

Sherwood Community Hotel is our preferred accommodation provider for Chapter 6 of GODZone. It’s super convenient for the event, post race celebrations and it’s also just about the coolest venue in Queenstown. We love the Quad Double Bunk Rooms – almost built with adventure racing teams in mind (4 double bed bunks in one room)! We encourage teams to organise their accommodation for the event as soon as possible as it will be a very busy time of year. We can’t emphasise this fact enough, do not leave your accommodation plans till the last minute, Queenstown will be humming during the event period and places like Sherwood get booked very quickly. Get it sorted now!

The rates at Sherwood are already amazingly good but they have, in addition, generously set up an unique code “godzone” for you to use. The code will give -15% from full flexible rates when booking direct at Sherwood webpage sherwoodqueenstown.nz

If you want to redeem the discount code at Sherwood website then follow the instructions below:
> Book Now > Check Availability > Choose Room Type & push Book Flexible Rate (the rate stated here is full rate, discount will be applied on the next page). On Booking Details page under Payment section, please click on Redeem the Discount Code, add the code and the discount will be applied to the totals. Continue with entering your card details and proceed with the booking. If you have any issues or questions please contact reservations@sherwoodqueenstown.nz

If Sherwood fills up rapidly or if you want to look at alternatives, accommodation in Queenstown and within the Lakes District is available to suit every style and budget.

Queenstown offers up a vast range of accommodation options all within close driving distance from our official welcome venue and Race HQ. For further information please visit www.queenstownnz.co.nz. At this time we advise teams to book pre-race accommodation for the following nights as a basic minimum. This will allow you enough time to complete Registration, Gear Check, etc, before the event starts:

• GZ Pure and GZ Pursuit Teams – Thursday 23rd February and Friday 24th February

However, we do recommend that you arrive sooner so as to give yourself plenty of time to get organised, settle in and enjoy the spectacular scenery and world class activities and attractions on offer. It is up to teams to decide what nights they will need accommodation for once they have finished the event. We expect the leading team to take between 3 and 4 days to finish, though this could be impacted by conditions outside of our control such as weather.

There are a variety of ways to get to Queenstown via air, coach or self drive:

Driving

Driving to Queenstown by road is a wonderfully scenic option. Roads to Queenstown are well signposted easily guiding visitors from each of the surrounding South Island regions. Highways are fully sealed and well-maintained but some side-roads to activities & attractions may be loose gravel and require more time and care. On unsealed roads motorists should slow down and allow additional traveling time. Just remember to watch the road and keep left. All the major car rental and campervan companies are available at Queenstown and Christchurch airports. Many of these offer specials and discounts so keep an eye out for these.

Bus Services

Regular coach services travel to Queenstown from main centres.

• Inter City – daily coach services to Queenstown from Christchurch and Dunedin
• Newman’s Coachlines – daily services connect Queenstown from Christchurch and the West Coast

Flying

For many people the most convenient option will be to fly either domestically or internationally direct to Queenstown airport (not only is it the most convenient option, it’s also one of the most spectacular flights into an airport in the World). Queenstown Airport recently introduced night flights, which now provides more traveler flexibility and connectivity across airline networks. Alternatively, flying into Christchurch Airport is the next closest International Airport to Queenstown.

Queenstown Airport	Christchurch Airport
Drive time to host venue – 15 minutes	Drive time to host venue – 5hrs
Domestic flights by Air New Zealand and Jetstar NZ	Domestic flights by Air New Zealand and Jetstar NZ
International flights by Air New Zealand, Jetstar, Qantas and Virgin Australia	International flights by Air New Zealand, Air Asia X, Air Pacific, Emirates, Jetstar, Pacific Blue, Qantas and Singapore Airlines from Australia, Cook Islands, Fiji, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, and the UAE
Queenstown Airport flight information	Christchurch Airport flight information

For Queenstown Airport Rental Car and Shuttle Transfer options go to: www.queenstownairport.co.nz

Queenstown Airport Transfers

Given the close proximity of the airport to our host location, we are looking for expressions of interest for a Queenstown Airport scheduled transfer service to and from your accommodation. Given the large number of flight options at Queenstown Airport it is likely teams will arrive at varying times and will want to get settled in as soon as possible and may prefer to self-manage with such a short journey required.

If there is sufficient demand we will secure a chartered operator who will be able to facilitate these movements and remove that hassle of transporting all your race kit too. There are limited shuttle services in Queenstown that are capable of moving more than 1 large piece of luggage per person, let alone 4 bike and gear boxes. We anticipate that a one way transfer either way from the airport to your accommodation (either Queenstown or Frankton based) with all race kit would cost you approximately $100NZD per team ($25 p/person). Transfer days would be solely kept to either Tuesday 21st and/or Wednesday the 22nd of February. And a return transfer option to the airport on Sunday 5th of March.

If you are a team and would definitely want to make use of a dedicated transfer service, please let Keren know by the 7th October via email at competitor@godzoneadventure.com. Alternatively, you can find Keren’s contact details by clicking here.

