SATURDAY 4 NOVEMBER, 2023

No matter which event you enter in the Clifftop Challenge, you are going to be faced with exactly that - a challenge!  Each discipline has a course that will test even the hardiest of athletes.      

The kayaking section will be a real test for those not used to kayaking in the ocean. The currents behave uniquely every time you are out in the bay; depending on the tide, the weather, and the wind direction. Add to that the push-back from the cliffs, you are certainly going to be working hard out in the water. With the possibility of seeing seals on the rocks, and being under the towering cliffs above, the kayak course is incredible!      

The mountain bike section is truly epic. The ascent in both the short and long course is on the steepest road on the peninsula. The gradient in one part is 45deg - and add to that you will be riding on rugged granite and a rutted road, most competitors will be pushing their bikes in certain sections. Once you get to the top of this section you will be blown away by the incredible views in every direction. The Eastern Bays of Banks Peninsula are wild and truly iconic. This section of the course allows you a birds-eye view while descending back to the beach.       

The Adventure Trail Run alone is worth the journey to Le Bons Bay. This part of the event is very special, having access to the historic Totara Point Farm for this day only. The course begins with an estuary crossing and a scramble up the hill - and this sets the scene for the entire journey. Passing the remains of the ancient Totara stumps from milling when the European settlers first arrived, running through the only remaining clifftop Totara forest on the Peninsula, traversing atop cliffs with uninterrupted views of the South Pacific Ocean, experiencing possibly the only aid station in New Zealand's event calendar that is at an actual working lighthouse sitting right atop the cliffs, to dropping down to the historic Le Bons Bay Wharf as you head around the bay back to the beach... what can be more enticing than this?!       

The Clifftop Challenge is truly wild.  Have you got what it takes?