Taumarunui Kururau Krusher

KURURAU KRUSHER, Taumarunui

A Great Multisport Event for Teams or Individuals

Cycle
Along rural roads through quiet farming country. Massed start outside Taumarunui Railway Station, head north on State Highway 4, over the Ongarue Bridge and turn left. Ride past Taumarunui Hospital and onto River Road. Follow the Stratford signs. Travel 22km (from railway station) out and turn around at Saddlers Rd, about 4km past the Otunui landing (kayak exit).

Drafting is permitted. Normal road rules apply. At the turnaround it's single file so marshals can get your number before you head back to Taumarunui.

Return course is the reverse until entering Taumarunui - ride along State Highway 4, turn right into Katarina Street (at the Ford dealership), continue on through Miriama Street, left into Huia Street, right into Marae Street and right into Taumarunui Street and continue along to Taumarunui Rugby and Sports Club at Cherry Grove for the changeover.

Run
The run is a loop course south to Manunui starting from the junction of the Whanganui and Ongarue rivers. Paint arrows on ground and markers mark course. Run along Taumarunui Street, right into Morero Terrace (at grandstand) and head over Victory Bridge, crossing the Whanganui. Turn left into Marsack Rd, head through the village of Taumaruiti and continue on until Manunui. On the return follow State Highway 4 over the Manunui Bridge, crossing back over the Whanganui, turn right at the end of the bridge and follow the curving road down into Taupo Rd.

The run now goes to the riverbank and continues along the river track until Cherry Grove for a changeover back at the junction of the Ongarue and Whanganui. Largest climb about 60 metres. Cool scenery . . . challenging run

Kayak
The kayak is 22 kilometres from Taumarunui south-west down Whanganui River. Competitors face 45 rapids with hardest a grade 2 about 20 minutes from the start at a section known as Hurlihy's Bluff.
Hills tower above some sections of river while waterfalls feature where streams join the snaking Whanganui. Exit point is on the right of the river at a point known as Otunui Landing on Stratford Rd, where the Otunui Stream joins the river.

Mountain Bike
The mountain bike is the highlight of the event. The 26km course starts at the kayak exit point at Otunui, with 5km of sealed road changing to metal for the start of the winding, 7km climb to the top of the challenging Kururau Rd. This is as far off-road as you can get and the terrain is matched only by the view. Signs direct you into a Carter Holt forestry road* for more climbing and a fast downhill ride with views overlooking Taumarunui and the mountains of Tongariro National Park - Ruapehu, Ngauruhoe and Tongariro - and Mt Taranaki to the west.

This leads to the exciting drop off the forestry road into a creek crossing and mown track through young pines and into farmland where your thumping pulse and sheep keep you company. You have one more big climb left and the most technical section of the course as you face the steep descent and a long farm track to Pongahuru Rd. This leaves 1700 metres of metal road and 2700 metres through Taumarunui's backstreets to finish a tough day's work at Cherry Grove.

A great event! Krush it or be krushed!

Event listed by godfreyh

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