Shokz and Whaka 100 partner to find perfect rhythm

Music and exercise go hand in hand, whether its heavy beats to keep the legs spinning, or a podcast to keep the mind occupied. This is why the Whaka 100 MTB Marathon, presented by Rotorua NZ is excited to announce that Shokz have joined as Official Headphone Partner.  Read on to find out about our competition draw.

Headphones that stay on through the rough stuff. Sounds good to us.

“I get hot ears” confesses Mike Cockin, Marketing Manager at Whaka 100. “So Shokz are the perfect headphone for my rides and runs. They don’t sit in my ear, but produce great sound while keeping me connected to the trail and those around me. I’ve had my pair for years now and they’ve got me through a lot of training and a big race”.

They’re the perfect partner for even Whaka’s longest distances

Shokz bone conducting technology means they pass sound not only through your ears with sound, but also vibration. Their open design means they’re the only type of headphone allowed on course for Whaka’s 3,000 participants. ​

They tick the box for the event's health and safety too. “During the event, riders must be aware of their surroundings, such as others trying to pass them and instructions from our marshalls,” says Whaka 100 Race Director, Tim Farmer. “With in-ear headphones, even with ambient pass-through being popular, we have to be able to tell riders can hear others for everyone's safety. That’s why bone conducting works for us”.

As New Zealand’s biggest cycling event, with endurance distances including the iconic Shimano 100km and Whaka Miler (that’s 160km), the team were looking for the right tool for the job.

“They’re the perfect partner for even Whaka’s longest distances with up to 10 hours in battery life, and are sweat & weather resistant” said Liam Murphy at distributor, FE Sports. Plus for those who shred every gram on their bike, it’s only 29g “it also means it's super comfy for those long periods” added Murphy. "We're really excited to be partnering with Whaka 100 and keep riders rocking throughout their training and the big day".

As a celebration of the new partnership, Shokz and Whaka 100 are giving away four pairs of Shokz OpenRun Pro’s, worth over $300. To go into the draw to win a pair, you simply need to be entered into any distance by 7 July 2024.