Successful Sponsorship for Merrell NZ and GODZone

Press Release / 07.12.2016

An impressive sponsorship relationship is behind high-growth apparel and footwear company Merrell’s continued support for New Zealand’s premiere adventure race, GODZone.

GODZone has re-energised adventure racing in New Zealand over the past five years becoming the largest expedition race in the world. Chapter 6 will be held in Queenstown from the 25th February – 4th March 2017, attracting over 500 national and international competitors, support crews and volunteers.

Merrell became GODZone’s official apparel and footwear sponsor in 2015 and are continuing their partnership for the upcoming event.GODZone Chief Executive and Race Director, Warren Bates, says Merrell provides high quality products and are leaders in their field.

“We share the same core values with Merrell - empowering people to challenge themselves in the greater outdoors and have inspirational adventure experiences.”

“Merrell understands the unique opportunities GODZone brings to their business and their support and belief in our event and the competitors is hugely significant to us,” says Bates.

Merrell NZ will supply the official competitor race bibs, volunteer and race management uniforms as well as prizes for the first three teams to cross the line in the Pure and Pursuit categories.

With seven stores across the country and a new-look ecommerce website due to launch soon, Merrell NZ continues to grow as New Zealanders experience the brand’s renowned comfort and durability.  

Merrell NZ General Manager, Clive Weston, says the location of 2017’s GODZone ties in perfectly with the expansion of their ‘Let’s Get Outside’ store in Queenstown.

“Having recently enlarged our store in Queenstown, we have been able to work with the GODZone management team to integrate some parts of the official competitor registration on-site,” says Weston.  “This event is a great fit for our brand values and our core reason for being - offering purpose-built products which enable our customers to fully experience the great outdoors.”

GODZone is one of the most technically challenging expeditions in the world with teams racing for up to seven days and navigating their way through 300 – 500km of unknown terrain. Each team of four must stay within 100 meters of each other at all times as they kayak, mountain bike, trek, raft and climb across some of New Zealand’s most iconic landscapes.

GODZone is an official member of the Adventure Racing World Series and a qualifier for the AR World Championships. 

For more information on GODZone entry details go to http://godzoneadventure.com or the Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/godzoneadventure

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