JP Tobin

Competing in the sport of windsurfing (JP) has won multiple National titles and World Cup Regattas, twice ranked number one in the world and proudly represented New Zealand at the 2012 London Olympic Games.
Along with windsurfing he is a passionate multisport athlete and will line up for offroad run/bike/multisport and stand up paddle events whenever schedules allow.
JP's current focus is on the 2016 Rio Olympic Games where the objective is to win Gold.

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Xterra New Zealand 2013 13th April | 2013 Blue Lake - New Zealand Two weeks of rushed bike/run prep following my return home from Brazil (Windsurfing World Championships) and subsequent time spent in recovery from neck and stomach issues picked up while away was always asking a bit much for any serious leg speed, but having not competed in 2012 I had to take the opportunity to attempt to age group qualify for the Xterra World Championships (Maui, Hawaii). The year previous being Olympic I was sternly advised by coach Chris Pilone that if I showed up on the result list it was going to be a two for one castration deal for me and his cat at the local vet the following week, even despite this warning I could not stay away and went to watch the race unfold from the sidelines, albeit the sidelines in the middle of the Redwood Forest.  Total swim preparation for the race was during the swim at Xterra New Zealand 2011, some two years prior a vastly different race that I had actually logged up some training hours for. However armed with some sweet kit thanks to 2XU New Zealand…Niner Bikes and the right fuel from Hammer Nutrition New Zealand I was set.  This being the third time lining up for Xterra meant I was at least right up to speed on how to set up for the race, into the pits I tactically selected my area to enable both a rapid approach and a quick exit from swim/bike and bike/run transitions. Following a quick warm up run I returned to my setup to learn a valuable lesson - if you create a nice organised space for your bike and shoes you will return to find a couple of other Xterra athletes have happily moved in…new concept is to leave all kit laying around as disorganised as possible until the last possible moment.  Time for the swim and into the V2 which still has just 1 km on the clock…I never really appreciate a good wetsuit quite as much as I do when I race Xterra…there are two primary reasons for this. Firstly and foremost Lake Tikitapu is COLD, to someone who spends most of their time on the surface of the water this is significant, secondly triathlon specific suits have very high flotation properties which make swimming and staying afloat a far more simplified activity.  Lining up for the start of the swim I found my (SUP) paddling tactics coming into play, finding the quickest line around the marks was going to shave off valuable seconds, making my way towards the end of the line offering the most direct route I found the yellow caps of the pro field, clearly they had done this before.  Now I was in some fast company a new mission was formed to attempt to stay on the feet of the a selected pro as long as possible (not all of them can swim fast)…start sounded and off we went with me in full drafting mode, all was going well until my physiolocical system decided it did not fully recognise what this activity was and the amount of oxygen going into the system was not up to specifications.  Now reduced to swimming breath stroke the thought of drafting pro’s was of little concern with the chasing field bearing down oxygen consumption and survival became the new goal…it is interesting in the middle of a large chasing pack of swimmers how uncomfortable the whole situation quickly becomes.  After a period swimming breathstroke amoungst the pack I was able to get back into the swing of things and once around the final turn heading for T1  all the finer techniques of swimming started coming back.  Back on the beach and into and out of T1 reasonably quickly I was now in a far more enoyable and familiar environment…26 km of riding through the Redwood Forest lay ahead…PLEASURE with a bit of pain.  The 11 km run around the Blue Lake to finish is spectacular not that you get much time for appreciation, it is great how close spectators can get to watch this race, literally right beside the trails and the support while pushing the legs way past their comfort zone is a real boost.  I managed an acceptable time for the input completing a top 10 finish excluding the pro’s. I have planned a few more multi sport events over the coming weeks of an endurance and strength phase building up for my return to the board. Training with a race target is an important part of maximising output.  I find that there is significantly more drive and urgency in each training session when there is a race approaching regardless of the size. That and as happens every time I line up for this event I get hooked on multi sport.
Zoom Info
Xterra New Zealand 2013 13th April | 2013 Blue Lake - New Zealand Two weeks of rushed bike/run prep following my return home from Brazil (Windsurfing World Championships) and subsequent time spent in recovery from neck and stomach issues picked up while away was always asking a bit much for any serious leg speed, but having not competed in 2012 I had to take the opportunity to attempt to age group qualify for the Xterra World Championships (Maui, Hawaii). The year previous being Olympic I was sternly advised by coach Chris Pilone that if I showed up on the result list it was going to be a two for one castration deal for me and his cat at the local vet the following week, even despite this warning I could not stay away and went to watch the race unfold from the sidelines, albeit the sidelines in the middle of the Redwood Forest.  Total swim preparation for the race was during the swim at Xterra New Zealand 2011, some two years prior a vastly different race that I had actually logged up some training hours for. However armed with some sweet kit thanks to 2XU New Zealand…Niner Bikes and the right fuel from Hammer Nutrition New Zealand I was set.  This being the third time lining up for Xterra meant I was at least right up to speed on how to set up for the race, into the pits I tactically selected my area to enable both a rapid approach and a quick exit from swim/bike and bike/run transitions. Following a quick warm up run I returned to my setup to learn a valuable lesson - if you create a nice organised space for your bike and shoes you will return to find a couple of other Xterra athletes have happily moved in…new concept is to leave all kit laying around as disorganised as possible until the last possible moment.  