Red Bull Swim Leg - 3.8km

The swim course is set for Roy's Bay in Lake Wanaka and will start with individuals at 7:00am. Teams will start two hours later at 9:00am.

The two-lap swim is in the sheltered part of Roy's Bay in Lake Wanaka within easy view of spectators watching from the shore. The course has a beach start swimming in an anti-clockwise direction with a total of four turn buoys. The average water depth for most of the course is 2.5m although the final leg does have depths of up to 13m.

Lake Wanaka is the warmest lake in the Southern Lakes and is a popular choice for a large range of water sports each summer. The swim course is in crystal clear water so clean you can drink it.

The following rules will apply to the swim :

Wetsuit - compulsory. blueseventy wetsuits are available to hire for Challenge Wanaka athletes from blueseventy outlets. Click here to find your nearest retailer.

Event swim cap - compulsory (provided at registration)

Please note that other swim equipment (eg. neoprene swim cap if water drops below 14C) maybe made compulsory prior to the event.

In all likelihood, the swim course temperature in January will be in the region of 15C-17C, and that being the case, we will revise the compulsory requirements for the swim, but you must come prepared. Those not wearing compulsory gear as specified by the event team on race day will not be allowed to start.

Transition 1 (T1)

Exiting the swim course at Pembroke Park, you will need to collect your T1 (swim to bike) bag and proceed to either the men's or women's changing tents. Once you have changed into your cycling gear, please place all of your swim gear in your T1 bag and leave it in the change tent. One of the Volunteers will collect your T1 bag which will be made available from the 'Gear Collection Area' after the race.

Bikes will be pre-racked (by you) the day before the race in numerical order. Your helmet must be clipped on before unracking your bike, and you must proceed on foot to exit T1 and head out onto the bike course.

Pre-Race Practise Swims

There is an official Swim the Course practise session on Wednesday 12 January at 7.00am. This is the only time that the course will be patrolled with safety boats. If you wish to swim in the lake at any other time, you MUST wear a brightly coloured swim cap and swim in groups. It is recommended that you also have a friend in a safety kayak. This is for your own safety and that of other lake users. Also, please keep out of the water ski lanes (marked by blue/yellow striped posts on shore) and the marina area.