MAGNIficent Chat # 3 (Jan 2026)
- Bend Racing
- Jan 26
- 10 min read
It's go time (for us here on the Magnificent crew) and the final month of prep time for all of you brave racers. Jason and Chelsey have arrived in country, and our head of Media will arrive before month's end. And February will be 100% MAGNIficent for us as we put the last year's worth of work and planning into a nice, beautiful and brutal package for you. So dig into this third chat and feel the tingles of excitement (or is that fear?!?) that come with each new day that passes and brings you closer to the start line.
Final MANDATORY Gear list (click to see it)
Not much has changed here, but give this a look over and make sure you have it all and don't have any questions. The biggest things that might not be "normal" for an adventure race are the following:
Marine Flare (suitable for day and night use, 2 per team. We got a deal on some of these from a local supplier and can offer them for $20 ea. If you can find them cheaper, go for it! If you want some of ours, let us know HERE.)
PLB (one per team)--this should be covered in the racer portal, so please remember to add your PLB number there, or let us know if you need one!
Wetsuit (1 per person, shorty ok, but long leg recommended for protection)--this will only be mandatory for the ocean paddle and coasteering leg. A drysuit can be used instead of a wetsuit on the coastal paddle, but this might mean having more gear.
Boat tether to connect one paddler to each boat for ocean section. This can be a surf leash (recommended), paracord, whatever, just keeps the boat from blowing away in the event of a mid-ocean capsize.
Throw bags for the Coasteering and the paddle sections. Which means you'll need to think about how you are carrying the throw bags to keep them handy on the coasteering leg.
Drysuit (optional). None of the river legs will require a certain layer, but you will be paddling several times and staying warm enough can be critical. (Just think FearYouth in the recent GodZone!)
Prizes
While completing the course will be any team's ultimate prize, we also want to leave you with a simple but powerful reminder of your accomplishments. We're excited to unveil a first look at both the racer medals and the MAGNIficent winners trophy (need a name for it). The best part is, everything is made by hand from 100% reclaimed materials.
Medals - designed by a local GORE artist, Jacqui Byars, and produced out of recycled Rimu, the finisher medallion features the MAGNIficent Kaitiaki, Ka Tipu the Kiwi, and four emblems which nod towards what Gore is known for--Moths (a type of vintage bi-plane), Hokonui whiskey, country music, and brown trout.
Racer Trophy - Our journey from FEAR to MAGNIficent has shaped us, and we hope, is serving to shape something of the AR landscape in NZ. We've been values-driven since the beginning of that journey and have spent some time this last year working to connect those values to the larger community, exploring how to express them with an appreciation for the history of the land and its peoples that the race connects with. A bit of special Mihi goes out to Karati Metcalfe for his role in helping us along the way in this regard.
As part of that, we've brought life to our logo, both in idea and in form and we'd like to introduce Ka Tipu the Kiwi as the Kaitiaki of the MAGNIficent.
It name, Ka Tipu, references a plant growing in the forest--where the forest itself provides the right environment and challenges for the plant to grow well and flourish. Growth inevitably comes with challenges, but surrounding plants and trees are supportive to the growth, and the plant's own growth in turn complements the forest, helping to create that right environment for future Ka Tipu.
Ka Tipu the Kiwi represents our event on a number of levels:
As an emblem of the race itself. The MAGNIficent is an event that grows with challenges and in the fertile forest of our larger Adventure Racing Whanau (both locally and internationally, and amongst racers, volunteers, supporters, and their wider friends and family). The race will in turn foster growth and challenges in those engaging with it.
As a trophy. Ka Tipu acts as the Kaitiaki, or guardian of the race, allowing the right people who emerge from within the context of the race's challenges to flourish and be that year's MAGNIficent winners.
This work of art was created by "the accidental artist" in Hamilton, NZ, almost entirely from old adventure racing equipment! It's not done yet, but we think it's going to be pretty special. The top team will get their name emblazoned on the base (alongside 2025 winners Team Sardine Racing), strengthening Ka Tipu against the challenges that are yet to come. Additionally, the winning team will get a to display Ka Tipu the Kiwi at their home(s) until the next edition of the race!