Time for the swim and into the V2 which still has just 1 km on the clock…I never really appreciate a good wetsuit quite as much as I do when I race Xterra…there are two primary reasons for this. Firstly and foremost Lake Tikitapu is COLD, to someone who spends most of their time on the surface of the water this is significant, secondly triathlon specific suits have very high flotation properties which make swimming and staying afloat a far more simplified activity.  Lining up for the start of the swim I found my (SUP) paddling tactics coming into play, finding the quickest line around the marks was going to shave off valuable seconds, making my way towards the end of the line offering the most direct route I found the yellow caps of the pro field, clearly they had done this before.  Now I was in some fast company a new mission was formed to attempt to stay on the feet of the a selected pro as long as possible (not all of them can swim fast)…start sounded and off we went with me in full drafting mode, all was going well until my physiolocical system decided it did not fully recognise what this activity was and the amount of oxygen going into the system was not up to specifications.  Now reduced to swimming breath stroke the thought of drafting pro’s was of little concern with the chasing field bearing down oxygen consumption and survival became the new goal…it is interesting in the middle of a large chasing pack of swimmers how uncomfortable the whole situation quickly becomes.  After a period swimming breathstroke amoungst the pack I was able to get back into the swing of things and once around the final turn heading for T1  all the finer techniques of swimming started coming back.  Back on the beach and into and out of T1 reasonably quickly I was now in a far more enoyable and familiar environment…26 km of riding through the Redwood Forest lay ahead…PLEASURE with a bit of pain.  The 11 km run around the Blue Lake to finish is spectacular not that you get much time for appreciation, it is great how close spectators can get to watch this race, literally right beside the trails and the support while pushing the legs way past their comfort zone is a real boost.  I managed an acceptable time for the input completing a top 10 finish excluding the pro’s. I have planned a few more multi sport events over the coming weeks of an endurance and strength phase building up for my return to the board. Training with a race target is an important part of maximising output.  I find that there is significantly more drive and urgency in each training session when there is a race approaching regardless of the size. That and as happens every time I line up for this event I get hooked on multi sport.
Zoom Info
Xterra New Zealand 2013 13th April | 2013 Blue Lake - New Zealand Two weeks of rushed bike/run prep following my return home from Brazil (Windsurfing World Championships) and subsequent time spent in recovery from neck and stomach issues picked up while away was always asking a bit much for any serious leg speed, but having not competed in 2012 I had to take the opportunity to attempt to age group qualify for the Xterra World Championships (Maui, Hawaii). The year previous being Olympic I was sternly advised by coach Chris Pilone that if I showed up on the result list it was going to be a two for one castration deal for me and his cat at the local vet the following week, even despite this warning I could not stay away and went to watch the race unfold from the sidelines, albeit the sidelines in the middle of the Redwood Forest.  Total swim preparation for the race was during the swim at Xterra New Zealand 2011, some two years prior a vastly different race that I had actually logged up some training hours for. However armed with some sweet kit thanks to 2XU New Zealand…Niner Bikes and the right fuel from Hammer Nutrition New Zealand I was set.  This being the third time lining up for Xterra meant I was at least right up to speed on how to set up for the race, into the pits I tactically selected my area to enable both a rapid approach and a quick exit from swim/bike and bike/run transitions. Following a quick warm up run I returned to my setup to learn a valuable lesson - if you create a nice organised space for your bike and shoes you will return to find a couple of other Xterra athletes have happily moved in…new concept is to leave all kit laying around as disorganised as possible until the last possible moment.  Time for the swim and into the V2 which still has just 1 km on the clock…I never really appreciate a good wetsuit quite as much as I do when I race Xterra…there are two primary reasons for this. Firstly and foremost Lake Tikitapu is COLD, to someone who spends most of their time on the surface of the water this is significant, secondly triathlon specific suits have very high flotation properties which make swimming and staying afloat a far more simplified activity.  Lining up for the start of the swim I found my (SUP) paddling tactics coming into play, finding the quickest line around the marks was going to shave off valuable seconds, making my way towards the end of the line offering the most direct route I found the yellow caps of the pro field, clearly they had done this before.  Now I was in some fast company a new mission was formed to attempt to stay on the feet of the a selected pro as long as possible (not all of them can swim fast)…start sounded and off we went with me in full drafting mode, all was going well until my physiolocical system decided it did not fully recognise what this activity was and the amount of oxygen going into the system was not up to specifications.  Now reduced to swimming breath stroke the thought of drafting pro’s was of little concern with the chasing field bearing down oxygen consumption and survival became the new goal…it is interesting in the middle of a large chasing pack of swimmers how uncomfortable the whole situation quickly becomes.  After a period swimming breathstroke amoungst the pack I was able to get back into the swing of things and once around the final turn heading for T1  all the finer techniques of swimming started coming back.  Back on the beach and into and out of T1 reasonably quickly I was now in a far more enoyable and familiar environment…26 km of riding through the Redwood Forest lay ahead…PLEASURE with a bit of pain.  The 11 km run around the Blue Lake to finish is spectacular not that you get much time for appreciation, it is great how close spectators can get to watch this race, literally right beside the trails and the support while pushing the legs way past their comfort zone is a real boost.  I managed an acceptable time for the input completing a top 10 finish excluding the pro’s. I have planned a few more multi sport events over the coming weeks of an endurance and strength phase building up for my return to the board. Training with a race target is an important part of maximising output.  I find that there is significantly more drive and urgency in each training session when there is a race approaching regardless of the size. That and as happens every time I line up for this event I get hooked on multi sport.
