Atiwhakatu Mountain Bike Ride is outstanding success

Huri Huri News
27 January 2016

Last Thursday’s Atiwhakatu TrailBlazer has been declared an outstanding success by both participants and the organisers of the Huri Huri Wairarapa Bike Festival.

The 14km mountain bike ride along the Holdsworth to Atiwhakatu Hut track was not a race, but attracted dozens of experienced riders keen to take up this unique opportunity. The whole event took just three a half hours from the time the first participant left Mount Holdsworth Lodge until the final one returned, with the journey back proving to be far quicker as it was down the steep incline.

Huri Huri Event Manager Catherine Rossiter-Stead was delighted with the success of the ride. “The Atiwhakatu TrailBlazer was organised on the basis that it was a one-off opportunity and we are very grateful to DoC for giving us this rare opportunity and making the process so straightforward.

“Mountain bikers came from across the Lower North Island, including leading mountain biker Jonathan Kennett, who really enjoyed riding the track,” she said.

One of the biggest challenges faced by the organisers was how to transport the bikes safely and efficiently across the East Holdsworth Creek swing bridge. Carterton Scouts came to the rescue, thanks to the resourcefulness of their leader Ben Laybourn, who gave the problem to his brother – a stunt engineer in the film industry. He devised an ingenious pulley system to speed up the process of transporting swing bridge which was extremely effective. “This was a great opportunity for the scouts to employ some innovative thinking and they spent a really enjoyable day in the bush setting up and helping out. We were pleased to be able to contribute to the success of the event,” explained Laybourn.

Rossiter-Stead was delighted with the way the Wairarapa community got behind the bike festival. “It’s been a very successful event from the dozens of kids who enjoyed Sunday’s mini criterium to the seasoned mountain bikers who tackled the Atiwhakatu TrailBlazer. Thank you to all the volunteers and Wellington Free Ambulance who helped out with the TrailBlazer.”