ROTORUA, NEW ZEALAND - With the 3rd stop on the XTERRA APAC Tour, the XTERRA Rotorua Festival stands out with its striking landscapes and challenging off-road courses.
On April 6th, 2024, the premier event will once again be the Full Distance Triathlon in the scenic locales of Rotorua’s Blue Lake and Whakarewarewa Forest with an NZ$10,000 elite prize purse and 28 slots up for grabs for the XTERRA World Championship taking place in Trentino, Italy this September.
Open water swimmers, mountain bikers, and trail runners from across the spectrum are set to test their mettle in what is often described as one of the world's best triathlon courses.
Competitors will face a comprehensive challenge, starting with a 1K swim in the crystal-clear waters of Blue Lake, followed by a rigorous 26K mountain bike course through the famed Whakarewarewa Forest, known for its exhilarating climbs, descents, and diverse terrains.
The event culminates in an 11K trail run, weaving through moderately technical paths that include flat sections and rolling hills all set against the backdrop of New Zealand’s breathtaking scenery.
The start list for all participants is available here, but the real fireworks will be between the top 3 elite women and men. Returning champions, XTERRA World Cup contenders, and rising stars will be battling it out in a winner-take-all Full Distance Triathlon race for the ages.
World Ranking – Name, NAT
5 – Marta Menditto, ITA: Heading into the XTERRA Rotorua Festival with an impressive start to the 2024 season, having claimed victory in XTERRA South Africa and securing a third-place finish at the Asia-Pacific Championship in Taiwan just two weeks ago, Menditto shares her thoughts on the course, "It's pretty different from the trails we have in Europe. These are really smooth, there aren't long uphills, it's pretty flat and technical. You have to push all the way and be able to ride as fast as possible.”
Reflecting on her recent performance, Menditto finds motivation to intensify her training regimen. "I'm happy for my performance in Taiwan, and that gives me the motivation to train harder," she states, emphasizing her commitment to continual improvement. "If I have learned something this year, it's that the professional athlete always gives 100% on race day, even when he or she is not at 100%.”
Her decision to compete in Rotorua extends beyond the race itself, driven by a personal dream. "I decided to come to Rotorua because it was one of my dreams to visit New Zealand. Maybe I'm one of the biggest fans of The Lord of the Rings, so I needed to see this beautiful country. Everything's so green, the grass hills are so big, the forest is incredible. Nature is amazing."
13 – Maeve Kennedy, AUS: The 2024 XTERRA Wellington winner and last season’s Asia-Pacific Champion, returns to one of her top races on the World Tour. "I love XTERRA Rotorua. It’s one of my favourite races of the circuit," She expresses her fondness for the event and the unique challenges it presents. "Last year I just pulled off a win over the local superstar Samantha Kingsford. This year I’ll be trying to capitalize on what I learnt and have a smooth race," she states.
Kennedy emphasizes the importance of course familiarity and cautious racing, especially on Rotorua's technical trails. "Local knowledge is a good advantage here, the trails are technical enough that messing up could cost you. I’ll be riding safely, and focusing on being smooth," For the run, she highlights the competitive aspect of the course's layout: "The run is fast! The open double loop gives a lot of opportunities to see your competitors."
91 – Hannah-Lee Young, AUS: Fresh off her victory as the 2024 XTERRA Asia-Pacific Champion in Taiwan and an impressive 8th place finish at XTERRA Portugal last season, along with clinching an age group win in the 2023 World Triathlon Cross Championship in Ibiza, Young sets her sights on XTERRA Rotorua. "I like that the swim is shorter and the trails look incredible on lots of beautiful single track with a few climbs to break it up," she says.
Young acknowledges the strong competition, particularly from Maeve Kennedy and Marta Menditto. "I raced against Maeve last year, she is a phenomenal athlete. I didn’t know Marta was racing, but she is also so strong," she remarks.
