Competing in the gruelling world-class multisport race, the Coast to Coast, is a challenge that Rob Howarth and his teenage sons relish.
This month Rob, 52, and his sons Sam, 19, and Hamish, 17, who live in Millwater, are all competing and each is hoping for the quickest time.
It is the 10th time that life insurance adviser Rob has taken on the event – including four times as an individual. It involves running, cycling and white water kayaking 243km across the South Island, from the West Coast (Kumara Beach) to New Brighton Beach in Christchurch.
Multisport is Rob’s passion, and he has passed it onto his boys, as well as assisting Year 7 and 8 Orewa College students to compete at the AIMS Games.
Sam and Rob are doing the two-day individual race, while Hamish, an Orewa College student, is doing it in tandem with school friend Cameron Smith.
The family has been out training together since September, including running and cycling around the beach and rocks at Wenderholm.
Rob says multisport is about more than just fitness.
“It’s an adventure in the outdoors and a challenge,” he says. “The boys have had to learn to paddle whitewater and bring their bodies up to speed to compete. We love the South Island and the Coast to Coast showcases that. But there are lots of other events, including the Rodney Coast Challenge and Coastal Challenge that we do as well.”
