Karapoti Classic

Locals & Olympians Looking to Conquer Karapoti

Michael Jacques / 28.02.2013

Twenty eight years ago 45 hardy souls lined up in Upper Hutt’s Akatarawa Ranges for New Zealand’s first annual mountain bike race. More than a quarter of a century later, almost 800 riders from 10 countries will line up for what has become the Southern Hemisphere’s longest running mountain bike event.

Established in 1986, the Merida Karapoti Classic is the event that kick-started the mountain bike movement in this country. Taking in a rugged 50k tour of Upper Hutt’s Akatarawa Ranges near Wellington, the course has remained unchanged since 1988 and past winners reads like a who’s-who of the sport.

American cycling magazine, VeloNews, once listed Karapoti as one of the 25 best mountain bike races in the world and the New Zealand book, Muddy Olympians (Kennett Brothers, 2012) dedicated an entire chapter to Karapoti as a barometer for the sport’s development.

As the first mountain bike event to attract 100 riders, the first to attract 1000 riders, the first to attract international riders and the first to attract mainstream media attention, Karapoti is accustomed to setting the standard. Although in 2012 they set a standard they’d rather have avoided when the unseasonal southerly storm that swept up the country forced organisers to postpone the event by two weeks.

“That was certainly a first,” says event organiser Michael Jacques. “But there was no way we would cancel Karapoti. There’s too much tradition to just skip a year.”

That’s exactly what Upper Hutt doctor Kim Hurst is thinking. The 34 year old is hoping to become the first Upper Hutt person to win their own race.

The Kiwi-based Brit is a former junior star who since settling in New Zealand has re-discovered her love for cycle sports. In her first out at Karapoti, in 2011, she finished second to multisport standout Elina Ussher. Despite riding faster in 2012 she was second again, this time to three-time winner Fiona Macdermid from Palmerston North.

Neither Macdermid nor Ussher is entered this year. But Hurst faces an even tougher race against London Olympian and recently crowned national champion, Karen Hanlen. The Whakatane rider has never raced Karapoti, but as a dabbler in multisport and running she isn’t expected to have any problems with iconic Karapoti elements such as Devil’s Staircase, a 3k long bike-carry up a hill so steep that steps are cut into the track.

Wellington’s Samara Sheppard will also be a factor. The national under-23 rep tasted victory on the prestigious World Cup circuit last year and like Hanlen she has a running background that lends well to the rough and tumble of Karapoti. Unlike Hanlen, however, Sheppard has several Karapoti’s to her credit, including a third place and the junior record.

The men’s race this year is wide open. Manawatu rider Mathew Waghorn will be looking to defend his surprise 2012 win, but he’ll need to watch a trio of former Karapoti runner-ups in Dirk Peters (Rotorua), Brendon Sharratt (Wgtn) and Gavin McCarthy (Upper Hutt).