The Whaka 100 is only the awesome event it is because of it’s riders and athletes. Sure, it covers some of New Zealand's world-famous, grin-inducing trails, but without riders there would be no atmosphere, hype or high-fives.

We’re excited to be profiling a number of this year’s riders and athletes, starting with Rotorua local, Jess Manchester. With a number of championships under her belt, Jess has entered the Perma Pine 100km event as a challenge to get herself back into racing after focusing on her career.

So what’s the motivation? “I've always raced in the Whaka 50km” Jess explains “I've done that probably three times”. She then attended the event on the other side of the tape, working for the team behind the Whaka 100, Nduro Events. “I was helping run the course, and loved all that, but it's good to get back in the game."

Watch the full video above.

The Southern Hemisphere’s largest mountain biking event held in Rotorua, the Emerson’s Whaka100, sold out it’s major event distances over the weekend.

More than 1,700 riders from elite olympians to weekend warriors are set to compete across the Camelbak 25km, New Zealand Sotheby’s International Realty 50km, Perma Pine 100km and the inaugural 160km DCA Architects Miler events.

​This sets a new record for the Whaka100 and is further proof mountain biking is going from strength to strength in New Zealand. It’s become so popular that the event organisers negotiated additional spaces with local stakeholders and authorities, set up a waitlist, and have created on-site camping facilities to alleviate a lack of visitor accommodation in the Rotorua area.