1983: Coast to Coast
February 12, 2021
By AHNZ
The South Island’s annual Coast to Coast triathalon was first run on February 26 and 27, 1983. It’s the world’s longest-running multisport race.¹ After a long relationship with failure, director Robin Judkins had really done it this time. Judkins had found a way to make money and share something he loved all at the same time. He managed to hold onto it too, despite 40 odd years of keeping competitors, governments, sponsors, safety inspectors, roading Nazis, environmentalists, investers etc all having plates on sticks that Judkins had to keep on spinning.
The very fact that tens of thousands of people are paying $1000 each to exert their own bodies, ride their own bikes and paddle their own kayaks on Judkins’ clock is evidence of a mighty economic victory!
“They had a high-profile launch of the company by the local MP, Warren Cooper, who attended as Minister of Tourism. Things went wrong during the launch and, according to Judkins, Cooper nearly drowned.” [Ed- What went wrong is that it was only ‘nearly’, I take it.]
“Part of their plan was to offer private expeditions called ‘Aspiring to the Pacific’…the idea came to them that they should have started on the West Coast, so that the expedition went from coast to coast. It was the nucleus of the idea for the Coast to Coast adventure race that began several years later in 1983.” – Ref. Wiki
After all the hard work and teething had been born by the private sector, Government naturally started making a host of this cash cow. In 1989, Labour 4.0 even spent their own money (ie, yours) in promotions. All the better to increase their tax take!
“Judkins said he is sad to sell but he intends to stay on for five years, gradually reducing his involvement to firing the starter hooter and handing out beers at the finish line.”- RNZ (2013)
Judkin’s sold his baby to John Davies (Trojan Holdings Ltd) in 2013 and millions surley changed hands. Davies, ex-Queenstown politician, managed to buy up lots New Zealand tourism assets during the Labour 4.0 firesale. Queenstown Airport, Routburn and Milford track guiding monopoly rights, The Hermitage Hotel³, and 3 ex-state skifields². Davies, like Ngai Tahu, and other tourism power players, is feeling the burn right now as Labour 6.0 attempts to politically re-assign their assets to themselves. Labour’s Lockdown has shut down all but domestic tourism and one of the reasons this must continue is so that opperations like Trojan’s can be captured by the current regieme. Every Coast to Coast competitor’s entry fee will be a much needed boost to the tourist treasury coffers that will go toward un-electing Labour 6.0 in 2024.
—
1 Ref. ODT
2 Ref. Wiki
3 Ref. Also Hermitage Hotel; AHNZ, Facebook
Ref. coasttocoast.co.nz/history
Image ref. Coast to Coast 1987. A better plan for organising athlete’s shoes is considered too late; McKerrow and Woods; May Dunn, West Coast New Zealand History
Like Comment Share