Despite her recent win in Taiwan, Young is critical of her performance, feeling she has more to offer. "I don’t feel like my performance in Taiwan was the best that I have to offer," she admits, viewing Rotorua as an opportunity to showcase her full potential against formidable competitors like Kennedy and Menditto.
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World Ranking – Name, NAT
10 – Sam Osborne, NZL: Hailing from Rotorua, New Zealand, and a decorated athlete with titles including the 2023 and 2024 XTERRA Wellington wins, the 2023 XTERRA Australia Championship, a third-place finish at the 2023 World Cup Stop #2 in the USA, and two APAC Tour Championships, considers XTERRA Rotorua more than just a race. "This race is always a special one for me. It’s my home race and it’s not often you get an opportunity to race in front of your friends & family. I just can't pass up an opportunity to line up at home and open the taps,"
Osborne anticipates a competitive race against Jack Moody, acknowledging their history of close contests. "I think it’ll be another big battle with Jack Moody this year," he predicts, pointing out Moody's improved swimming and the intense competition it promises. "Jack’s swim has got a lot better the last couple of years so we could be going to bar to bar from early on in the day," Osborne notes, anticipating a closely matched race from the outset and valuing the direct competition: "Jack always brings a good mano y mano battle and I’d expect nothing less from him on Saturday."
49 – Jack Moody, NZL: A familiar face at the XTERRA Rotorua Festival, returns as the defending champion and boasts a notable third-place finish on this very course in 2021. His performance pedigree extends to the global stage, with his most recent XTERRA appearance at the World Championships in Trentino, where he secured a 22nd overall position. This track record not only establishes Moody as a formidable competitor in the field but also as a direct rival to Sam Osborne.
Moody's consistent performances at Rotorua and his proven ability on the international circuit underscore his status as a serious contender. His familiarity with the course, combined with the momentum from his defense title and previous podium finishes, positions him strategically against Osborne and other elite athletes in the lineup. The dynamic between Moody and Osborne, particularly noted by Osborne’s anticipation of their competition, highlights the intensity and caliber of rivalry that defines the XTERRA Rotorua Festival, making it a key race to watch for both athletes and spectators alike.
NA – Benjamin Forbes, AUS: Arriving at XTERRA Rotorua with momentum from his impressive debut at the Asia-Pacific Championship, where he finished 13th overall. "Despite the flat tire I had to change, I was stoked to hang onto 13th and very excited to see what I can do with air in my tires," Forbes recounts, showcasing his resilience and optimistic outlook towards overcoming challenges.
Understanding the unpredictable nature of racing, Forbes adopts a pragmatic approach to his performance goals. "Results are out of my control, so giving them [attention] is focus that isn't getting put towards executing my best race," he reflects.
As a newcomer to the XTERRA, Forbes is keen on absorbing as much as he can from each race. "Learn as much as I can as it's my first year of XTERRA, every destination and course is so different, so there's much to learn," he says.
"The race itself is just the home run of the training, so not much strategy there apart from going as hard as you can," he states, pointing out that strategic decisions are made in the days leading up to the race. His familiarity with the terrain in Rotorua, having competed in XC and Enduro events in the same forest, gives him a comfortable starting point for his first XTERRA event there.
With the title of 2023 Cross Triathlon National Champion under his belt and 24 years of racing experience in XC, Enduro, and DH, Forbes is focused on making a significant impact in off-road triathlon.
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The XTERRA Rotorua Festival, provides a comprehensive suite of events for multi-sport aficionados of every level. Participants can choose from a total of seven races, encompassing trail running, triathlon, duathlon, and mountain biking disciplines. Highlights include a 21K trail run amidst the scenic Redwoods of Whakarewarewa, alongside 11K and 5K runs, both full and sprint distance triathlons, a duathlon, and a challenging 26K mountain bike race. The festival culminates in an awards ceremony, fostering a spirit of camaraderie and celebration among competitors.
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