Prize money - As we grow this event, it is our intention to offer prize money as a way to continue elevating the sport and athletes involved. To win one of the races is a remarkable achievement. The free entry to next year's World Championship (6000USD) will always be the biggest prize, but a bit of cash to help with travel to the world's or even just have a celebratory feed with the team is a nice bonus.
This year the budget has been super tight with higher safety costs, travel/scouting costs, youth discounts and a few less grants, but we are taking a step in that direction by offering a micro-purse. It'll be enough for a decent feed with double desserts at least.
The winners - $2000NZD
The top youth team - $500NZD
The top international team (all four members living outside NZ) - $500NZD
Lantern Rouge (final full course team) - $250 meal voucher.
There will be other prizes as well, for top teams, TBD.
The MAGNIficent TEAMS
So - who is the competition anyway? Let's take a look. There is the possibility of a few more teams joining, but the following are confirmed.
Things to "train" in the last month
Ok, so you aren't really just starting to train (we hope not), but the last month of prep can go a long way to focusing on things that can make a big difference on the racecourse. Here is a short list of things we hope you are thinking about:
swimming - not like "triathlon endurance swimming", but like "survive in the ocean waves while swimming to shore" type swimming. You'll be swimming around cliffs and rocky outcrops amid the swells. You'll have a life jacket, and a wetsuit and some adrenaline. If you can't replicate this environment at your local beach, you can at the very least head to your local pool dressed the part and ask all the town kids to repeatedly cannonball around while you swim laps.
hike-a-bike - not as extensive as last year, but there will be two challenging unrideable sections. One in the bush, one on a trail. And it might be thick bush (but mostly downhill), and rough trail with treefall (mostly uphill). Luckily, you'll have a lot of riding and time to forget the first section before the second section. Oh yeah and depending on where you choose to do that whacking - you might need to remember the advice we gave about maybe turning the handlebars. Who knows though, maybe you'll find a better way (it's not like we're going to flag anything for you!)
navigation - we love navigation as much as Chris Forne does. So there is a lot of navigation. PRO-points and O-points often offer even harder navigation, but even for a team just getting the main CPS, real navigation and route choice will be involved. Maps will be 1:50k, 20m contours, forestry blocks, dense bush, and big terrain. Some of the trekking maps will be sized to 1:24k, but again, the base is still 20m contours regardless.
Safety Concerns:
Well it is an expedition race, so it will be challenging, remote, wet, cold, rough terrain etc. There are a few particular things to note - over an above the "take care of yourself and your teammates" rhetoric. But yeah - do that too. We take racer responsibility seriously, and you'll be asked to make some strong promises toward that end in your pre-race agreements you sign.
Weather and Environment: There will be some real remote sections. In native primordial bush. Far from roads or trails. With ravines, waterfalls, and steep terrain. There will be rotting logs, dense ferns which make seeing your feet nigh impossible, holes, slippery rocks, cliffs. If you need help, it will take some time to reach you. The NZ "summer" can vary wildly from super hot, to more like a wet winter.
Flora/Fauna: You'll encounter bush lawyer (which you'll learn to recognize after a few bloody encounters). You might also encounter sea lions and/or seals during the coasteering. Usually not dangerous, but worth noting that they do not like to be stared at. Seriously, don't meet their eyes. You were warned. Also, they are attracted and curious the more you thrash around, so just move slowly away and give them space. We encountered one during one of our recce ocean swims and it was terrifying in the moment, but non-eventful.
Course Format and Notes:
See below for a brief discussion of the MAGNIficent race format and details that will help in your overall strategy planning.
Maps. Teams will only get one set of maps this year. That set will include duplicate maps for orienteering and trekking legs so that a back-up or secondary navigator can earn their salt. The maps and passports will all be printed on waterproof and tear-proof paper (we promise!).
