Red Bull Defiance 2019

This weekend the Red Bull Defiance race is being held in Wanaka.  Usually I go to West Wanaka Station to see the first change, but this year decided to watch the kayaks come in to the finish.  Sadly, because it has been raining all afternoon, I didn't wait to see the kayaks.  Instead here is a cyclist arriving back in Wanaka after a ride of 62 kms from Minaret Burn to the finish (extra 1) You can see a cyclist arriving in the sunshine, but that soon disappeared, and it has been raining ever since.  Extra 2 is a cyclist on the Waterfall Creek track.  The main race includes cycling, running, abseiling and kayaking.  I didn't photograph this race this year.

Tomorrow they will kayak down the Clutha River to Oxbow, then do some clay pigeon shooting, followed by a mountain bike over the Criffle mountain range, then a run up and over Roy's Peak.  I usually photograph the runners coming down off Roy's Peak.  It is a huge race, with hundreds of competitors.  It is probably better that it is raining, as we have had such hot weather over the last few days.