Coast to Coast Kayaks

The Speight's Coast to Coast is New Zealand's answer to the Ironman Triathlon in Hawaii. The Coast to Coast, held in February on South Island, might even be more of a physical and mental challenge. The Coast to Coast traverses 151 miles, starting at Kumara Beach on the Tasman Sea and running east to Sumner Beach on the Pacific Ocean. The Coast to Coast's most distinctive feature is the kayak stage, which replaces a regular triathlon's swimming stage. Running and biking stages are conducted before and after the kayak run.
The Race
The Coast to Coast, held on the South Island of New Zealand, starts at Kumara Beach on the Tasman Sea and runs east to Sumner Beach on the Pacific Ocean. During the race, you will cycle across the Southern Alps and kayak down the Waimakariri River and through the Waimakariri Gorge. The Coast to Coast is open to individuals and two-person teams. Individuals compete in a one-day event. Teams compete in a two-day event. Both must complete the cycling stage; one must finish the running stage while the other completes the kayaking stage.
Kayaking Stage
You will need a kayak appropriate for the Class II whitewater of the Waimakariri River. Class II whitewater is considered a "moderate" test. The medium-quick water is suited for an intermediate-level kayaker. You must have at least a Class II kayak certificate to participate in the Coast to Coast. If you want to be certified in New Zealand, you can take three weekends of training from a company like Canoe and Kayak, which also offers guided trips down the Waimakariri to learn the course. You can rent kayaks to use in the Coast to Coast, since the cost of shipping a kayak to New Zealand might be prohibitive.
Whitewater Kayaks
Kayaks for the Coast to Coast can be rented or bought in New Zealand at several companies that carry models particularly well-suited for the Coast to Coast and similar races. For example, Ruahine Kayaks touts its F1 as "ideal for the advanced and elite paddler." Designed for speed and quick acceleration, the F1 is 6.2 meters long and .35 meters wide. You can choose from a 13.5-kilogram model or a carbon model that weights 12 kilograms. For intermediate-level kayakers, Ruahine Kayaks suggests the Intrigue, which has extra stability for less experienced kayakers. "Intrigue has been specifically developed to get paddlers down the Waimakariri for the Coast to Coast...," states Ruahine Kayaks. With a large cockpit for comfort, the Intrigue checks in at 4.94 meters long and .54 meters wide. A fiberglass model weighs 14.5 kilograms and a Kevlar model weighs 12 kilograms.
Caution
Exercise trainer and consultant Jon Ackland, an expert on the Coast to Coast, warns that the Coast to Coast is much different from the Ironman. In the Coast to Coast, it's easy to get lost. Running sections are on unmarked trails and biking sections run through the Alps and can exhaust you. The kayaking portion is on whitewater that should be studied before the race. You must have sufficient whitewater experience, and should use a guide to take you down the Waimakariri to learn the course. Find out the characteristics of the river in February, because it might be much different if you kayak down it at other times of the year.