CSB - Pete De Wet - Tri NZ CEO

Auckland (October 29, 2024) – Napier will again host the opening round of the World Triathlon Cup season in 2025. After a dramatic debut at Ahuriri Beach earlier this year highlighted by Hayden Wilde’s

run from second-to-last out of Hawke Bay to the men’s silver medal, World Triathlon Cup Napier 2025 will again be the centrepiece of the Napier Triathlon Festival on Sunday, February 23. While a second day of mixed relays will not be repeated in 2025, Napier will benefit from being scheduled a week after World Triathlon Championship Series (WTCS) Abu Dhabi.

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Whether it's gum boots or rugby boots. The Country Sport
Breakfast has you covered on gold Sport, your home of
live commentary.

Speaker 2 (00:08):
Seventeen past seven o'clock here on the Country Sport Breakfast
on gold Sport. Well, Aharruri Beacher in Napier hosted the
World Triathlon Cup this year. Earlier this year, one of
the highlights of that event was our very own Hayden
Wilde coming out second to last and picking up a
silver medal runner up in that event. Well, the good

(00:28):
news is that the World Triathlon Cup season opener is
returning to Napier in February of next year, joining us
out of Triathlon New Zealand is their CEO, Peter de Witt.

Speaker 1 (00:37):
Morning, Pete morning, how are you doing very very well?

Speaker 2 (00:40):
Thank you. It's great news for Napier and for New
Zealand to have the event back, isn't it?

Speaker 1 (00:44):
Excellent news and really pleasing we're able to get this
one across the line. Triclones had an excellent year with
the Olympics and some of the results recently, so yeah,
I'm really pleases. Back on the calendar, was.

Speaker 2 (00:56):
It hard to get it across the line? To get
it back to Napier.

Speaker 1 (01:00):
Not necessarily hard. I guess for us, it's the financial
consideration that we've got to take into account. It's not
an expensive event to host, so we had to make
sure that we could make the numbers work and fortunately
we've been able to do that. So Yeah, really happy
that it'll be back.

Speaker 2 (01:15):
And as I mentioned at the beginning, you know, it
was a dramatic debut for the event at Ahruri Beach
earlier this year with Hayden whild running second to last
and picking up the SILVERA wasn't it.

Speaker 1 (01:24):
Yeah, it was. It was a crazy day and you know,
we'd all expected Hayden to to romp home like you
had the previous year, and then for him to struggle
in the swim but then just dominate on the bike,
and then as soon as he got on the run
he did what Hayden does on the run and ran
from second to last to almost win it. I think
if we had another hundred meters off Timak, he would

(01:45):
have done it.

Speaker 2 (01:46):
And I guess the big question is is he going
to be returning for next year's event.

Speaker 1 (01:51):
We're certainly working with him on with him on that
at the moment, he's had a big year in Europe.
He's competing in the of any point three iron Man
Worlds in December and then we'll head back to Europe
for Christmas and all intentions are that if he'll be
back in New Zealand in the new year to participate.
So yeah, fingers crossed we get that across the line.

Speaker 2 (02:13):
And it's not just one event that NAPI will be hosting.
It's kind of a festival, isn't it. So what else happens?

Speaker 1 (02:19):
Yeah, so we've got We've got the Try New Zealand
Suzuki Series Sprint Champs, which is a age group race
where age groupers can qualify to participate at the grand
final at Willigong in October next year. So that's a
big race for the age group is but we've also

(02:39):
included a Tria Triathlon for first time as which which
is perfect. It's a it's a really easy opportunity for
people who haven't had the opportunity to give the sport
to go or are keen to try it again after
a number of years, So that'll be happening. And then
concurrently to that, we're also hosting a junior supersprints event

(03:01):
in Hastings on the Friday before the World Cup on
the Sunday, So that's a week long development camp at
mart of Ten Park culminating in a junior supersprints event there.
So yeah, lot's happening during the week, and yeah, we're
just excited that Tryson will be back in the Hawk's Day.

Speaker 2 (03:17):
And of course also the try in New Zealand Junior series.
Some of the leading I guess stars of the future
will be the taking part too.

Speaker 1 (03:26):
Exactly. It's a really important pathway for us and if
you consider the success we've had over the years, really
important for us to keep an eye on who's coming
through the ranks because we all know that Hayden won't
be around forever. We've got a superstar in the making
and Dylan McCollough who's had a breakout season this year
as well, so that bodes well for the future. But
certainly keeping our eye on talent spot in the junior

(03:50):
men's and women's is a really key part of what
it is we do.

Speaker 2 (03:54):
With Hayden's success and high profile. What's the state of
triathlon like in New Zealand at the moment?

Speaker 1 (04:01):
Yeah, really good, to be fair, I think it's it's
not only Hayden. If you considered Dylan winning the World
Cup this weekend in South Korea, you know, we've we've
had an extended run of success this year and that's
obviously put Triphon back on the map and you know
in the news, which is really good. I think certainly
after the Olympics, almost every Monday there would be a

(04:22):
Triphon story on the news, which is good for the
sports and helps to raise the visibility. And we've got
a really thriving community and you know, we've got our
club registrations open on the first November and we are
expecting an influx of new members joining clubs. So yeah,
it's really good when when our lead athletes are doing well,
it does kind of galvanize the community and grassroots level

(04:44):
of the sport.

Speaker 2 (04:45):
And I mean to know, Horuri Beach is going to
be the venue. Many changes from the event for next year.
From the year's event.

Speaker 1 (04:52):
No exactly the same. It was such a good course,
fast and flat, easy spectator course. Having the racing through
through the shops and cafes and bars was awesome. We
had a really good turnout of people coming to support
and hopefully we can replicate that this time. Yeah, it's
just a great, great venue and if you go back

(05:12):
and consider the growing footage that was being out on
TVNZ plus, just such a great advert for the region.
So really, really, Pisa, we're back.

Speaker 2 (05:21):
There fantastic February twenty second, twenty third, with a build
up for other events, it's going to be brilliant. So
thank you for joining us this morning, Pete.

Speaker 1 (05:30):
Yes, thanks very much and look forward to seeing everyone
in February.

Speaker 2 (05:33):
Fantastic. Yeah, February. As I mentioned, February twenty second, twenty third,
that's the New Zealand CEO for trying New Zealand, Pete
to wet. Great event, what even