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The organisers for the mountain bike marathon, the Emerson’s Whaka 100, presented by Isuzu Utes NZ, today confirmed that the Labour Weekend event will be postponed to 29-30 January 2022.
After the Government announcement on 4 October reviewing the New Zealand COVID-19 position, Nduro Events made the call to move the event to it’s backup date as it is unable to take place at anything other than Alert Level 1.  We know training for the Whaka 100 can be tough - whatever distance you're doing. So we've got some epic advice from our nutrition partner CLIF to help you with training, recovery and even event day performance.
The more you train, the more important your pre- and post-workout nutrition and hydration becomes. With bigger demands on your body, you require more nutrients and fluids for peak performance and fast recovery. This also prevents hunger during your activity, sudden energy drops, and excessive weight loss from sweating. So now you know what to do and not to do, in theory - what does that actually look like for your Whaka 100 training and event day?  An event as tough as this one needs an equally tough partner. The Whaka 100 is stoked to welcome Isuzu Utes New Zealand to the MTB endurance event’s family of partners.
Joining as presenting partner for 2021, Isuzu Utes New Zealand will move up to becoming full naming rights partner in 2022 the largest mass-participant MTB event in the Southern Hemisphere. In this week’s Rider Series, we caught up with Lara and Robert Comeskey - a father and daughter duo entering the Sotheby’s International Realty New Zealand Whaka 50 for the first time. Lara was also the youngest ever female Karapoti Classic finisher - how awesome! Even though they’re both from Wellington, Lara, aged 14, actually started mountain biking in the Rotorua Redwoods - training for the Whaka from the young age of 6 (even if she didn’t know it then)! Falling in love with “Dipper and it’s smooth, flowing rollers”, Lara went on to enroll in WORD in Wellington aged 7 and still rides with the organisation. Seven years on, Lara’s dad Robert might be chasing her down the trails rather than the other way round but they still ride and race together around Wellington. This year however, is their year for the Whaka 50km race.  Lara and friend Millie at the end of the 2021 Karapoti 50km Not only can nutrition and hydration make or break your race day, but we’ve actually heard that one of our Whaka100 athletes - Cati Pearson - knows a thing or two about how you can use it to get the best out of your performance. Not only is she a NZ registered dietician, she’s also been racing in the Whaka100 since 2014. So who better to guide us through this seemingly complicated topic! So, let’s get to it - we know a lot of people are a bit unsure of how to get the best from their nutrition and hydration. We sat down with Cati to get her advice both in the lead up to an event and on the day itself.
Resilience, mental strength and motivation! Our final interview in our Team CP series we have Clair Scott - President of the Rotorua Mountain Bike Club. Clair is tackling the Whaka 100 for the first time and is a newcomer to endurance training, endurance sports and not just riding for the beer and cinnamon scroll. In this recap, Team CP catch up with Clair as she takes us through her top tips for starting training, why she’s doing the Whaka 100 and what all this has to do with the Redwood’s First Response team. This is an awesome episode whether you’ve entered the Women's 10km, DCA Architects Whaka 100 Miler or anything in between. You can see the entire episode on Team CP's Facebook. Give it a watch and get ready to feel inspired! Is 2021 your first Whaka100 race? Or maybe you've been here before but you're increasing your distance. We know there can be lots of different emotions that go with the Whaka100 - excitement, stoked-ness (yes that's a word) and sometimes a few nerves. Wherever you are on this scale, we know you'll find these tips super helpful! Gav, head wheel builder from Wheelworks, has put together his top tips and tricks for how to prepare for your Whaka100. With 8 or 9 Whaka100 rides under his belt and as one of the OG New Zealand riders, we know you'll find lots of great advice whatever distance you're riding.  In our next episode of the Whaka Rider Series, we’ve teamed up with Reon Nolan, motivational speaker and elite cyclist, and official Whaka 100 Training Partner - Team CP, to help you get the most out of your race preparation. In this recap, Team CP catch up with Reon Nolan - someone who knows how to deal with tough times and come through the other side stronger. It's a must watch! Rebuilding his life from an extremely difficult upbringing to becoming a celebrated elite cyclist and working with others in similar situations, Reon takes us through how to balance it “all”, have “joy in the journey”, and how to get the most out of your race preparation.