We need know well in advance to secure the service. Please indicate your preferred transfer days and anticipated numbers required so we can determine viability of providing the service and lock in bookings as required. Keren will be in touch directly with all teams to confirm whether the service can be provided once we have collated all information.

Boxes & Bags

The section below relates to the GZ Pure teams only. GZ Pursuit teams will have the benefit of their dedicated support crew. GZ Pursuit support crews will be responsible for transporting all team race equipment (other than canoes and kayaks) between Transition Areas so it will not be necessary for GZ Pursuit teams to provide gear or bike boxes.

A small storage area is available at Race HQ that can be used for personal bags while you are out on the course (bags should be picked up reasonably promptly after you finish). It is essential that all items are well marked and we recommend that any items of significant value or personal worth are left at home. As with all items of your race equipment and surplus luggage, we do not provide insurance cover for items that go missing or that break so if you are in any doubt, do not bring the item or arrange suitable personal insurance.

Gear Boxes

One of the great aspects of the GZ Pure race is the self-supported nature of the event. You will need to meticulously plan all your equipment and sustenance then pack them into your gear boxes. Good planning and strategy is essential to make sure that all your mandatory equipment is in the right place at the right time otherwise you may not be able to continue on the course until a replacement is found. You will be presented with a Logistics Planner when you complete Registration and this will be used to aid you in your packing for the week ahead. More information about how the Logistics Planner can be used to plan your equipment movements will be provided in later Newsletters.

OK, the important bit. Your team is required to bring four (yes, 4) plastic boxes – the exact specifications are listed below. These trunks will be moved to various transitions throughout the course. You will need to pack your boxes prior to the event start and submit it to the logistics crew as per the detailed schedule released to you at Registration.

You must provide the exact type of trunk pictured which is available for purchase all over New Zealand, Australia and internationally. The trunk is 102 litres and is known as the “Stanley 102L Pack N Away” box and retails for approximately $60 NZD. You can locate the exact boxes by clicking here.

Organisers can obtain these on behalf of teams, if you choose, and have them waiting at Race HQ at a cost of $65 NZD per box payable in cash on pick up. You will need to confirm your order by the 1st December by updating your <Team Info> which can be done by using your team code (see above for how to access this information on the Enter Now page). These are the only acceptable gear boxes for the event. Please advise Keren if you have any difficulties in obtaining them.

Gear boxes must weigh no more than 25kg, be correctly marked up (details on how to do this will be released in later Newsletters) and the lid must be securely fastened with velcro straps or something similar on both handle ends of each box. Alternatively you can use a tie down that wraps around the whole box. Very full boxes have a tendency to pop open and these additional measures will help eliminate the chance of gear going missing (and also help relieve the considerable stress on our logistics team).

Bike Boxes

Each GZ Pure competitor must provide a bike box for storing their bike during GODZone. It is compulsory for all competitors to pack their bike away into their box in each transition area and remove it/assemble it when needed. Bike boxes must meet the following specifications:

• Be no larger than 30 x 80 x 140 cm (no exceptions so please don’t ask)
• Not weigh more than 25kg when delivered to logistics crews before the start
• Be plastic, corflute, or similar
• Be self-standing
• Be water-resistant
• Have a rectangular shape and be easily stackable
• Have handles or hand slots to enable easy lifting for logistics officials
• Have a secure locking mechanism so that the contents of the bike box do not spill out in transit (we highly recommend a couple of ties around the box to ensure it stays shut)

The following will NOT be accepted:

• Boxes that exceed the dimensions set out in the specifications (be warned, we will be tightening up checks of this as some teams – mentioning no names – have been rumbled by our logistics team for exploiting the clear parameters)
• Cardboard boxes or cardboard wrapped in celophane/tape
• Soft/fabric bike bags
• Metal or wooden bike boxes
• Boxes that cannot be stacked

Make sure you pack your bike boxes well. Although our logistics team will do their utmost to look after your equipment, no responsibility will be taken by the event organisers for any damage in transit or for any items that go missing. It is highly recommended that you take out suitable insurance if you are concerned about your equipment.

Water Bag

Last year saw a new logistics addition where the event organisers provided every GZ Pure team a 200 litre (approx) mesh bag in lieu of a 5th gear box requirement. This effectively added 2 gear boxes worth of storage capacity to each team for use on water sections and we will be looking to do the same again for Chapter 6 (on a loan basis only) with a new and improved version.

The ‘Water Bag’ will be used to store specified paddle gear; wetsuits, pfd’s, throwbags, spray jackets, etc. The Water Bags should not be used to transport or store your double bladed kayaking paddles (these should have their own dedicated bag or be tied together in a safe manner – see Mandatory Gear List for more information). The Water Bag will need to be returned to us upon completion of the race and will require a small refundable bond to be lodged at registration on collection. More details will be available in Newsletter 2. This gives all teams a considerable increase in their storage capacity for race equipment during GODZone. With this in mind, we ask you to reciprocate in kind and adhere to the box weight limits and bike box dimensions.