Zoom Info
Xterra New Zealand 2013 13th April | 2013 Blue Lake - New Zealand Two weeks of rushed bike/run prep following my return home from Brazil (Windsurfing World Championships) and subsequent time spent in recovery from neck and stomach issues picked up while away was always asking a bit much for any serious leg speed, but having not competed in 2012 I had to take the opportunity to attempt to age group qualify for the Xterra World Championships (Maui, Hawaii). The year previous being Olympic I was sternly advised by coach Chris Pilone that if I showed up on the result list it was going to be a two for one castration deal for me and his cat at the local vet the following week, even despite this warning I could not stay away and went to watch the race unfold from the sidelines, albeit the sidelines in the middle of the Redwood Forest.  Total swim preparation for the race was during the swim at Xterra New Zealand 2011, some two years prior a vastly different race that I had actually logged up some training hours for. However armed with some sweet kit thanks to 2XU New Zealand…Niner Bikes and the right fuel from Hammer Nutrition New Zealand I was set.  This being the third time lining up for Xterra meant I was at least right up to speed on how to set up for the race, into the pits I tactically selected my area to enable both a rapid approach and a quick exit from swim/bike and bike/run transitions. Following a quick warm up run I returned to my setup to learn a valuable lesson - if you create a nice organised space for your bike and shoes you will return to find a couple of other Xterra athletes have happily moved in…new concept is to leave all kit laying around as disorganised as possible until the last possible moment.  Time for the swim and into the V2 which still has just 1 km on the clock…I never really appreciate a good wetsuit quite as much as I do when I race Xterra…there are two primary reasons for this. Firstly and foremost Lake Tikitapu is COLD, to someone who spends most of their time on the surface of the water this is significant, secondly triathlon specific suits have very high flotation properties which make swimming and staying afloat a far more simplified activity.  Lining up for the start of the swim I found my (SUP) paddling tactics coming into play, finding the quickest line around the marks was going to shave off valuable seconds, making my way towards the end of the line offering the most direct route I found the yellow caps of the pro field, clearly they had done this before.  Now I was in some fast company a new mission was formed to attempt to stay on the feet of the a selected pro as long as possible (not all of them can swim fast)…start sounded and off we went with me in full drafting mode, all was going well until my physiolocical system decided it did not fully recognise what this activity was and the amount of oxygen going into the system was not up to specifications.  Now reduced to swimming breath stroke the thought of drafting pro’s was of little concern with the chasing field bearing down oxygen consumption and survival became the new goal…it is interesting in the middle of a large chasing pack of swimmers how uncomfortable the whole situation quickly becomes.  After a period swimming breathstroke amoungst the pack I was able to get back into the swing of things and once around the final turn heading for T1  all the finer techniques of swimming started coming back.  Back on the beach and into and out of T1 reasonably quickly I was now in a far more enoyable and familiar environment…26 km of riding through the Redwood Forest lay ahead…PLEASURE with a bit of pain.  The 11 km run around the Blue Lake to finish is spectacular not that you get much time for appreciation, it is great how close spectators can get to watch this race, literally right beside the trails and the support while pushing the legs way past their comfort zone is a real boost.  I managed an acceptable time for the input completing a top 10 finish excluding the pro’s. I have planned a few more multi sport events over the coming weeks of an endurance and strength phase building up for my return to the board. Training with a race target is an important part of maximising output.  I find that there is significantly more drive and urgency in each training session when there is a race approaching regardless of the size. That and as happens every time I line up for this event I get hooked on multi sport.
Zoom Info
Xterra New Zealand 2013 13th April | 2013 Blue Lake - New Zealand Two weeks of rushed bike/run prep following my return home from Brazil (Windsurfing World Championships) and subsequent time spent in recovery from neck and stomach issues picked up while away was always asking a bit much for any serious leg speed, but having not competed in 2012 I had to take the opportunity to attempt to age group qualify for the Xterra World Championships (Maui, Hawaii). The year previous being Olympic I was sternly advised by coach Chris Pilone that if I showed up on the result list it was going to be a two for one castration deal for me and his cat at the local vet the following week, even despite this warning I could not stay away and went to watch the race unfold from the sidelines, albeit the sidelines in the middle of the Redwood Forest.  Total swim preparation for the race was during the swim at Xterra New Zealand 2011, some two years prior a vastly different race that I had actually logged up some training hours for. However armed with some sweet kit thanks to 2XU New Zealand…Niner Bikes and the right fuel from Hammer Nutrition New Zealand I was set.  This being the third time lining up for Xterra meant I was at least right up to speed on how to set up for the race, into the pits I tactically selected my area to enable both a rapid approach and a quick exit from swim/bike and bike/run transitions. Following a quick warm up run I returned to my setup to learn a valuable lesson - if you create a nice organised space for your bike and shoes you will return to find a couple of other Xterra athletes have happily moved in…new concept is to leave all kit laying around as disorganised as possible until the last possible moment.  Time for the swim and into the V2 which still has just 1 km on the clock…I never really appreciate a good wetsuit quite as much as I do when I race Xterra…there are two primary reasons for this. Firstly and foremost Lake Tikitapu is COLD, to someone who spends most of their time on the surface of the water this is significant, secondly triathlon specific suits have very high flotation properties which make swimming and staying afloat a far more simplified activity.  