Latest News

Magazine Articles

2008-07-15T12:32:00.002+12:00

Some of you will have seen the article and photos regarding the Contact Epic in the Endurance magazine. Well done to those whose photo they selected to be included.

Spoke’s next edition, due out at the very end of July is also set to publish an article regarding the Contact Epic. This is particularly worth a read if you were unable to make the day and want an overview of what the event was all about.

Category Changes for 2009

2008-07-15T12:17:00.005+12:00

A couple of new sections will be included in the 2009 event.

The first being a Masters section for the 50+. This age group was well represented in the inaugural race and we agree with those who wanted to see the achievement of those with “more warn parts” acknowledged!

Also included will be a Corporate Team section for the Epic leg of the race. To enter this all three members will be required to start and finish the race together as well as work for the same company. A fantastic opportunity for businesses committed to the collegiality and health of their staff.

It will also be an opportunity to promote your business as well as having some fun or compete seriously for the Corporate Team trophy.

While nothing will prevent anyone from riding with their mates this will be the only awarded team section in the next event.

Survey Winner

2008-06-10T11:11:00.004+12:00

Mark Lankow of Invercargill has won the waterproof digital camera from Yes Photo and Digital in Wanaka.

Congratulations Mark and thanks to you and everyone else for completing the post event survey. We are sure the feedback will make for an even better event next year.

Race Day 2009

2008-05-18T21:34:00.002+12:00

The Contact Epic start date for 2009 is Saturday April 25 - ANZAC day.

SURVEY

2008-05-09T18:24:00.004+12:00

WIN a digital sports camera with waterproof/underwater housing worth $500 by simply answering a few questions about the race to help the organisers improve on the event for next year.

Link to survey: http://www.lakehaweaepic.co.nz/survey/survey.html

Congratulations to all those who made it to the finish line.

2008-05-02T22:30:00.004+12:00

The LMS Events team would like to say congratulations to you all and thank you for supporting this event along with its self-responsibility ethos of yesteryear we are trying to promote. One of the ways we intend to preserve the experience is to limit the numbers for next year's event.

We are looking for ways to give those that supported the inaugural race the first chance to get in early. The details of this will be sent to all 2008 competitors and posted on the Latest News.

The calibre of people we attrached to this event is part of its success, very few incidents or injuries.

We have been inundated with e-mails and phone calls from competitors who felt the challenge kept up to its name and was truly epic. In general the race was described by riders from the competitive and tourist classes as picturesque, well organised, fun and challenging. But as with any event there is still room for improvement and to that end we will be sending out a survey to all our competitors to look at what we can do to enhance your experience. And because we want to continue to offer a little more, all of the survey returns will go into the draw to win a sports, underwater digital camera from Yes, Kodak in Helwick St, Wanaka.

Photographs are available at www.studio5.co.nz
Commemorative Pinot Noir (Mt Maude)and Chardonnay(Rippon) are also still available for sale. These are top class wines manufactured in our local area and are priced at a very reasonable rate. Details of prices are below and the orders can be made by phone or e-mail.

Our newsletter, comming out soon will give an overview of the race and information about next year.

Contact Epic on TV One News

2008-05-01T16:38:00.000+12:00

Click here: http://tvnz.co.nz/view/video_popup_flash_skin/1752527

Photographs of the first ever Contact Epic.....

2008-04-22T23:31:00.002+12:00

Photographs of the first ever Contact EPIC around Lake Hawea mountian bike race are available for purchase from studio5.

Our photographers will be in several locations including the highest point on the course, the remarkable Dingle Burn bluffs and the Hunter River crossing.

You can purchase individual prints, a CD-ROM of your race images as well as some truley spectacular scenic shots of the course or a 6 x 8" photo book featuring your race images and scenic shots, a wonderful record of your accomplishment.

Images will be displayed on the big screen back at the Lake Hawea Hotel finish line. You can order there and pay by cash or cheque or wait and view images at www.studio5.co.nz then order by email.

Have a great ride and remember to pack your best smile.

Commemorative Wines Ready For Sale

2008-04-22T23:08:00.002+12:00

The commemorative wines for this inaugural event will be on sale at the registration and can be paid for by cash or cheque.

Rippon Winery’s 2003 Chardonnay.....$25
Maude Wines 2006 Pinot Noir.....................$35

These are our two local wine producers whose quality matches the beautiful surrounds the wine is grown in.

GURNEY Endorses Race Ethos

2008-04-18T16:47:00.008+12:00

Steve Gurney entered the race based on LMS Events' ethos of personal responsibility. He supports the concept of not being wrapped up in cotton wool. By taking responsibility for yourself and your own gear to achieve your goals, the accomplishment is that much more satisfying and rewarding.

Challenge - Inspire - Believe - Achieve.

Go for it!

