Last Man Standing contenders for 2010

These are the entrants in the inaugural 2008 event who also entered and completed the Epic leg of the race this year.

See below for the list of LMS Kitty candidates. We wish to be sure the list is correct so we would appreciate you checking over it. Don’t hesitate to inform us if there are any errors. At present there is $664.50 in the kitty and it will go up again next year by the number of entrants from this list. Just like the tortoise, it’s not speed that will win this race but perseverance.

Remember, to continue eligibility you are required to enter (and of course complete!) the Epic leg of the race.

LMS Kitty Candidates
Adam Mark 236 Lahood Mark 56 Adams Richelle 263 Lankow Mark 220 Allison Dean 243 Mackie Barry 294 Anderson Wayne 63 MacLeod Calum 48 Anderson Tony 296 Maluschnig Steve 32 Ansley Ryan 155 Martin Mike 346 Bagley Ben 230 McCarthy Barbarella 368
Ballantyne Andrew 234 McKie John 124 Barrett Tony 196 McLean Georgie 248
Barrow Pete 902A Mcleod Andrew 102 Bell Dean 52 Middendorf Andy 284
Bellamy Lindsay 117 Mitchell Andrew 68 Billous Pete Ofee Neil 278
Black Don 293 Patterson Malcolm 29 Blunt Tup 900B Pearce Chris 43
Bone Michael 42 Pinfold Stuart 235 Briscoe Rob 116 Plimmer Mike 99
Briscoe Charles 119 Prout Jenny 136 Brough Steve 336 Randle Glenn 109
Brumlik Jan 354 Reid Tania 900A Burke John 125 Rewcastle Ant 228
Cheatley Bevan 162 Rhodes Philip 345 Clay Darren 103 Rizzi Craig 114
Cook Marjorie 140 Roberts Dan 147 Coupe Blair 217 Rogan Phil 110
Coutts Mike 264 Rollo Wade 187 Cowie Adam 106 Rooney Stephen 55
Cowie Dave 209 Ross Craig 164 Culshaw Tony 100 Rowley Tom 325
Cvitanich Mark 238 Rowley Jerry 355 Davison Wendy 251 Roy Marcus
Deacon Mark 178 Sasse Ron 347 Direen Derek 21 Schroder Mary-Louise 367
Dodds Alex 223 Shore Ian 306 Drake David 145 Sime Grant 245
Duffy Robert 281 Simpkin Paul 113 Facer Rob 120 Smith James 201
Faithful Peter 98 Sole Matt 333 Fenwick David 57 Soper Errol 302
Findlay Sandra 253 Steven Guy 16 Fraser Hamish 153 Steven Chris 276
Fyfe Grant 348 Stowell Christine 141 Gadd Jonathan 92 Straver Phil 167
Gillespie Sarah 254 Taylor Ed 11 Gooney Steve 10 Telford Ken 295
Greaves Michael 244 Thomson Darrell 46 Hall Morris 329 Thomson Bruce 115
Hamilton Doug 350 Thurston Glen 239 Hardy Stephen 190 Turner Glen 170
Harraway Gerald 200 Tweedie Gary 274 Hellebrekers Paul 275 Underwood Simon 9 Huuskes Richard 107 van Asch Dan 95 Jenkins Brett 121 Vermeulen Dutchy 118
Johnston Roy 233 Walker Rod 315 Jones Neil 342 Waser Patrick 902B Jones Tony 344 Weir Iain 1 Kelly Kath 261 Williams Bruce 232 King Barry 14 Williamson John 349 King Matthew 50 Wilson John 18 King-Turner James 343 Wilson Stuart 900C Kirkness Will 197 Winton Dean 80 Ladbrook Mark 240 Wright Michael 224

Who will be the Contact Epic, Last Man Standing ????


Date: November 4, 2009 by  
Category: Latest News
Tags: ,


To All Contact Epic Competitors

Congratulations once again on completing this challenge, and thanks for your contribution to a great day out. Without the good-humour and sense of adventure you bring to this event it would not be the same.

It is one of the most challenging courses out there with the distance, varied terrain, remote environment and the Dingle Burn Café all making this event unique. Those that get through it can rest assured they can handle one of the toughest rides in the country.