Lining up for the start of the swim I found my (SUP) paddling tactics coming into play, finding the quickest line around the marks was going to shave off valuable seconds, making my way towards the end of the line offering the most direct route I found the yellow caps of the pro field, clearly they had done this before.  Now I was in some fast company a new mission was formed to attempt to stay on the feet of the a selected pro as long as possible (not all of them can swim fast)…start sounded and off we went with me in full drafting mode, all was going well until my physiolocical system decided it did not fully recognise what this activity was and the amount of oxygen going into the system was not up to specifications.  Now reduced to swimming breath stroke the thought of drafting pro’s was of little concern with the chasing field bearing down oxygen consumption and survival became the new goal…it is interesting in the middle of a large chasing pack of swimmers how uncomfortable the whole situation quickly becomes.  After a period swimming breathstroke amoungst the pack I was able to get back into the swing of things and once around the final turn heading for T1  all the finer techniques of swimming started coming back.  Back on the beach and into and out of T1 reasonably quickly I was now in a far more enoyable and familiar environment…26 km of riding through the Redwood Forest lay ahead…PLEASURE with a bit of pain.  The 11 km run around the Blue Lake to finish is spectacular not that you get much time for appreciation, it is great how close spectators can get to watch this race, literally right beside the trails and the support while pushing the legs way past their comfort zone is a real boost.  I managed an acceptable time for the input completing a top 10 finish excluding the pro’s. I have planned a few more multi sport events over the coming weeks of an endurance and strength phase building up for my return to the board. Training with a race target is an important part of maximising output.  I find that there is significantly more drive and urgency in each training session when there is a race approaching regardless of the size. That and as happens every time I line up for this event I get hooked on multi sport.
Zoom Info
Xterra New Zealand 2013 13th April | 2013 Blue Lake - New Zealand Two weeks of rushed bike/run prep following my return home from Brazil (Windsurfing World Championships) and subsequent time spent in recovery from neck and stomach issues picked up while away was always asking a bit much for any serious leg speed, but having not competed in 2012 I had to take the opportunity to attempt to age group qualify for the Xterra World Championships (Maui, Hawaii). The year previous being Olympic I was sternly advised by coach Chris Pilone that if I showed up on the result list it was going to be a two for one castration deal for me and his cat at the local vet the following week, even despite this warning I could not stay away and went to watch the race unfold from the sidelines, albeit the sidelines in the middle of the Redwood Forest.  Total swim preparation for the race was during the swim at Xterra New Zealand 2011, some two years prior a vastly different race that I had actually logged up some training hours for. However armed with some sweet kit thanks to 2XU New Zealand…Niner Bikes and the right fuel from Hammer Nutrition New Zealand I was set.  This being the third time lining up for Xterra meant I was at least right up to speed on how to set up for the race, into the pits I tactically selected my area to enable both a rapid approach and a quick exit from swim/bike and bike/run transitions. Following a quick warm up run I returned to my setup to learn a valuable lesson - if you create a nice organised space for your bike and shoes you will return to find a couple of other Xterra athletes have happily moved in…new concept is to leave all kit laying around as disorganised as possible until the last possible moment.  Time for the swim and into the V2 which still has just 1 km on the clock…I never really appreciate a good wetsuit quite as much as I do when I race Xterra…there are two primary reasons for this. Firstly and foremost Lake Tikitapu is COLD, to someone who spends most of their time on the surface of the water this is significant, secondly triathlon specific suits have very high flotation properties which make swimming and staying afloat a far more simplified activity.  Lining up for the start of the swim I found my (SUP) paddling tactics coming into play, finding the quickest line around the marks was going to shave off valuable seconds, making my way towards the end of the line offering the most direct route I found the yellow caps of the pro field, clearly they had done this before.  Now I was in some fast company a new mission was formed to attempt to stay on the feet of the a selected pro as long as possible (not all of them can swim fast)…start sounded and off we went with me in full drafting mode, all was going well until my physiolocical system decided it did not fully recognise what this activity was and the amount of oxygen going into the system was not up to specifications.  Now reduced to swimming breath stroke the thought of drafting pro’s was of little concern with the chasing field bearing down oxygen consumption and survival became the new goal…it is interesting in the middle of a large chasing pack of swimmers how uncomfortable the whole situation quickly becomes.  After a period swimming breathstroke amoungst the pack I was able to get back into the swing of things and once around the final turn heading for T1  all the finer techniques of swimming started coming back.  Back on the beach and into and out of T1 reasonably quickly I was now in a far more enoyable and familiar environment…26 km of riding through the Redwood Forest lay ahead…PLEASURE with a bit of pain.  The 11 km run around the Blue Lake to finish is spectacular not that you get much time for appreciation, it is great how close spectators can get to watch this race, literally right beside the trails and the support while pushing the legs way past their comfort zone is a real boost.  I managed an acceptable time for the input completing a top 10 finish excluding the pro’s. I have planned a few more multi sport events over the coming weeks of an endurance and strength phase building up for my return to the board. Training with a race target is an important part of maximising output.  I find that there is significantly more drive and urgency in each training session when there is a race approaching regardless of the size. That and as happens every time I line up for this event I get hooked on multi sport.
