Kathmandu Coast to Coast
Can Currie Crush Coast to Coast?
Press Release / 10.02.2017
Already a three-time, consecutive Kathmandu Coast to Coast champion, Braden Currie is confident he can add a fourth World Multisport Championship title to his trophy haul this Saturday.
The epic Kathmandu Coast to Coast is one of the most iconic multisport events in the world, featuring a 3km run, 55km road bike, 33km mountain run, 15km road bike, 67km kayak and a 70km road bike to the finish in Christchurch.
We catch up with Braden Currie about how his build-up and experience (three wins from four attempts) should help him compete against a stacked field over the 242km multisport race across the South Island.
Red Bull (RB): You have had a successful summer so far - what do you attribute your wins at Taupo 70.3, Port of Tauranga Half and Red Bull Defiance to?
Braden Currie (BC): I had a really good back part of last year. After a challenging start to last year racing ITU, I managed to take my learnings and put some focus into all the areas that I knew needed work on. The USA last year gave me the most consistent training base I’ve ever had. My whole focus was getting the most out of my days and recovering quickly in between. Ultimately I felt like I took a really good step forward in my fitness and racing ability. I’m stoked with the results I have had over the last few months and I am looking forward to the next two big events.
RB: What made you want to return to the Kathmandu Coast to Coast after taking a year off competing in this event last year.
BC: Coast to Coast is such an iconic race and it is pretty much where it all began for me. Over the years it has always been an event I’ve loved racing and have been incredibly passionate about. I was stoked to have the opportunity to fit it in. The NZ summer of racing just seems to get tighter and tighter, and its becoming really hard to choose between all the epic events on offer, but Coast to Coast was one that just needed to be there for me this year.
RB: How has your training been going for it?
BC: Training is going really good. It has been a busy summer so its been hard to get the big blocks of training in but I have been happy with the training I have done. My paddling has come a long way and should be there for race day. I have also really enjoyed getting back in the boat. I feel like it has given me back more of the upper body strength that I used to have and this is crossing over well in my swim.
RB: What is your race strategy?
BC: Just to race consistent. I think that I have probably a lot more endurance than I have ever had before. I know that my riding has come a long way and that’s been a big thing that I’ve been working on the past few years - my biking and my bike endurance - working into IRONMAN New Zealand after Coast. I feel like I’ve got strength all day but just need to be able to race consistent so I can use that.
RB: Who are your biggest rivals?
BC: Sam Manson, Sam Clark, the younger guys Daniel Jones and Alex Hunt but also [fellow Red Bull athlete] Courtney Atkinson.
RB: What is going to give you the edge over them?
BC: Knowledge of the course and knowledge of how to race it and how to win it.
Interview by Catherine Pattsion for https://www.redbull.com/nz-en/can-currie-crush-coast-to-coast
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