Thank you all for supporting the race ethos of self-responsibility. We will make the event as safe as possible but want to fight the move toward the cotton wool, overly dictated rules, compulsory bike / gear checks etc. The better you prepare and manage yourself out there the more we can keep people thinking about these issues and keep the tough, rugged, adventurous kiwi spirit alive. Well done to you all again on this.

For those who rode in the inaugural event and are contenders for the Last Man Standing kitty, there is now about $650.00 in the pot. We will send out a news letter in July when entries open for 2010. This will include the names of all those still in the running.

We also have two Contact Epic jerseys left in medium size if any one missed out or may be interested in purchasing them.

Next year’s event:
Next years event will be on Anzac weekend, April 24, 2010. Entries will open online this July.
Go to www.contactepic.co.nz

Survey:
We have created a survey form that takes about 4 mins to fill out. It will assist us to provide the ultimate event for 2010! We want to continuously improve this event and need your help with ideas, suggestions and feedback. All you need to do is fill in this form online and push the send button.

Access the survey by clicking on this link: http://www.lakehaweaepic.co.nz/survey2009

Event highlights / low lights and anecdotes:
We were very pleased to see so many locals on the course and so many featuring on the podium. We had attracted riders from as far away as England, Aussie and USA which means you are all spreading the word well!

It was also fantastic to see riders from all over NZ with some big groups coming from Tauranga and Wanganui.

We have to make mention of the plus 60yrs that entered and completed the course. In particular we acknowledge our oldest competitor, Andy Middendorf at 70yrs old who completed the Epic and our two youngest riders, Declan Pearson and Nakia Randle, 15yrs that raced in the Classic. It’s great to see these people pushing their respective envelopes, so to speak, at both ends of the scale.

We only had two serious injuries to contend with this year, a gentleman on the old highway below the Lake Hawea lookout came a cropper and busted his collarbone, a few ribs and his thumb, that’s got to hurt! Another in a high speed wipe-out knocked himself out and bit the end of his tongue. He said the surgery to stitch it back together was worst than the accident it’s self but he is very keen to race again next year. That shows commitment and the sort of people we want to attract to this event.!

On the minor side one poor lady broke the forks off a borrowed bike just minutes from the Classic start line. (It was on the top of her car and got caught on greenery!) But in the spirit of the day, we raced back to the tail end charlie vehicle on the Epic leg and got the spare bike, half an hour later she was off trying to catch the people that did start on time and duly rode to the finish line with a great sense of achievement. A ‘no give up attitude’, we like that too.

There were a number of other scrapes and bangs by the looks of those crossing the finish line. Blood, sweat and tears, what a wonderful combination so long as it has a happy ending. Thank you to all those competitors who stopped to help their fallen comrades, we know it’s hard for some to stop but that’s what it’s all about. Remember it might be you that needs a helping hand next time.

We received a lot of positive feedback regarding this so, for those who made someone else’s day that little bit better, accept this pat on the back.

Of course the memories for each person will be different. I gather one chap caught up with an old Lincoln varsity flat mate from 30 years ago at the Dingle Burn ‘Cafe’ and, I daresay Jim McMurray and Bruce Thompson are unlikely to forget this particular birthday! There was a good compromise between the hard core racers, those taking on the challenge of just getting to the finish line and also those out to enjoy the scenery. Well done again to you all.

Prize giving:
The prize giving and the finish line had an overhaul this year and if you have any feedback on this see the survey page above.

Sponsorship:
Sponsors are an essential element in the success and viability of this event and we again would like to thank them. A special mention to our principal sponsor Contact, for their support for the event and the funding to the Hawea Community groups for the volunteers and financing the merit prizes in each of the sections. Also for the big step up in support of the competitors with the free photo and massages. I can’t recall too many other events that offer this.

Our gold sponsors Radio Wanaka, Edgewater Resort, Paterson Pitts and the ODT, do a great job in supporting this event and their contribution is essential for this event to grow.

If you check out our sponsor page and cast your mind back to all the sponsors banners and products that were on offer at prize giving, you will see that we have a great selection of sponsors offering some top of the line prizes. The best thing we can do as athletes is to support those businesses that support us in our sporting endeavors.

Other LMS Events:
To keep you focused and training over the winter, have a look at this other great Wanaka endurance event that LMS Events have been running for the past 5 years.

