Expect new names on the trophies when the UCI Marathon MTB National Championships are decided in Rotorua this weekend.

When four-year-old Harvey Lette lines up for the Whaka 100 Mountain Bike Marathon this weekend, he'll have something in common with 77-year-old Trevor Swindells: neither of them had gears on their first bike.

For Harvey, it's called a balance bike. For Trevor, it's called the 1960s.

The 73-year gap between the event's youngest and oldest riders is what the Whaka 100 is all about - everyone's welcome, everyone has a go, and nobody cares if you're still working on your motor skills or your knees aren't quite what they used to be.

When Paul Gunn's friends and family line up for the 50km mountain bike race at this weekend’s Whaka 100, they’ll be carrying his memory with them - proudly wearing shirts with his face and the words “Ride with Gunnie.”

It's a fitting tribute to a man who spent his life encouraging others on the trails, sharing his expertise freely, and tearing through Rotorua’s forests at great speeds.

The Whaka100 team, in partnership with the Gunn family, is proud to announce the finalists for the inaugural Paul Gunn Scholarship, a legacy honouring one of the Whaka100 community’s most passionate and generous supporters.

There’s a reason the Whaka 100 weekend feels more like a festival than just a race and this year, it’s going next level. With the biggest expo in Whaka history landing alongside the largest rider field in our 18 year journey, the atmosphere at village is set to be absolutely electric.