The seven-day event is set down for the 25th February to the 4th March 2017. GODZone Race Director Warren Bates says Queenstown will deliver the most exciting and dramatic location the race has ever seen. “ The expansive mountains and lakes of the Southern Lakes Region provide the most stunning backdrop for an adventure race of this nature and competitors are going to be wowed at every turn. The course is being designed to make the upmost of the mountainous terrain that surrounds the resort. "Mountain biking is fast becoming a major tourism draw card in Queenstown. There is wild and untamed backcountry that offers amazing downhill biking opportunities along with fast running rivers and alpine lakes that will combine to make an inspiring adventure race.”

The appeal of Queenstown for the 2017 event is already creating a buzz amongst adventure racers worldwide with plenty of enquiries. “The level of interest in expedition racing in New Zealand is at the highest level we’ve ever seen. GODZone has generated a staggering amount of media coverage - some of this definitely related to the success we had in Tasman this year – with a massive field, brilliant course and All Black legend Richie McCaw in attendance,” says Bates. “The launch of a new shorter, supported format, the GZ Pursuit category, was very well received and we now have an up and coming field of new racers keen to give the most exciting endurance sport a go.”

GODZone team entries for the GZ Pure and GZ Pursuit racing categories will open on the 1st July,2016 and will again be strictly limited. Bates says this is due to the availability of kayaks in New Zealand. “We only have access to so many double kayaks and white water canoes. Each year we endeavor to cater for more teams as demand for places always outstrips supply. For 2017 we will be working hard to accommodate as many national and international teams as we can but there is a limit and it’s pretty much first in, first served. Chapter 5 sold out in two hours with 70 teams so I expect we will see a similar situation when entries open on the 1st July. If teams are keen to compete in the one and only Queenstown GODZone then I encourage them to have entries ready. This year we will be announcing who has been successful in gaining a team spot on the 8th July.”

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