Teams start Chapter 12 One NZ GODZONE at Picton Foreshore, gateway to the Marlborough Sounds and will finish nearby at Shelly Beach after completing a vast clockwise loop. The PURE course is a substantial 615km (the third highest ever) with teams navigating, packrafting, trekking, mountain biking, kayaking and even canyoning across the spectacular scenery of the South Island. The course has almost 16,000m of ascent which is the most ever for a GODZONE. The PURSUIT course broadly mirrors the PURE route. There are some small amendments to stages and checkpoint locations which, reduces the overall length of the PURSUIT course to a still impressive 526km.
There are 7 significant transition areas and one remote one, where teams are not permitted to see their support crews and are self sufficient. The highlight of the course may be the incredible variety of terrain, particularly on the trekking and packrafting stages, juxtaposed against the beauty of the Sounds. There will be some high level travel that should make for some outstanding views once through the tree line. The two dark zones may impact strategic decisions in the middle of the race with two different rivers unable to be paddled at night due to the severity of the rapids.
The expected winning time for the PURE & PURSUIT event is between 4 and 5 days. That’s a big race and the weather (and low water levels) could impact the anticipated finish rate.
Full Route Details…
Click the expand button on the interactive map below to zoom in on the course or get a good overview of the route for Chapter 12.
Stage 1: Chapter 12 of One NZ GODZONE kicks off in the gateway to the Marlborough Sounds and the beautiful township of Picton. Three disciplines make up this stage with teams first kayaking out of Picton to Anikiwa, then trekking near Mt Olivier before descending down to Double Bay. Teams will have carried their packrafts from the start and will inflate them here for the paddle into Pelorus Sound and onward to the TA1 at Havelock. Teams will start hard and want to make as much of the daylight as possible. Navigating the Havelock Channel at night will be trickier, especially at low tide.
Full Stage 1 Details…
Stage 2: Get out of Havelock and ride east. Teams pick up the Waikakaho Cullen Creek Track which follows an old gold miners route between Waikakako Valley on the northern side of the Wairau River, and Cullens Creek Valley near Linkwater. The track is ridden as an expert-grade MTB route that should present an interesting challenge in the dark of the first night of the race.
Full Stage 2 Details…
Stage 3: A solid trek in big country with teams completing a anticlockwise circuit of various peaks and valleys surrounding the Teme and Ferny Gair Conservation areas. Teams will face some big climbs and have to be judicious with their route choice. Options are available and there will be decisions to be made that avoids scrub and bush that can chock up certain routes. Daybreak and sunset could leave some lasting memories if the weather plays ball.
Full Stage 3 Details…
Stage 4: We doubt this has been done before. A proper backcountry adventure to take your bike on. GZ Pure teams have some forestry block riding to get confused in first. Then, up the Waihopai Valley, over the saddle (with a wee push/carry), down into Molesworth territory before heading through Travellers Valley to the TA. A truly epic ride.
Full Stage 4 Details…
Stage 5: Some strategy will come into play for Stage 5. Teams have to canoe the Wairau River (short section of Grade III+) and canyon St Ronans Well before they can depart on Stage 6. The Wairau River canoe is dark zoned so there is no paddling at night. Teams are, however, permitted to canyon at night and may wish to get that done during the witching hours if they feel the inclination. They can complete these two disciplines in any order they wish. This may be the point where some teams elect to get some decent sleep after a tough couple of days with lots of climb in the legs already. This stage should make for some spectacular media output!
Full Stage 5 Details…
Stage 6: A very long packraft down the Wairau River and then a spectacular trek through the Richmond Range (carrying all your gear) before arriving at Butchers Flat Camp. Views from the top of the Richmond Range should be spectacular and there are a couple of decent options to consider for teams.
Full Stage 6 Details…
Stage 7: A short and straightforward ride that is mostly downhill to the Pelorus River. Teams will use this ride to digest food, get their heads together and to prepare for the final push towards the finish line. Glimpses of the Sounds will be found as the teams get into the route and a taste of what is to come on the penultimate stage. The prior transition is where teams will have been short coursed meaning those that have ‘made it’ will continue on to Stage 8 whilst those who missed the cut off will effectively head straight on to Stage 9 instead.
Full Stage 7 Details…
Stage 8: A bit of a sting in the tail after a simple bike stage. GZ Pursuit teams will paddle out of the Pelorus River into Pelorus Sound and the Kenepuru Sound. They’ll be hoping there isn’t a headwind. The route culminates with an off-piste assault on Mt Stokes, the highest summit in the Marlborough Sounds before descending to the relative serenity of Kenepuru Head Camp.
Full Stage 8 Details…
Stage 9: Sort your gear out without the aid of your support crew as this is a remote transition. Pack up your kayak and head for home. The route takes teams through Kenepuru Sound before arriving at Te Mahia Bay. Here the teams will be forced to portage their kayaks over the col before descending to Waterfall Bay and the final paddle home towards Queen Charlotte Sound. That portage will not be welcomed we suspect. Still, the end is in sight and glory awaits those who make it to Shelly Beach in the time allowed.