Zoom Info
Xterra New Zealand 2013 13th April | 2013 Blue Lake - New Zealand Two weeks of rushed bike/run prep following my return home from Brazil (Windsurfing World Championships) and subsequent time spent in recovery from neck and stomach issues picked up while away was always asking a bit much for any serious leg speed, but having not competed in 2012 I had to take the opportunity to attempt to age group qualify for the Xterra World Championships (Maui, Hawaii). The year previous being Olympic I was sternly advised by coach Chris Pilone that if I showed up on the result list it was going to be a two for one castration deal for me and his cat at the local vet the following week, even despite this warning I could not stay away and went to watch the race unfold from the sidelines, albeit the sidelines in the middle of the Redwood Forest.  Total swim preparation for the race was during the swim at Xterra New Zealand 2011, some two years prior a vastly different race that I had actually logged up some training hours for. However armed with some sweet kit thanks to 2XU New Zealand…Niner Bikes and the right fuel from Hammer Nutrition New Zealand I was set.  This being the third time lining up for Xterra meant I was at least right up to speed on how to set up for the race, into the pits I tactically selected my area to enable both a rapid approach and a quick exit from swim/bike and bike/run transitions. Following a quick warm up run I returned to my setup to learn a valuable lesson - if you create a nice organised space for your bike and shoes you will return to find a couple of other Xterra athletes have happily moved in…new concept is to leave all kit laying around as disorganised as possible until the last possible moment.  Time for the swim and into the V2 which still has just 1 km on the clock…I never really appreciate a good wetsuit quite as much as I do when I race Xterra…there are two primary reasons for this. Firstly and foremost Lake Tikitapu is COLD, to someone who spends most of their time on the surface of the water this is significant, secondly triathlon specific suits have very high flotation properties which make swimming and staying afloat a far more simplified activity.  Lining up for the start of the swim I found my (SUP) paddling tactics coming into play, finding the quickest line around the marks was going to shave off valuable seconds, making my way towards the end of the line offering the most direct route I found the yellow caps of the pro field, clearly they had done this before.  Now I was in some fast company a new mission was formed to attempt to stay on the feet of the a selected pro as long as possible (not all of them can swim fast)…start sounded and off we went with me in full drafting mode, all was going well until my physiolocical system decided it did not fully recognise what this activity was and the amount of oxygen going into the system was not up to specifications.  Now reduced to swimming breath stroke the thought of drafting pro’s was of little concern with the chasing field bearing down oxygen consumption and survival became the new goal…it is interesting in the middle of a large chasing pack of swimmers how uncomfortable the whole situation quickly becomes.  After a period swimming breathstroke amoungst the pack I was able to get back into the swing of things and once around the final turn heading for T1  all the finer techniques of swimming started coming back.  Back on the beach and into and out of T1 reasonably quickly I was now in a far more enoyable and familiar environment…26 km of riding through the Redwood Forest lay ahead…PLEASURE with a bit of pain.  The 11 km run around the Blue Lake to finish is spectacular not that you get much time for appreciation, it is great how close spectators can get to watch this race, literally right beside the trails and the support while pushing the legs way past their comfort zone is a real boost.  I managed an acceptable time for the input completing a top 10 finish excluding the pro’s. I have planned a few more multi sport events over the coming weeks of an endurance and strength phase building up for my return to the board. Training with a race target is an important part of maximising output.  I find that there is significantly more drive and urgency in each training session when there is a race approaching regardless of the size. That and as happens every time I line up for this event I get hooked on multi sport.
Zoom Info
Xterra New Zealand 2013 13th April | 2013 Blue Lake - New Zealand Two weeks of rushed bike/run prep following my return home from Brazil (Windsurfing World Championships) and subsequent time spent in recovery from neck and stomach issues picked up while away was always asking a bit much for any serious leg speed, but having not competed in 2012 I had to take the opportunity to attempt to age group qualify for the Xterra World Championships (Maui, Hawaii). The year previous being Olympic I was sternly advised by coach Chris Pilone that if I showed up on the result list it was going to be a two for one castration deal for me and his cat at the local vet the following week, even despite this warning I could not stay away and went to watch the race unfold from the sidelines, albeit the sidelines in the middle of the Redwood Forest.  Total swim preparation for the race was during the swim at Xterra New Zealand 2011, some two years prior a vastly different race that I had actually logged up some training hours for. However armed with some sweet kit thanks to 2XU New Zealand…Niner Bikes and the right fuel from Hammer Nutrition New Zealand I was set.  This being the third time lining up for Xterra meant I was at least right up to speed on how to set up for the race, into the pits I tactically selected my area to enable both a rapid approach and a quick exit from swim/bike and bike/run transitions. Following a quick warm up run I returned to my setup to learn a valuable lesson - if you create a nice organised space for your bike and shoes you will return to find a couple of other Xterra athletes have happily moved in…new concept is to leave all kit laying around as disorganised as possible until the last possible moment.  Time for the swim and into the V2 which still has just 1 km on the clock…I never really appreciate a good wetsuit quite as much as I do when I race Xterra…there are two primary reasons for this. Firstly and foremost Lake Tikitapu is COLD, to someone who spends most of their time on the surface of the water this is significant, secondly triathlon specific suits have very high flotation properties which make swimming and staying afloat a far more simplified activity.  