Freezing temperatures as low as 2°C in the snow covered peaks of Wanaka today, made some unexpected and brutally challenging conditions for the 66 teams of Elite and Amateur athletes competing in the 142km endurance race today, Red Bull Defiance.
Local athlete and three time Coast-to-Coast Champion Braden Currie (NZ) and team-mate Josiah Middaugh (USA) managed to defy the odds, completing the two day event in over ten hours (10:22:21), taking home the Men’s Elite crown.
“That kind of racing to me is what it’s all about. It was one of the coolest experiences of my life.” Says Currie.
“I don’t think I’ve ever raced in such bad weather conditions. When we hit the top of that mountain bike ride it was snowing. It was consistent head wind it was freezing cold. We were coming off the top of Criffel Peak and I think I was getting hypothermic, my chin was going, but I knew I couldn’t stop. It was a matter of survival.” |
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