Full Stage 9 Details…
Stage 1: Chapter 12 of One NZ GODZONE kicks off in the gateway to the Marlborough Sounds and the beautiful township of Picton. Three disciplines make up this stage with teams first kayaking out of Picton to Anikiwa, then trekking near Mt Olivier before descending down to Double Bay. Teams will have carried their packrafts from the start and will inflate them here for the paddle into Pelorus Sound and onward to the TA1 at Havelock. Teams will start hard and want to make as much of the daylight as possible. Navigating the Havelock Channel at night will be trickier, especially at low tide.
Full Stage 1 Details…
Stage 2: Get out of Havelock and ride east. Teams pick up the WaikakahoCullen Creek Track which follows an old gold miners route between Waikakako Valley on the northern side of the Wairau River, and Cullens Creek Valley near Linkwater. The track is ridden as an expert-grade MTB route that should present an interesting challenge in the dark of the first night of the race.
Full Stage 2 Details…
Stage 3: A big trek in big country with teams completing a anticlockwise circuit of various peaks and valleys surrounding the Penk and Ferny Gair Conservation areas. Teams will face some big climbs and have to be judicious with their route choice. Options are available and there will be decisions to be made that avoids scrub and bush that can chock up certain routes. Daybreak and sunset could leave some lasting memories if the weather plays ball.
Full Stage 3 Details…
Stage 4: We doubt this has been done before. A proper backcountry adventure to take your bike on. GZ Pure teams have some forestry block riding to get confused in first. Then, up the Waihopai Valley, over the saddle (with a wee push/carry), down into Molesworth territory before heading through Travellers Valley to the TA. A truly epic ride.
Full Stage 4 Details…
Stage 5: Some strategy will come into play for Stage 5. Teams have to canoe the Wairau River (short section of Grade III+) and canyon St Ronans Well before they can depart on Stage 6. The Wairau River canoe is dark zoned so there is no paddling at night. Teams are, however, permitted to canyon at night and may wish to get that done during the witching hours if they feel the inclination. They can complete these two disciplines in any order they wish. This may be the point where some teams elect to get some decent sleep after a tough couple of days with lots of climb in the legs already. This stage should make for some spectacular media output!
Full Stage 5 Details…
Stage 6: This could be the make or break stage for teams at or near the back of the field. A long packraft down the Wairau River with decisions to be made about where to exit. Then a massive trek through the Richmond Range (carrying all your gear) before popping out near the Pelorus River. Then some tough bush travel to get to Butchers Flat. Both rivers are dark zoned which may hold some teams up if they are forced to camp. This stage might take some teams a couple of days. Views from the top of the Richmond Range should be spectacular.
Full Stage 6 Details…
Stage 7: Teams who make it inside the time cut off are now faced with a technical ride along the Nydia and Archers tracks towards Elaine Bay. This route will provide some challenging Grade 4+ riding for those who have already been racing for many days. Concentration paramount. There is also a decent amount of up and down for those with tired legs. Glimpses of the Sounds will be found as the teams get into the route and a taste of what is to come on the penultimate stage.
Full Stage 7 Details…
Stage 8: A bit of a sting in the tail. This is a glorious packraft and trek stage that gives teams some route choice options as they navigate their way between the various Sounds and forested hills that border the waters edge. The route culminates with an off-piste assault on Mt Stokes, the highest summit in the Marlborough Sounds before descending to the relative serenity of Kenepuru Head Camp.
Full Stage 8 Details…
Stage 9: Sort your gear out without the aid of your support crew as this is a remote transition. Pack up your kayak and head for home. The route takes teams through Kenepuru Sound before arriving at Te Mahia Bay. Here the teams will be forced to portage their kayaks over the col before descending to Waterfall Bay and the final paddle home towards Queen Charlotte Sound. That portage will not be welcomed we suspect. Still, the end is in sight and glory awaits those who make it to Shelly Beach in the time allowed.
Full Stage 9 Details…
The above table outlines the basic statistics for the GZ PURE Course for Chapter 12. There are two time cut offs on the course that will ‘capture’ those teams who had no prospect of completing the Full Course in the time allowed. Both time cut offs take place at TA6 which is located at the end of the Stage 6 Packraft/Trek. Teams must depart TA6 (start Stage 7) before 1am Wednesday or they are moved on to Short Course 1. Short Course 1 teams miss TA7 and do a shorter Stage 7 and Stage 8, before kayaking to the finish. Teams who depart TA6 after 1am Thursday are moved on to Short Course 2. Short Course 2 teams do a shorter Stage 7 and miss Stage 8 entirely, before kayaking to the finish. All teams must arrive at the finish before 5pm Friday when the course closes (otherwise they become Unranked).
The above table outlines the basic statistics for the GZ PURSUIT Course for Chapter 12. There is one time cut off on the course that will ‘capture’ those teams who had no prospect of completing the Full Course in the time allowed. The time cut off takes place at TA6 which is located at the end of the Stage 6 Packraft/Trek. Teams must depart TA6 (start Stage 7) before 1am Thursday or they are moved on to Short Course 1. Teams who depart TA6 after 1am Thursday are moved on to Short Course 1. Short Course 1 teams miss Stage 8 entirely, before kayaking to the finish. All teams must arrive at the finish before 5pm Friday when the course closes (otherwise they become Unranked).
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