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Organisers of the Ultimate Athlete in Ōrewa say competitors loved the course on the reserve and beach.
The event involves racing through a series of obstacles, including under cargo nets, up the Warped Wall, across monkey bars, flipping tyres and running along the sand.
The event held on Saturday, December 3 was the first time it has been held locally and co-organiser, Gavin Foster, says the Ōrewa course was very different from the other location where it is held, Mt Maunganui.
“The athletes loved running on the much firmer Ōrewa sand, there was a great atmosphere and a lot of support and sportsmanship,” he says.
Around 1000 competitors, both adults and children, took part, which Gavin says is similar to the numbers they get at The Mount.
Among them was Loukas Banks, aged 24, who grew up in Ōrewa. He says it was great to compete in his old stomping ground, after two years of racing at The Mount.
He says obstacle course racing (similar to Ninja Warrior) is very new to NZ and the sport is growing.
Loukas, an emergency nurse who recently moved to Hamilton, trains almost every day at places such as playgrounds, where he can do chin ups, monkey bars and variations of body weight exercises.
He says the functional fitness that the sport requires is good for everyone, requiring strength, flexibility and a lot of running and moving.
Competing in the Men’s Elite category, Loukas placed 6th, which was a big improvement on his last year 17th placing.
Gavin says the aim is to make the Ōrewa course an annual event, as well as expanding to the South Island.
