From the Outside Looking In: How Whaka100 Changed My Perspective

When Helene Nicholson first took over as Event Manager for Whaka100 four years ago, she wasn't a mountain biker.
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She'd organised events before, but stepping into one of New Zealand's largest mountain bike events was something completely different.

The finish line team from the inaugural Whaka Eliminator Race. Pictured from left to right: Kacy Sander, Whaka100 Social Media Lead, Helene Nicholson, Event Manager, and Sir Ashley Bloomfield.

"I honestly didn't realise how massive the mountain biking community was," she says.'

"I probably imagined an event with maybe 500 people turning up, but then you arrive and it's thousands of riders, supporters, volunteers and spectators all coming together."

It wasn't just the scale that surprised her. It was the people.
"What really blew me away was the sense of community around it. There's such a strong culture within mountain biking. People are incredibly passionate, supportive and connected through the sport."

That first impression has only grown stronger over the years.

"What has surprised me most is the passion people have for both the event and the wider mountain biking community. We've had situations where we've needed to call on participants, supporters or local groups for help, and the response has always been incredibly fast and overwhelmingly positive."

Groups like the Rotorua Trails Trust, the No Brains crew and countless volunteers don't just support Whaka100 because it's another event on the calendar.

"They genuinely want to see the event succeed because they believe in showcasing Rotorua's trails and everything that makes this place so special."

There's So Much More Than a Start and Finish Line
​Like many people unfamiliar with mountain biking, Helene admits she underestimated what it actually takes to deliver an event like Whaka100.

"I probably imagined a mountain bike event as being fairly simple, a start line, a finish line, and riders doing a loop through the forest."

"The reality is completely different."

Behind the scenes are months of planning across hundreds of kilometres of trails, multiple course options, logistics, safety plans, transport, timing systems, volunteers and countless moving parts.

"I had no idea how complex and detailed mountain bike events really are. It gave me a whole new appreciation for what goes into delivering an event like Whaka100."

This is what my event day looks like

The Whaka100 Media Centre

Life Behind the Scenes
​Ask Helene what race week feels like and she laughs. "It's a bit like spinning plates."

"You get one thing moving before starting the next, and somehow you have to keep them all spinning at the same time."

While riders are counting down to race day, the event team is running on very little sleep.

"There are weather forecasts to watch, logistics to manage, radios constantly going, and you're always thinking ahead trying to solve problems before they happen."

Moving infrastructure because overnight rain has created a lake where the expo was supposed to be or having the course team out in the forest at 3.00am making sure everything is safe before the first rider arrives.

"There are thousands of tiny moving parts that all have to come together, and somehow you still do it all with a smile."

The Moments That Stay With You
Despite the pressure, it's the people that keep bringing Helene back. One of her favourite moments happens before many people even notice.

Watching New Zealand's elite riders join the Whaka Kids Ride. "The elites aren't there to race. They're there to encourage the kids, ride alongside them and make them feel part of the event."

"Watching the kids suddenly realise who they're riding beside and seeing their faces light up is really special."
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Then, almost twelve hours later, another moment unfolds. The final Miler riders roll down the finish chute. "By seven o'clock, most of the venue has been packed down and a lot of people have gone home."

"But there are still riders out there." Some have been riding for more than fourteen hours. Watching them finally cross the finish line, greeted by volunteers, family, friends and the remaining crew, never gets old.

"We always encourage anyone who's still around to come down and cheer on those last riders because those finish line moments are just as important as the first ones."

More Than Just a Race
For Helene, Whaka100 has become much more than a sporting event. "It's the annual mountain bike hangout weekend."

People come to Whaka100 for the challenge, but they leave remembering so much more than the kilometres they rode. They remember catching up with friends at the expo, talking bikes over coffee, exploring Rotorua's world-famous trails, and sharing stories after the ride with people who understand exactly what they've just experienced. It's those moments, on and off the bike, that turn a race into a weekend people look forward to coming back to year after year.

"Whether you're an elite rider or doing your first event, everyone feels part of the same community."

Four Years Later...After four years of living and breathing Whaka100, Helene's definition of the event has changed dramatically.

"It means little sleep, 100-plus hour weeks, more than 200 volunteers, a crew of around 50 people, a Red Bull a day, alarms set for absolutely everything, and thousands of riders all coming together in Rotorua."

She laughs. "But more than that, it represents what can happen when a passionate community comes together around a sport they love."

Every rider, volunteer, local business, sponsor and supporter plays a part in creating something much bigger than a mountain bike race. Together, they create a weekend that celebrates Rotorua, its world-class trails and the people who call this riding community home. It's that shared passion that transforms Whaka100 from an event into an experience, and one that thousands of riders look forward to returning to year after year.

"It's exhausting, chaotic and full-on at times, but it's also incredibly rewarding because everyone is there for the same reason."

"A passion for the sport, the trails and the community around it." And if someone is still wondering whether they should enter their first Whaka100?

Her answer is simple. "Just do it."

"You don't need to be an elite rider. There are distances for everyone, and there'll be a whole community behind you and I'll be at the finish line cheering for you when you come through."