ALPINE ADVENTURE
RACE
Real adventurers do it in the wild
1.5km
distance
7km
distance
64km
distance
1389m
Climb
1671m
Drop
17km
distance
411m
Climb
411m
Drop
Race Information
At this point there will not be any Ultimate option for 2025.
Want to truly experience all the magnificent environments the iconic St James Station behind Hanmer Springs has to offer, then choose your combination of four stages – Swim 1.5km, Kayak 7km, MTB 30ish km and cross country run 17km and find your own challenge from the four categories; The “James”Alpine Challenge – MTB/run, The “James” Alpine Adventure – Kayak/MTB/run, The “James” Alpine Xtreme – swim/MTB/run or The “James” Alpine Ultimate – swim/kayak/MTB/run.
All within the stunning, epic New Zealand sub alpine high country landscapes of St James Station behind Hanmer Springs. The Alpine Adventure has it all – mountain passes, high country lakes, sweeping tussock high country, beech clad braided river valleys, river crossings, swing bridges and superb single track…
The ‘James’ Alpine Adventure race can be completed solo or as a team in 4 formats.
1.5km
distance
7km
distance
64km
distance
1389m
Climb
1671m
Drop
17km
distance
411m
Climb
411m
Drop
Entry Fees
Challenge
Individual:
Early: $235.00
General: $275.00
Late: $315.00
Team:
Early: $275.00
General: $325.00
Late: $375.00
Adventure
Individual:
Early: $275.00
General: $325.00
Late: $375.00
Team:
Early: $295.00
General: $350.00
Late: $405.00
Xtreme
Individual:
Early: $275.00
General: $325.00
Late: $375.00
Team:
Early: $295.00
General: $350.00
Late: $405.00
Ultimate
Individual:
Early: $295.00
General: $350.00
Late: $405.00
Team:
Early: $315.00
General: $375.00
Late: $435.00
Entry Cutoff
Earlybird entry is now open – save 20% (on the entry fee – doesn’t apply to the DoC fee or the tracking unit) until Jul 31st and General closes on Dec 20th.
Entries limited to 500 across all options
20th Dec is the cutoff for general entries and also if you want one of our engraved competitors dog whistles, as well as personalised number plate and other goodies in your registration bag. Whistles in particular need to be ordered now due to christmas holiday closures, so get in now or you will miss out.
All entries close 6th Jan!
Restrictions
The “James” Alpine Adventure race is an R15 event.
Race Format
Challenge - AAC
- MTB 64km
- High country run 17km.
Adventure - AAA
- Kayak 7km
- MTB 64km
- High country run 17km.
Xtreme - AAX
- Swim 1.5km
- MTB 64m
- High country run 17km.
Ultimate - AAU
- Swim 1.5km
- Kayak 7km
- MTB 64km
- High country run 17km.
All race options are open to individuals and teams.All race options are open to individuals and teams.
Start Times
Race start 8:00am start with briefing at 7:45am.
Competitors will be able to camp onsite at Lake Tennyson – there will be strict DoC rules in place. Briefing will be on the beach – be ready to start immediately after!
Average Times
Overall: 7:08:08
Course Notes
Competitors can expect very hot conditions – be prepared and stay adequately hydrated. There will be marshal stations at various points but this is remote country so all competitors will need to be self-sufficient and should carry enough food/liquid for a whole day – all rivers & creeks should be ok to drink from directly.
The 1.5 km swim leg and 7 km kayak stage are both in Lake Tennyson – IT WILL BE COLD so full body suits are compulsory for all swimmers. As part of the Didymo control ALL individual competitors MUST change and dry off completely in the transition zone before starting their MTB stage.
After completing transition formalities competitors will start the 64 km Mountainbike leg. This follows the same course as The Ground Effect “James” Pony Express all the way to the 2nd transition zone at St James homestead.
Starting from the transition at Lake Tennyson, riders will follow the 4×4 track (think “Duel Single Track” – DST) to the top of Malings Pass, from where they can enjoy a solid 5km downhill descent to the Waiau River. From here the track follows the cycle trail down to the Lake Guyon 4×4 track and crosses the Waiau river, and continues for a couple of km down the Waiau valley toward the historic Ada homestead.
Passing around below the Homestead riders traverse across the lower Ada flats to cross the Ada River and enter the lower Henry Valley. Crossing through Delta Creek riders will cross the Henry River and join the stock track up over the Zigzag and down the Waiau Valley to cross the lower swing bridge.
Joining the DST, riders will climb up the Waiau terraces and up over Charlie’s saddle to follow the 4×4 track up the Edwards valley (crossing the river 3 times) where (at around the 60km mark) they will have one last short-sharp climb up out of Bull Gully before decending down to the Edwards gate at the Clarence where they will follow the road back to the final transition at the St James Homestead.
After completing transition formalities competitors will start the 17 km run. Leaving the transition runners will travel around below the St James Homestead to cross the Clarence River, from here they will run up the river valley following the old transmission tower access tracks up to the Edwards gate.
Here runners will re-cross the Clarence River and enter the Edwards Valley. They will follow the 4×4 track over into the head of Peter’s Valley where they will follow the stock track back to the finish at the St James Homestead.
While there will not be any compulsory gear to carryon the run stage, it is very strongly recommended that runner’s carry some form of hydration of 2l capacity or more! There will be a mini aid station at Bull Gully (at approximately the 14.5km mark).
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
GPS Live Tracking by TrackME NZ
Live tracking is included for the first 180 entries (across all races except the Mad Cow & Homestead Half). So all your mates can watch your progress online at home – https://trackme.kiwi/eventgroup/54/stjameshanmer
Be Prepared!
Competitors can expect very hot conditions – be prepared and stay adequately hydrated. There will be marshal stations at various points (including three major stations on the MTB stage, with EM’s goodies, R-Line, water, banana’s, sunscreen & crampstop) but this is remote country so all competitors will need to be self-sufficient – all rivers & creeks should be ok to drink from directly. You will come through transition twice on the run.
Minimum Gear Requirements
All competitors will be required to carry a minimum amount of safety/emergency gear – it can go from hot sun to heavy snow in a matter of hours even in the height of summer. By preference race organisers require all riders to use hydration packs and not water bottles – these are too often lost/dropped from bikes and left on the track. As with any littering any competitor caught dropping rubbish will be intantly disqualified.
Briefing & Support Crew
All Competitors must attend the race briefing – All bikes & gear should be in place in the 1st transition area before this!. Solo competitors are required to have one nominated support crew who will be responsible for their gear (including placement of gear in the transition zone) and shall have access to the transition zones for that purpose and to assist the competitor if required. No other people will be allowed in any of the transition zones!
Anyone who is unable to meet these conditions should notify The Yeti (theyeti@stjamesmountainsports.co.nz) to make other arrangements.
Choose Your Challenge
Confirmed Entries & Results
Course Records
Challenge
Woman’s: Kirsty Sclater 5:53:44 (2020)
Men’s: Andrew Mackay 5:38:47 (2020)
Adventure
Woman’s: Georgia Whitla 6:54:33 (2020)
Men’s: Rhys John 5:22:28 (2020)
Xtreme
Woman’s: Seonaigh Conchie 6:45:59 (2016)
Men’s: Jeremy McKenzie 5:26:11 (2019)
Ultimate
Woman’s: Alex Martin 8:46:31 (2020)
Men’s: Tony Watson 7:39:30 (2021)