Lining up for the start of the swim I found my (SUP) paddling tactics coming into play, finding the quickest line around the marks was going to shave off valuable seconds, making my way towards the end of the line offering the most direct route I found the yellow caps of the pro field, clearly they had done this before.  Now I was in some fast company a new mission was formed to attempt to stay on the feet of the a selected pro as long as possible (not all of them can swim fast)…start sounded and off we went with me in full drafting mode, all was going well until my physiolocical system decided it did not fully recognise what this activity was and the amount of oxygen going into the system was not up to specifications.  Now reduced to swimming breath stroke the thought of drafting pro’s was of little concern with the chasing field bearing down oxygen consumption and survival became the new goal…it is interesting in the middle of a large chasing pack of swimmers how uncomfortable the whole situation quickly becomes.  After a period swimming breathstroke amoungst the pack I was able to get back into the swing of things and once around the final turn heading for T1  all the finer techniques of swimming started coming back.  Back on the beach and into and out of T1 reasonably quickly I was now in a far more enoyable and familiar environment…26 km of riding through the Redwood Forest lay ahead…PLEASURE with a bit of pain.  The 11 km run around the Blue Lake to finish is spectacular not that you get much time for appreciation, it is great how close spectators can get to watch this race, literally right beside the trails and the support while pushing the legs way past their comfort zone is a real boost.  I managed an acceptable time for the input completing a top 10 finish excluding the pro’s. I have planned a few more multi sport events over the coming weeks of an endurance and strength phase building up for my return to the board. Training with a race target is an important part of maximising output.  I find that there is significantly more drive and urgency in each training session when there is a race approaching regardless of the size. That and as happens every time I line up for this event I get hooked on multi sport.
Zoom Info
Xterra New Zealand 2013 13th April | 2013 Blue Lake - New Zealand Two weeks of rushed bike/run prep following my return home from Brazil (Windsurfing World Championships) and subsequent time spent in recovery from neck and stomach issues picked up while away was always asking a bit much for any serious leg speed, but having not competed in 2012 I had to take the opportunity to attempt to age group qualify for the Xterra World Championships (Maui, Hawaii). The year previous being Olympic I was sternly advised by coach Chris Pilone that if I showed up on the result list it was going to be a two for one castration deal for me and his cat at the local vet the following week, even despite this warning I could not stay away and went to watch the race unfold from the sidelines, albeit the sidelines in the middle of the Redwood Forest.  Total swim preparation for the race was during the swim at Xterra New Zealand 2011, some two years prior a vastly different race that I had actually logged up some training hours for. However armed with some sweet kit thanks to 2XU New Zealand…Niner Bikes and the right fuel from Hammer Nutrition New Zealand I was set.  This being the third time lining up for Xterra meant I was at least right up to speed on how to set up for the race, into the pits I tactically selected my area to enable both a rapid approach and a quick exit from swim/bike and bike/run transitions. Following a quick warm up run I returned to my setup to learn a valuable lesson - if you create a nice organised space for your bike and shoes you will return to find a couple of other Xterra athletes have happily moved in…new concept is to leave all kit laying around as disorganised as possible until the last possible moment.  Time for the swim and into the V2 which still has just 1 km on the clock…I never really appreciate a good wetsuit quite as much as I do when I race Xterra…there are two primary reasons for this. Firstly and foremost Lake Tikitapu is COLD, to someone who spends most of their time on the surface of the water this is significant, secondly triathlon specific suits have very high flotation properties which make swimming and staying afloat a far more simplified activity.  Lining up for the start of the swim I found my (SUP) paddling tactics coming into play, finding the quickest line around the marks was going to shave off valuable seconds, making my way towards the end of the line offering the most direct route I found the yellow caps of the pro field, clearly they had done this before.  Now I was in some fast company a new mission was formed to attempt to stay on the feet of the a selected pro as long as possible (not all of them can swim fast)…start sounded and off we went with me in full drafting mode, all was going well until my physiolocical system decided it did not fully recognise what this activity was and the amount of oxygen going into the system was not up to specifications.  Now reduced to swimming breath stroke the thought of drafting pro’s was of little concern with the chasing field bearing down oxygen consumption and survival became the new goal…it is interesting in the middle of a large chasing pack of swimmers how uncomfortable the whole situation quickly becomes.  After a period swimming breathstroke amoungst the pack I was able to get back into the swing of things and once around the final turn heading for T1  all the finer techniques of swimming started coming back.  Back on the beach and into and out of T1 reasonably quickly I was now in a far more enoyable and familiar environment…26 km of riding through the Redwood Forest lay ahead…PLEASURE with a bit of pain.  The 11 km run around the Blue Lake to finish is spectacular not that you get much time for appreciation, it is great how close spectators can get to watch this race, literally right beside the trails and the support while pushing the legs way past their comfort zone is a real boost.  I managed an acceptable time for the input completing a top 10 finish excluding the pro’s. I have planned a few more multi sport events over the coming weeks of an endurance and strength phase building up for my return to the board. Training with a race target is an important part of maximising output.  I find that there is significantly more drive and urgency in each training session when there is a race approaching regardless of the size. That and as happens every time I line up for this event I get hooked on multi sport.
Zoom Info

