Marokopa Munter 12/24 Hour Adventure Race

Ready to Roll at the 4th Marokopa Munter

Annabelle Latz / 20.11.2020

Here we are on the eve of the Marokopa Munter 24 Hour Adventure Race!

The coastal town of Marokopa lies back and beyond Waitomo in the Waikato Region of New Zealand (that’s on North Island).

The teams (12hr and 24hr; mixed, male and female) arrived this evening for registration and the race briefing. The bikes are being transported over the hill right now to tomorrow’s start line and there will be 36 teams both the 12 and 24 hour events, (the 24 hour also has a pack raft and non-pack raft option).

The action will start mid-morning tomorrow, with the 12 hour teams setting off first, followed an hour later at 10am by the 24 hour teams, once they receive their maps.

It’s an interesting race format as teams must be back within their allocated hours, and the length of their rogaine on foot near the end of the race will be dependent on how much time they can afford to spend there without going over their time limit. 

Race Director Matt Lash promised the gathered crowd at the briefing epic views, challenging terrain, and a good solid adventure.

Amongst the faces in the crowd were familiar teams or combinations like Team Victory Vets (previously Virbac), Sneaky Weasel Gang, Fighting Over The Map, Tavendale and Partners, Highland Events, Tiger Adventure NZ, Go Fence Marlborough, and Jabberwock. 

Brendan Hickman from Team Victory Vets has graced the start line of Marakopa Munter every year, (this is the fourth race) and keeps coming back because, “It’s an amazing event put on by a bunch of top guys.”

The team especially loves the race format with the rogaine section and everyone finishing at the same time. “It’s a great race, and a great place.”

Team Sacred Heart and Francis Douglas New Plymouth is a high school team signed up for the 24 hour non-packrafting race. They have done a 20 hour race before as a team, but this is their first 24 hour race. 

Excited to travel from sunrise to sundown, they want to push their bodies to the limit, and see parts of the country they normally would never see. “Mostly, we’re just excited to get completely munted!” Said team member Fionnghuala Lynch. 

Bring on tomorrow, everyone is super excited and the weather looks pretty good.