MARTINOVICH

2008-04-18T16:13:00.006+12:00

Marc Martinovich, one of NZ's leading jewellery manufacturers, has brought a new level of sophistication to mountain biking by providing quality, solid gold hand-made items as prizes for the winners of the Epic open, inaugural event. The winner of the open womens will walk away with a gold and diamond ring while the men's winner will receive a solid gold emergency tag.

Both items are valued in the thousands of dollars and make for a very unique prize. These items are now on display at Martionvich Jewellers on Helwick Street, Wanaka.

New Course Map and Profile

2008-04-15T10:31:00.000+12:00

Click the link to view or download (9.5MB) http://www.lakehaweaepic.co.nz/downloads/course.pdf

Latest Newsletter

2008-04-14T23:22:00.000+12:00

Firstly, congratulations on the hard work and energy required to get to the point of entry into an event of this length! You are the only competitors who will have the bragging rights of saying you were the first ever to enter the Contact Epic, NZ's ultimate mountain biking challenge.

To ensure the smooth running and safety on the day please read the following information carefully. We will also have other points of interest added to the latest news section and suggest you check there regularly.

This will be a big day out and many may underestimate the distance and terrain. Our advice is to pace yourself up the Hunter Valley side and open it up coming down the Dingle Burn side, that is if you have any petrol left.

New Course Map and Profile
Click the link to view or download (9.5MB) http://www.lakehaweaepic.co.nz/downloads/course.pdf

Rules
Please reread the rules on the website. It would be highly frustrating to be disqualified because you forgot what was in them (you had to read and sign at the time of entry). Remember you must start and finish on the same bike and you are not permitted any outside assistance at all. This event is about being self sufficient and prepared for the distance, the weather and the environment you are going into.

Personal Equipment
Please ensure you have all the compulsory gear and sufficient food and liquid required for a journey of this length. Electrolyte replacement is very important for this type of event, there will be GU2O at each Aid Station. Eat small amounts regularly and try to drink a bottle of water or preferably an electrolyte drink an hour.

Didymo
To avoid Didymo contamination of the unaffected water ways in the Dingle Burn area, all cyclists will be Didymo treated at the Green Bush Hut Aid Station. This will involve every competitor having to stand in a tray of cleaner and having your bike sprayed. The treatment is a 5% dishwashing liquid / water solution, very painless and will only slow you down by about 10 seconds so don't panic. You can take the opportunity, being off the bike to dash into the Green Bush Hut for a refuel or a rest!. Your patience with this process would be much appreciated.

If you want to know more about Didymo see www.biosecurity.govt.nz/didymo

Lights
We strongly suggest that every rider carries lights with them. There are a large number of reasons why you may take longer than anticipated and without appropriate lighting it would be unsafe to continue on the public roads.

Timings
Registration is at the Hawea Hotel between 4 and 9 pm on Friday night. You must register then to be permitted to ride on the day. The pasta meal will be available from 6-7.30 pm at the registration venue. Tickets may still be purchased online via the entries or food and beverage page. Tickets for the meal will be given out at the time of registration.

Prize giving will begin 5.30/6 at the Hawea Hotel. The BBQ will be available from around 5 on. Again prepaid tickets will be given out at the registration. These are still available for purchase via the website and will be on the day at the Hotel.

All races will start at 7am. Please ensure you have made arrangements to be at the start line by 6.40 at the latest.

Transport to Kidds Bush - Classic Start Line
Alpine Coach lines have agreed to provide transportation of bikes and competitors to the start line of the Classic, pick up of you and your bike will be from the front of the Hawea Hotel. You must book this well in advance and all arrangements are to be made directly with them. They are taking full responsibility for this service. You can contact them on 03 443 7966 or e-mail at info@good-sports.co.nz or go into Good Sports shop on Dunmore St in Wanaka.

Parking
Parking for competitors and supporters will be behind the Hawea Hotel.
Follow the signs, entry is just past the Hawea Hotel. At the very top of this area there is a fantastic view of the Epic start line for anyone wanting a great photo shot.

For the Classic riders who are driving to the start line, follow the parking signs as you get to Kidds Bush.

Commemorative Wines
A 2006 Mt Maude Pinot Noir and a 2006 Rippon Winery Chardonnay will be available for purchase at registration and prize giving. We have an extremely limited number so please get in early if you are interested. These will have our commemorative label and are designed to act as a great celebratory drink once recovered or as a gift for those who have aided your achievement. We will only be able to take cash or cheque so please remember to bring these.

Massage Therapy
Wanaka Physiotherapy are our official physiotherapists of choice and as such are happy to take appointments prior to race day for any assistance required in this area such as strapping. They can be contacted on 03 443 9136. They will also provide a physiotherapist at the massage tent for any emergency assessments.

Marg Belog will be leading a team of massage therapists on the day that will provide post race massages for competitors at the finish line area. The cost will be $10 per 10 minutes, $20 per 20 minutes etc. Please bring some cash for this service, which you will most definitely deserve after hours in the seat!