Mountain 2 Mountain – 13 September 2009 at the Treble Cone Ski field
It’s a fantastic and fun Multi Sport Event with 6 stages of Skiing, Running, MTB, Kayaking and Road Biking from Treble Cone Ski Field to the Snow Farm in the Cardrona Valley. This is a big day out for individuals who are wanting to keep motivated over the winter and is proving a particularly popular event for teams of 2-6 persons who now occupy the largest category of this event. Entry details will be in the July Newsletter.

Keep the rubber on the road! See you all in 2010 if not before!

The LMS Events Team


Date: June 5, 2009 by  
Category: Latest News
Tags:


1 week to go – things to know

Merchandise:

Think big thoughts but relish small pleasures.

There are a limited number of jerseys and commemorative Pinot Noir wine left. Once these have gone we are unable to get anymore. To order, go to the merchandise page on our website now by clicking on this link. http://www.contactepic.co.nz/merchandise.html

If you ordered a Contact Epic shirt or bottle of wine you will be able to pick these up from registration the night before the race. Once you have registered take your number plate to the merchandise counter for pick up.

Meals:

No road is long with good company.-Turkish Proverb

These will be available online up until the night of Tuesday the 21st of April. These tickets can be collected from the registration booth. Unfortunately, to cover the costs of extra catering, if you purchase on the day of registration or the race there will be an extra $5.00 added to the price of the meal.

The Carbo-Loading Meal is held at the registration venue (Hawea Hotel), at the same time and is a fantastic opportunity to meet and catch up with fellow competitors.

The Post Race Meal will be available from mid afternoon on.
In both cases you are welcome to purchase for your supporters as well.

To order these meals now click on this link: http://www.eventbrite.com/event/141928512

Breakfast is also available for those early rises at the Hawea Hotel (03 443 1224) and Sailz Restaurant (03 443 1696) which is a short walking distance from the Hotel itself. Please phone to book.

Accommodation:

The life of man is a journey; a journey that must be traveled, however bad the roads or the accommodation.-Oliver Goldsmith

You may not have control over the road but you do have control over your accommodation! No point doing it hard the entire time!

For those still needing accommodation for the event, we have secured a deal with the exquisite lake front resort in Wanaka, Edgewater Resort. It houses its own restaurant and bar and is easy walking distance to the centre of town. Please mention you are a Contact Epic competitor at the time you make your reservation to receive the special rate. Look here to view the suites and discover its numerous facilities. www.edgewater.co.nz

You can make this reservation by phoning 0800 108 311. You won’t be disappointed!

There is also accommodation available at the conveniently located Hawea Hotel. There is a minimum of two nights booking. To secure please phone 0800 42 93 24. To view facilities and rooms go to, www.lakehawea.co.nz 0 42 90800 42 93 24 3 24

Registration:

If you tell the truth, you don’t have to remember anything.- Mark Twain (except your confirmations!)

Registration is compulsory. You will be unable to ride without picking up your number plate and reading the pre race briefing sheet the night prior to the race.

The registration will be held in the garden bar of the Hawea Hotel. (Beware the temptation!) Enter through the main entrance and turn left. You are able to register any time between 4 and 9 pm on Friday the 24th.

Racers Edge will have a small shop open at the registration for last minute equipment, Enervit nutrition and the latest gems in the Trek mountain bike range range.

In support of ANZAC Day the local Fire Brigade will be selling poppies at the registration for those who are interested. It would be great for everyone to ride with a poppy on their shirt or bike in honour of those who have made the ultimate sacrifice. Lest we Forget.

Race Start:

When a man has put a limit on what he will do, he has put a limit on what he can do.- Charles M. Schwab

If you are in the Classic and require transportation to the start line from the Hotel please phone the company below as they are providing this. Please also be sure to note the time of departure will be 5.30 from the Hawea Hotel.

Alpine Coachlines, 17-23 Dunmore Street, Wanaka, New Zealand
Freephone (NZ only) 0800 SKI WANAKA (0800 754926)
Tel +64 (0)3 443 7966 Fax +64 (0)3 443 7033
Email info@good-sports.co.nz

Supporters who are coming for the start of the race at Kidds Bush will need to either leave there before 7.30 or stay until after 9 at least, as this is also the route for the Epic competitors and we are trying to limit the vehicles on this section of road. Your assistance in this respect would be most appreciated.

The Epic start will involve a short 15 min ANZAC Dawn ceremony organised by the local RSA at 7.00am. Competitors will need to be at the start line at 6.45 to be in time for this and not disrupt proceedings. Please be on time and considerate of others who will be attending the service only.