Points. Race will be decided by the team with the most points, and then time. The only thing mandatory is visiting each TA in order and via the discipline(s) intended on that leg. All CP (control points) are optional. There are several types of these: Main points (labeled CP) are the highest value. Waypoints (labeled WP) are like Main points, but with no flagging or marker to check in at, but which teams still get credit for if they pass through. PRO points (labeled PRO) are moderate value, and O-points (labeled O) are the least valuable. The course is designed so that top teams should be aiming to get every available point (all CPs, PRO, and O points).
Course time: The course will be open for 6+ days.
Full course: We expect 10-30% of the teams to get every point.
Sleep cards - once section of the course will have a sleep card system where teams are required to get cumulative 6 hours of sleep. Minimum stops of 2 hours. Must stop in certain areas (TAs and select CP only) to get sleep card credit. When teams use their sleep cards, transition time counts towards sleep time.
Darkzone: There will be two small darkzone areas during one section of the race that will limit travel options and times. No team will get stuck in both of the darkzones (unless you stop for a long time), and we've considered all the options to minimize the effect on the competitiveness of the event. The Darkzone area will also be an area where the sleep card can be utilized.
Equipment weight limits: 30 kg for each bin/bag (A and B). Bikes are just the bikes and stuff attached; Paddle Bag(s) are 50kg each (up to 2 bags permitted).
Time Estimates: We've done something different. One number. The number of hours that a reasonably fast team that is expecting to clear the course should be doing. Really fast teams will beat this time. Moderate teams will be somewhat close to this time. Slower teams will want to skip some points to not be too far behind this time. Basically it's mostly meaningless, unless it isn't, which is really up to you. Also - time estimates assume fresh team, daylight, decent weather, and excellent navigation. Yep - pretty much useless. We also might revise these significantly as we finish our final course setting this month. So yeah - mostly a drawing with some numbers. And by the way, PB = Paddle bag(s), Bin A and Bin B and Bikes should be obvious.
Airport Transfers
If you've added your needs into the portal then you're sorted. We'll be putting together a schedule in the next week and letting teams know individually the plan around supporting their move from their destination airport to race HQ in Gore. See below for a brief discussion of the MAGNIficent race format and details that will help in your overall strategy planning.
Sponsors
The MAGNIficent couldn't happen, at least at the price point it does, without the incredible support of local government organizations (including some public funding) and brands and businesses alike. We sincerely appreciate this 'team' effort. Please consider showing your own appreciation in the days leading up to the race, and in the future either through your patronage or even just words of thanks.
Some of these brands have special discount codes for racers too - so it's even easier to show them some love! See below and on the graph for discounts and secret codes!
4 Hour Fuel: We've been fielding a few questions about 4-Hour Fuel orders. As an event sponsor, 4HF is offering a discount to MAG 2 racers--12 hour bags for $40nzd vs $55nzd, delivered to you at check in. These are available in 3 flavors. To order, fill out the form--4 Hour Fuel Form
Altitude Brewery Tap Room: For those of you traveling through Queenstown from mid Feb to mid March, stop in to the Altitude tap room and say "Isn't it MAGNIFICENT out!?" and they will give you an $11 beer. There are also some sweet food trucks that park outside so it's a great spot to stop!
A summary of sponsor deals are below:
15% discount code MAGAR15 | Bee Fast Energy Gels Code: Mag15 for 15% off | |
That's It (20% off when you use the link above!) | ||
Closing Thoughts
What can we say, it's been a good summer for adventure racing in New Zealand so far and this next month looks to make it even better with both True West and the MAGNIficent on tap. With three bigg(ish) races this year for people to choose from, we're thrilled to have attracted a solid field of nearly (and it may be yet!) 30 teams, 9 of them joining us from overseas. It's exciting to once again have our little race the largest and most competitive expedition length event in NZ this season. Thanks so much to all of the participants for supporting our efforts by choosing to spend your time, money, and resources to come and join us next month for a wee adventure.
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