40th Kathmandu Coast to Coast

Elite Women’s Competition Set to be a Real Battle

Press Release / 09.02.2022

Expect another close battle at the front of the Elite Women’s field for this year’s Kathmandu Coast to Coast Longest Day.

Wanaka’s Simone Maier returns to defend the title she won for the second time in 2021, as does the effervescent 4-time champion Elina Ussher, who’s suiting up for her 17th Kathmandu Coast to Coast. Christchurch’s Fiona Dowling’s return to the start line rounds out last year’s podium getters with the trio not surprisingly ranked 1, 2 and 3. 

Experienced adventure racer Emily Wilson has been ranked 4th in the women’s elite competition but will wear bib number 272 due to a late entry.

As well as being a regular training partner of two-time champion Simone Maier, giving her a first-hand look at what it takes to win the coveted title, Wilson has plenty of experience of her own to call upon having first raced the Kathmandu Coast to Coast back in 2013. Despite signalling her intention late in the piece to compete in the 40th Anniversary event, her day job in conservation, which requires her to spend plenty of time in remote New Zealand, will provide a base fitness that many of her competitors may struggle to replicate.

A type one diabetic, Wilson says she continues to be inspired by one of her earliest memories of the event, when Emily Miazga won the women’s Longest Day for the 3rd time in 2009, giving her the hope of one day being another Emily to win the race. “It's just one of those events that lures you back. You have to dedicate so much of yourself to training, but the buzz you get from others doing the same is just so addictive,” said Wilson.  

Like the top 3, Christchurch’s Tessa Ajuke Dekker has found her groove in New Zealand, as well as a real love for multisport and the outdoors. She’s also dedicated countless hours to her pursuit, while also pairing up with Christchurch based Coach Flavio Vianna to further hone her craft.

Dekker says explaining the Kathmandu Coast to Coast to her friends and family back in the Netherlands is almost as challenging as competing in the event. “I always have to laugh… smile… they don’t quite get how you can go from one side of the country to the other in one day like we do, but it’s very fun, something I absolutely love.”

Dekker, who will wear bib number 6, but be ranked 5th, gained an appreciation for the event in 2019 where she took out the women’s open tandem section, before picking up a 3rd in the open three-person team the following year. The 32-year-old account manager finished sixth in her debut run at the Longest Day last year.

With weather threatening to disrupt the famous 70-kilometre kayak leg, which would then be replaced with a further 155 km’s of cycling, could really play into Dekkers hands with cycling certainly the strongest of her three disciplines.

Queenstown’s Renee Wootton’s debut into the Longest Day might also throw the cat amongst the pigeons, should the course be changed. Ranked one spot further back than Dekker, the former pro cyclist has the credentials to upset the top 5, especially if the course becomes a duathlon.

The Civil Engineer had signed up to compete last year, but was forced out with a badly broken ankle. “When I first heard about the event I was in disbelief. I had never heard of multisport and was honestly a bit shocked the event existed. It seems like such a daunting physical and mental challenge, and the more I thought about it, the more I wanted to do it.”

“You don’t know where your limits are until you go past them, and this seemed like a good opportunity to figure that out. It was also exciting as I had to learn a new skill (kayaking) which has forced me to get out of my comfort zone, be patient, and be resilient.”

Nelson’s Kathryn Bunckenburg is another who’s longed to be back on the start line of the Kathmandu Coast to Coast. Following her win in the open women’s 2-day event in 2017, the Nelson-based outdoor instructor took on the Longest Day in 2018, finishing in 14 hours 50 minutes, but has since been kept away through injury. Her favoured discipline lies in the kayak, evident with two second place finishes in the Waimak and Clutha Classic’s, as well as a victory in the Porirua Grand Traverse.

“The women’s race continues to have the most depth in terms of the field, there is just so much talent in women’s adventure sport in NZ currently and this is evident in the Women’s Elite Coast to Coast field.” Said Race Director Glen Currie.

“Elina Ussher will be competitive there I have no doubt about it, she doesn’t have ‘bad’ days on this course and although she has raced it 17 times it will be absolutely no surprise to anyone if she wins again. Maier, Dowling and Wilson will all be hunting podium spots with Maier being unquestionably the favourite to win once again. Although all of the above four women will know that even finishing Top 5 in this field is an achievement especially with names like Bunckenberg, Peddie, Kingsford, Dekker, and Lawrence on the start line. The depth is awesome, and I can’t wait to watch some tight racing once again!”

With borders being closed Mt Hutt Snow Groomer Sez Peddi has taken the chance to focus her attentions on the Longest Day and will line up as the 8th ranked female, while Tirau’s Rebecca Kingsford (9) and Tauranga’s Matilda Lawrence (10) will also be athletes to watch out for as they round out the 2020 Elite Women’s Top 10.