Please make sure you have a light on your bike as it will be dark at this time and you will have to ride on an open road to get from the Hotel to the start line.

Tea and Scones:

The bicycle is the most efficient machine ever created: Converting calories into gas, a bicycle gets the equivalent of three thousand miles per gallon.- Bill Strickland

For those of you new to the Contact Epic, YES, it is true. The Dingle Burn Station Owners put on tea and scones for competitors just over 2/3 of the way through the race. It proved to be the most appreciated café for miles!! All they ask is if you think you might like to partake could you please have a gold coin donation “up your sleeve” for their children who require a number of extra items due to the necessity of being schooled via correspondence. A great way to support our local, rural children and get some energy back into the body for the last leg home.

Food and Gear Preparation:

Failing to prepare is preparing to fail!

One thing we can’t guarantee is that you will get wet and it will be cold but if I was a betting man I would say the odds are good in these parts. Please remember that you will be a long way from home. We had some very resilient people last year take on this challenge with very few injuries or issues. We would love the same this year.

A big part of this event for us is moving away from wrapping competitors in cotton wool. We believe you will be a lot safer by accepting responsibility for yourself, your bike and dealing with the issues that come from being out in the hills when you break a chain and face a 4 hour walk back or when a cold southerly starts snowing on you.

So please help us to keep the red tape as thin as practical by being as prepared as possible for the worst case scenarios. See our recommended gear list and race rules. We have provided a weather link so you can see what the weather is doing and make the appropriate decisions.

Think: Weather/Injury/Bike failure/Fuel for the legs.

Weather:

The trouble with weather forecasting is that it’s right too often for us to ignore it and wrong too often for us to rely on it. ~Patrick Young

It is best you check the weather a night or two before the race so you can pack appropriately. If you don’t have a preferred site try this one, http://metservice.com/public/maps/rain-forecast-3-day.html
Please note you are in a remote and mountainous area. The weather can be extremely changeable and is often different from neighbouring towns like Queenstown.

Prize giving:

I read the sports page of a newspaper first as it records people’s accomplishments; the front page has nothing but man’s failures.

Prize giving will be held at 5.30 on the day of the race in the garden bar of the Hawea Hotel (so you don’t need to move your poor legs any further). We know you will all be cold and tired (bring extra layers) so we will keep things moving as quickly as possible. We will acknowledge our sponsors, present cheques to our volunteer community groups then deal with the merit winners and spot prizes last.

This year we will have a Beauty or the Bag system for spot prizes. There will be 5 models dressed in MTB gear from head to toe. When your number is read out you get to select the Beauty or the Bag. If you choose the Beauty you select one item off one of the models until they have nothing left. (or as close as public decency allows!) If you select Bag you choose a lucky dip envelope that contains an unknown spot prize. These will all be displayed on our prize tables so be sure to check and see which of these are your pick during the day! A good mix of choice and luck. Remember our major spot prize is the TREK 6500 Mountain Bike valued at over $2000.

Supporters:

The main ingredient of stardom is the rest of the team. John Wooden.

The local community is holding a Market Day from around 11 am on the day of the race. It will be situated just up the road from the finish line, next to Sailz Restaurant and will have a range of local art and craft on sale.

There will also be ODT newspapers available free of charge to keep everyone up to date on the latest news.

Global Biking:

Global biking is a new website that connects mountain bikers from around the globe. It is an easy way to be better informed about what other countries have to offer (as well as being able to skite about our own great land of course!) and to converse with others who share the same passion.

Link onto www.globalmountainbiker.com

Withdrawals:

A man is not old until regrets take the place of dreams.

If you are unable to make the race for any reason we would greatly appreciate an e-mail. This just makes a number of organizational jobs on the day a lot smoother. Hopefully we will see you in 2010 if that is the case.

If you are heading off on holiday could you please check our website along the way. We will be posting all news and information on the Latest News section.

Up to date information will also be on Radio Wanaka the week prior to the race so tune your radios to 92.2 (or 94.6) in Wanaka or 99.1 in Cromwell. Cancellations and any changes will be announced on that station.

We will be checking our e-mails up until midmorning on the Friday before the race.

Good luck with the final preparation and remember:

The reward for those who persevere,
far exceeds the pain that must precede
the victory


Date: April 17, 2009 by  
Category: Latest News
Tags:


Next Page »