Xterra New Zealand 2013

13th April | 2013

Blue Lake - New Zealand

Two weeks of rushed bike/run prep following my return home from Brazil (Windsurfing World Championships) and subsequent time spent in recovery from neck and stomach issues picked up while away was always asking a bit much for any serious leg speed, but having not competed in 2012 I had to take the opportunity to attempt to age group qualify for the Xterra World Championships (Maui, Hawaii).

The year previous being Olympic I was sternly advised by coach Chris Pilone that if I showed up on the result list it was going to be a two for one castration deal for me and his cat at the local vet the following week, even despite this warning I could not stay away and went to watch the race unfold from the sidelines, albeit the sidelines in the middle of the Redwood Forest. 

Total swim preparation for the race was during the swim at Xterra New Zealand 2011, some two years prior a vastly different race that I had actually logged up some training hours for.

However armed with some sweet kit thanks to 2XU New Zealand…Niner Bikes and the right fuel from Hammer Nutrition New Zealand I was set. 

This being the third time lining up for Xterra meant I was at least right up to speed on how to set up for the race, into the pits I tactically selected my area to enable both a rapid approach and a quick exit from swim/bike and bike/run transitions.

Following a quick warm up run I returned to my setup to learn a valuable lesson - if you create a nice organised space for your bike and shoes you will return to find a couple of other Xterra athletes have happily moved in…new concept is to leave all kit laying around as disorganised as possible until the last possible moment. 