Support Local Youth!!!
At Kidds Bush from around 6 until 9 am there will be a mobile cafe providing hot drinks and some breakfast for supporters and competitors. This will be offered by an enterprising local 15 year old local girl who has a fast growing, highly professional business, 63 Bean.

At the Dingle Burn Station (Aid Station 3) the young Dickson children will be selling scones, muffins and a cup of tea for a gold coin (paper is obviously lighter!) donation, to help raise funds for the purchase of a much needed computer for use while attending Correspondence School. Help these locals and to be part of a unique experience along the way!!!

Party
The Hawea Hotel has organised a band for the event and in doing so welcome all supporters out to the Hotel for lunch, dinner and a good time. People of all ages are welcome at any time during the day or night. Food will be available in the restaurant.

Our Sponsors
Contact Energy and our other great sponsors have been a vital part of the set up and organisation of this race. Please support these people and brands as ultimately they are supporting your interest in mountain biking and in this event.

If you still have any questions please drop us an email this week as we will be very busy on the week before the event and may not get back to you in time.

Great to have you all on board. Keep safe and the LMS Events team will see you on the start line, April 26!!!!

MAC'S Brewery on board

2008-04-12T11:38:00.006+12:00

MAC'S Brewery have recently come on board to support this event with thier Spring Tide product, so you can have a beer or three without feeling too bad about all the good work youve done on the bike.

http://macs.co.nz/Splash.aspx

Entries Close at 520 for 2008

2008-04-08T23:00:00.003+12:00

Sorry, entries for the 2008 Contact Epic are now closed.
Unfortunately we cannot accept any new entries into the Epic section of this event. If you are particularly keen and can not wait until 2009 then you have the option of going onto a wait list for the Classic section, if someone withdraws within the next week. This will incur an additional admin charge for the entry.

If you want to go onto the wait list, please go to the Contact Us page above, enter your name and contact phone numbers then send us the email. We will contact you if a position become available on a first in first served bases.

In the next two days all competitors will receive an email updating them with the latest event information, transport arrangements to Kidds Bush if needed etc.

Trek mountain bike, to be won.

2008-04-02T12:40:00.001+13:00

Trek bikes have joined the team of top sponsors to offer a new Trek mountain bike as a spot prize which will be offered during prize giving to all competitors.

This is a brand new 6500 Trek bike. Check it out at the Racers Edge shop in Wanaka.

Trek is the Ultimate bike for NZ's Ultimate mountain biking challenge.

First Tandem Entry

2008-04-01T13:18:00.000+13:00

Paul and Paulette Dench from Christchurch are the first tandem entry in the Contact Epic.

Registration and BBQ Prize Giving Meals

2008-04-01T13:17:00.000+13:00

A number of people have been wondering about late registrations for meals and meals for partners or friends that attend. These meals can be ordered by just sending an e-mail, and payments can either be by cheque in the post or at registration. We just need to know the numbers for catering purposes.

Pledges sought to Support Wanaka Primary School.

2008-04-01T13:16:00.000+13:00

Two fathers of students at Wanaka Primary are seeking to gain pledges for their endeavours to complete the Epic leg of the challenge. The Gonzales Brothers (aka Callum MacLeod and Trevor Crawford) are offering students who make a pledge per km, the opportunity to go into the draw to win a free movie screening for their entire class. If you know a local kid—give them your pledge!! Or alternatively you can contact Sara (aka Mrs Gonzales) on 021 239 4940. All proceeds go into school projects.

Free Entries For Local College Teams

2008-04-01T13:15:00.000+13:00

Taff and Penny Cochranne, owners of the Hunter Valley Station are offering to pay for the team entries of any local College team (3 members) who wish to enter the Classic leg. If you would like further details regarding this please contact Danielle Nicholson at info@lakehaweaepic.co.nz .

Entries tip 250!

2008-04-01T12:48:00.000+13:00

Entries for NZ’s ultimate mountain biking challenge has reached the 250 mark and still climbing, with 6 days left for entries to be made.

Oldest entrant now 73!

2008-04-01T12:38:00.000+13:00

Douglas Bond, a caterer from Balclutha is now the oldest registered entrant into the Contact Epic at 73 years of age.

Commemorative Wine

2008-04-01T12:35:00.000+13:00

Commemorative wines from two local vineyards/wine makers will be for sale at the time of the race. These are a great way to say thank you to the partner/friend or staff that have supported your challenge. Keep checking this space for the update!!

Entries close in 3 weeks!!!

2008-03-18T08:25:00.000+13:00

Only 3 weeks left to enter New Zealand's Ultimate Biking Challenge. You can enter online and pay securely using PayPal/Credit Card or download an Entry Form and pay by Cheque.

Entries close at midnight on the 7th April.