This is an awesome episode whether you’ve entered the Women's 10km, DCA Architects Whaka 100 Miler or anything in between. You can see the entire episode on Team CP's Facebook. Give it a watch and make sure you’re getting the most out of your race preparation! Ever wondered if it’s possible to enter a mountain bike event if you have young children? What about when they’re teeny and can’t ride bikes themselves? (Yet!) We caught up with Rotorua local and Whaka100 first-timer, Emily Smith to hear more about how she fits in training, event-day planning, and how you can work your mountain biking with (and around) your children.  Emily Smith and daughter Frankie In this episode of the Whaka Rider Series, we’ve teamed up with the official Whaka100 Training Partners - Team CP, to help you along your Whaka100 journey. In this recap, Team CP catch up with John Quinn - a high-performance and mental skills expert who works with athletes to help them fulfill their full potential. John takes us through beating the winter-blues, challenging self doubt and hanging tough when it has all gone to custard. This is an awesome episode whether you’ve entered the 10km, DCA Architects Whaka 100 Miler or anything in between. You can see the entire episode on Team CP's Facebook. Give it a watch and make sure you’re getting the most out of your race preparation! What do catfish, a starfish in the mud, and a 10km “accidental” run have to do with the Whaka100? When Amy Mannering wrote to us with these stories about her friend Lucas, we knew we had to find out more!  Mannering chasing down Macdonald during the Whaka100 Lucas Macdonald is a Rotorua local and infamous in the Whaka100 - even being recognised as “The Catfish Guy” when he’s out in the community. We caught up with Lucas to hear more about his nickname, the Whaka journey and why he’s sending Whaka facemasks across New Zealand.
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.  Kate McIlroy, the three-times Olympic representative for New Zealand, is the defending champion for the 2021 Whaka 100’s title 100km event. 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.  Caleb is relatively young for racing marathon at the age of 19 he is set to shake up the elite race.
In 2019, Caleb finished in 6th place behind what could only be described at the best top five marathon riders in the Southern Hemisphere at the time. In 2020 he is targeting a place on the podium.  Mike Dawson. Photo by Martina Wegman Two-time Canoe Slalom Olympian, Mike Dawson, is taking on the Whaka 100km for the first time in October.
Sam Shaw (pictured left) leading Emerson's Whaka100 in 2018, Sam Osborne (centre), Samantha Kingsford (right). Photos supplied. Among the pool of talented participants in the Whaka 100km and in the Elite category are three Sam’s.
Sam Shaw, Sam Osborne and Samantha Kingsford are set to take on the Whaka100 on 25th October.  Our friendly volunteers help to make the Whaka100 possible. They share the participants special moment of achievement and are a memorable feature of the event day.
Teresa Wilson has volunteered three times and has made a memorable impact with her dress ups and friendly approach to the role.  Entries sold out for the 100km, 50km and 25km course options at Emerson’s Whaka100 with three months to go until the race on 25th October in Rotorua.
The fourteenth edition of the Whaka100 is shaping up to be the largest in its history, taking place on Labour weekend. Two-time champions Josie Wilcox and Tim Rush are returning this year, with potential to take their third wins.  The legend Josh Te Kowhai Josh Te Kowhai and a group from Waikite Gym volunteered at the Whaka100 in 2019, helping to make Emerson's Whaka100 event possible. We caught up with Josh about his volunteer role and why he chooses to do it.
 New Plymouth’s Daisy Day is entered in the 25km 60+ age group for the second time, after taking up mountain biking later in life when she decided she wanted to get fit. She was a surfer and coach, but wasn’t liking the cold Taranaki days in the waves. Daisy has shared her mountain biking journey with us.
 Kate Bone at Tour de Ranges MTB event earlier this year. Today we are bringing back an inspiring story from last year. Type one diabetic, Kate Bone took on the 100km at Emerson's Whaka100 in 2019. This is the story of her diagnosis and preparation, plus an added post event update.
 Dunedin’s Ronel Cook is taking on the 100km at Emerson's Whaka100, for the second time. Cook took on the 50km in 2009 and the 100km in 2019 before making the decision to return this year to improve her time from last year and if all goes to plan, qualify for the 100 miler in 2021.
 Poppy Lane competing in the Giant 2W Gravity Enduro 2019. Photo by Alick Saunders A range of ages and abilities have stepped up to challenge themselves on The New Zealand Sotheby’s International Realty Whaka 50km course this year. Among these are 14 year old Poppy Lane and 70 year old Diane Golding.
 NZ National champion and two time Whaka100 champion, Josie Wilcox is returning to the Whaka100 in October with potential to take a third win. Josie was unable to race last year due to an injury the day before the event.
 Rotorua local and fan favourite, Philly Angus has been behind the Whaka100 mic since 2017, entertaining and informing the Whaka100 crowds. We caught up with Philly to find out why she does it, what her best moments as MC have been and more.
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