Waitaki businesses are hoping to be in the pink this weekend, with more than 1200 women descending on the district for the Spring Challenge adventure race.

The 17th Spring Challenge Women’s Adventure Race has finally landed in the Waitaki, and race organiser Jodie Fa’avae said the team is excited to be here.

“We've always been meaning to come here, and it's just taken us a bit long … when my husband Nathan, he's the course designer, hit the ground in Kurow with a rough plan, he just found, we've just found the locals so supportive, and the land owners, it's been really easy.

“Just that positive can-do attitude, it’s brilliant.”

The event started out in Hanmer Springs in 2007, and was the brainchild of the Fa’avaes’. Nathan is a seven-time world adventure racing champion - and Spring Challenge is now the world’s largest adventure race.

Four hundred-and-twenty three-woman teams will be arriving, with their support crews, in Ōamaru on Friday (September 22), to find out what lies in store for them. 

Until they register at Waitaki Boys’ High School at 3.30pm that afternoon, they don’t know where they will be going, which is all part of the adventure.

There are three race lengths - three-hour, six-hour and nine-hour - which is the estimated time the fastest competitors are expected to complete them in. Teams are given a map with checkpoints to collect, and plot their own courses. 

The women will be rafting, biking and hiking for combined distances of up to 76km, and the race is centred around Kurow, Jodie said.

“They know Saturday is in Kurow, but they don't know anything more . . . and so Saturday's going to be really busy for Kurow.”

This year the nine-hour teams will be reaching the highest elevation ever for the Spring Challenge, and have been told to prepare for snow.

Jodie said the courses are “brilliant”.

“The three, six and nine-hour courses are all, they've all got their own adventure challenge within themselves. I'm really pleased with how the courses have shaped up.”

The weather forecast may add an extra challenge to the race. There is a heavy rain warning in place for Friday, but Saturday is not looking too bad, at this stage, she said.

“With adventure racing you have to be flexible and adaptable and just change, you know, make changes for conditions. So safety is our priority and we'll be assessing constantly.”

For women taking part in the race, Jodie said the best thing they can bring is a really good attitude and teamwork.

“And just that willingness to do what it takes together and have a good time.

“That's what I love about the Spring Challenge, is most people come with that attitude and you embrace it together.”

She said it was less about race day, and more about the journey getting there.

“Women enter . . . and then they commit to making time for themselves. And what I love about that is just shared adventures, and you also share the journey of life. You share those hardships of, you know, what's going on in the household. And so to me, people have already succeeded by just getting to the start line. 

“And I just think, nature, we need more time in the outdoors, don't we? And it's such a balancer, and puts things into perspective, and it's just so healthy.

“The event is like the icing on the cake, where it doesn't matter what happens, you know, you got there.” 

Waitaki District Council business and enterprise growth lead Rebecca Finlay said from an economic development perspective “we couldn’t be more delighted to host Spring Challenge”.

“Race goers will get to enjoy the Waitaki landscape in all its splendour, as well as our great eateries, shops, historic precinct and don’t forget the penguins. 

“Businesses have been encouraged to welcome race goers by pinking up on Friday night - the Oamaru Opera House is blushing all weekend.”

Victor Nelson Cycles and Oamaru Sports and Outdoors will be open late on Friday for anybody caught short for race gear, and she encouraged the women to “treat themselves” at some of the district’s boutique stores.

Jodie said there are great spots to watch the race, and she encouraged as many people as possible to be at the finish line to cheer the women on.

She also wanted to acknowledge the support the organising team had from people in the Waitaki.

“They made it so easy.”