Time for the swim and into the V2 which still has just 1 km on the clock…I never really appreciate a good wetsuit quite as much as I do when I race Xterra…there are two primary reasons for this.

Firstly and foremost Lake Tikitapu is COLD, to someone who spends most of their time on the surface of the water this is significant, secondly triathlon specific suits have very high flotation properties which make swimming and staying afloat a far more simplified activity. 

Lining up for the start of the swim I found my (SUP) paddling tactics coming into play, finding the quickest line around the marks was going to shave off valuable seconds, making my way towards the end of the line offering the most direct route I found the yellow caps of the pro field, clearly they had done this before. 

Now I was in some fast company a new mission was formed to attempt to stay on the feet of the a selected pro as long as possible (not all of them can swim fast)…start sounded and off we went with me in full drafting mode, all was going well until my physiolocical system decided it did not fully recognise what this activity was and the amount of oxygen going into the system was not up to specifications. 

Now reduced to swimming breath stroke the thought of drafting pro’s was of little concern with the chasing field bearing down oxygen consumption and survival became the new goal…it is interesting in the middle of a large chasing pack of swimmers how uncomfortable the whole situation quickly becomes. 

After a period swimming breathstroke amoungst the pack I was able to get back into the swing of things and once around the final turn heading for T1  all the finer techniques of swimming started coming back. 

Back on the beach and into and out of T1 reasonably quickly I was now in a far more enoyable and familiar environment…26 km of riding through the Redwood Forest lay ahead…PLEASURE with a bit of pain. 

The 11 km run around the Blue Lake to finish is spectacular not that you get much time for appreciation, it is great how close spectators can get to watch this race, literally right beside the trails and the support while pushing the legs way past their comfort zone is a real boost. 

I managed an acceptable time for the input completing a top 10 finish excluding the pro’s.

I have planned a few more multi sport events over the coming weeks of an endurance and strength phase building up for my return to the board.

Training with a race target is an important part of maximising output. 

I find that there is significantly more drive and urgency in each training session when there is a race approaching regardless of the size.

That and as happens every time I line up for this event I get hooked on multi sport.

Brazil… February 20 | 2013 Buzios - Brazil  Quick update from the office here in Brazil where training is cranking along in a location which clearly should be hosting the Olympics in 2016. One of the fundamental needs in the sport of sailing is wind, where Rio is lacking, Buzios (175 km east of Rio) is clearly not. Training requires only board shorts and a harness in 20 knots of wind and you are still looking for opportunities to cool off. However its not all fun and games with local hazards including strategically placed fishing nets and large turtles setting up a mine field of potential fin eaters. I managed to find one a few days ago fully powered up hitting a fishing net at over 45 km/ph which sent me sailing over the handle bars in what seemed seemed like a slow motion dance all ending with a full body check. The GPS replay of the incident was entertaining with a clear mark of where I was nicely blasting along and a point where I was not, I like to think the peak speed registered of 145 km/ph was me sailing through the air, however more likely it was the GPS freaking out at what was about to happen to it - pretty smart device. All resulted in a classic case of whip lash and a couple of vertebrae out of sync, over the past few days I have been fortunate to work with a local osteopath and we have managed to get some range of movement and function back. 
Zoom Info

Brazil…

February 20 | 2013

Buzios - Brazil 

Quick update from the office here in Brazil where training is cranking along in a location which clearly should be hosting the Olympics in 2016.

One of the fundamental needs in the sport of sailing is wind, where Rio is lacking, Buzios (175 km east of Rio) is clearly not.

Training requires only board shorts and a harness in 20 knots of wind and you are still looking for opportunities to cool off.

However its not all fun and games with local hazards including strategically placed fishing nets and large turtles setting up a mine field of potential fin eaters.

I managed to find one a few days ago fully powered up hitting a fishing net at over 45 km/ph which sent me sailing over the handle bars in what seemed seemed like a slow motion dance all ending with a full body check.

The GPS replay of the incident was entertaining with a clear mark of where I was nicely blasting along and a point where I was not, I like to think the peak speed registered of 145 km/ph was me sailing through the air, however more likely it was the GPS freaking out at what was about to happen to it - pretty smart device.

All resulted in a classic case of whip lash and a couple of vertebrae out of sync, over the past few days I have been fortunate to work with a local osteopath and we have managed to get some range of movement and function back. 

Shakespeare - Takapuna

October | 2012

Hauraki Gulf - New Zealand

The Real Sailors Stand Up Paddle downwind from Shakespear Regional Park to Takapuna Beach in winds gusting up to 40 knots.

Total distance of 18.12 km in a time of 1hr 39 min with an average speed of 11 km/h and peak of 18.4 km/h.

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