Important Note: Gear boxes, bike boxes and water bags will be subject to a weight check prior to hand over to logistics officials. Teams will be penalised for any that exceed the weight limits specified.

Support Crews

First things first. Being a support crew can be a lot of fun. The transition area (TA) antics during the Southern Traverse are perhaps as legendary as the race itself (say no more). However, it is also a lot of work and many support crews of old will tell you that they often got less sleep than the teams, found themselves driving all over the place, at all times of the day and night, desperately trying to navigate to a TA before the team arrived (hungry, thirsty, in need of clean clothes, serviced bike, etc). The following are a list of tips and hints that will give you an understanding of how the event will unfold for you as a support crew:

• You are permitted to help your team prepare their equipment and maps before the race starts
• Once the race has started, you are only permitted to ‘support’ (i.e., feed, water, provide shelter, give advice, etc) in a designated Transition Area (this will be strictly enforced)
• You are not permitted to ‘support’ GZ Pure teams in transition – tempting as it may be (they might look hungry, desperate and offer considerable bribes)
• You should plan your accommodation as per your team schedule which means you will need to be in or near Queenstown for the Thursday and Friday night, as a minimum, before the race starts
• Once the race has started (from somewhere unknown – we won’t tell you until the Friday) you will be on the move, stopping and sleeping in multiple locations, until your team finishes back in Queenstown
• You need to be autonomous. This means you need to be ready and able to camp or provide yourselves with shelter at all parts of the course. Most of the TA’s where you meet your team will have very little, if anything, in the way of facilities (other than toilets), so if you plan to cook hot food for your team, dry their clothes, clean their bike, think hard about how you will do that
• With this in mind, your chosen vehicle needs to be capable of transporting all your team and personal equipment between TA’s; including, bikes, camping equipment, supplies, food, water (though this may often be available at TA’s – detailed in Handbook at Registration), etc
• A 4×4 vehicle could be advantageous if the weather is unpleasant but we don’t see it as a necessity for Chapter 6
• Support crews are not obligated to stay in TA’s. For example, if your team is predicting that they will take 30hrs to complete a trek, you are welcome to go and find some luxurious accommodation elsewhere (remembering not to tell your team that’s what you are up to)
• We highly recommend that you come with a good smart phone that has ‘hotspot’ connectivity. Couple this with your PC/Mac/iPad and you will be able to get up to the minute information about your teams progress, in detailed scale, from our Live Coverage platform (where cell coverage exists – another reason to think carefully about dashing into a TA too fast)

That gives you a basic understanding of the support crew dynamic. In summary, once the race starts the support crew could be anywhere, driving all over the place, and will have to be able to set up camp in anticipation of their team arriving. They may have to collapse down that camp very fast to beat the team to the next TA – so you will need to be efficient sometimes – and also have someone in the vehicle who can read a map. Support crews and teams should think very carefully about what they bring too – more on that in later Newsletters.

Support Vehicles

A supported event requires careful planning so as to mitigate the impact it can have on any given TA. At this stage, we envisage that each GZ Pursuit team will be only be permitted to have one (1) dedicated official support vehicle, responsible for moving all that team’s equipment, including bikes, between TA’s and to be stationed at TA’s.

We are always very welcoming of families and friends supporting teams at various TA’s, throughout the week, but we are sometimes constrained by the amount of space available at a particular TA for parking and campsite set up. This may be dictated by a landowner or by the simple reality of available and appropriate space. We also want to preserve the unique wilderness experience that GODZone provides and do not want to gravitate to vast, open, or urban transition sites which lose the magical sense of being somewhere remote. With this in mind, we ask GZ Pursuit teams to adhere to the one vehicle policy and encourage all teams to communicate with Race HQ about the optimal ways to meet your team on route.

GZ Pursuit teams will receive a Support Crew Handbook at the same time as map handout. This will detail all TA information, timing and other relevant information (including driving instructions) required to keep your support crew on track to keep you fed, watered and organised.

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Final Thoughts

One thing’s for sure. We could not run GODZone without the kind and generous support of our volunteers. Likewise, it would impossible to conceive and construct an exciting course without the blessing of New Zealand’s landowners, who provide us with the permissions to cross and explore their land. If GODZone had to pay commercial rates for all these services there would be no event. Simple. The goodwill shown to GODZone is reflected across all areas of society and as beneficiaries of that, we are keen to reciprocate in kind. That is why we have been strong advocates of Cure Kids and also why we choose to support other events. GODZone can’t exist in glorious isolation and it’s important to give back where we can. We are also extremely keen to promote and encourage more people to get outdoors, experience the wonders of the Kiwi backcountry and compete in the many wonderful events that are dotted all over New Zealand and further afield.

At this point we would normally tell you to train smart and get prepared for an Adventure Like No Other. However, we’ll go one step further and encourage you to look into some of the great training options that are available. If anyone is looking for a first rate 3 day course to fine tune their skills, work on their fitness and get some experience of the Southern Lakes District then check out the information below. We look forward to seeing you next year, if not before.