The Cook Islands Triathlon Association is looking forward to a big week of events which surround the annual Air New Zealand Rarotonga Triathlon to be held this Saturday.

The first event will be the CITC Boiler Swim on Thursday, May 4. Athletes will be meeting at the Trader Jacks car park from about 4pm with the race scheduled to start at 5pm.

Cook Islands Triathlon president Roland Neururer said: “Many of our international visitors who have come to take part in Saturday’s major triathlon use this event as a warm up, and a chance to experience swimming and racing in our wonderful clear waters for the first time.”

“Locals are also encouraged to enter for a gold coin donation.”

On Saturday, May 6, the 28^th Air New Zealand Rarotonga Triathlon, an Olympic Distance event consisting of a 1.5-kilometre swim, 42km cycle and 10km run, will be held.

Many overseas athletes have arrived already in preparation for this flagship event. 

Both individuals and teams are able to enter the race, and all entries must be made by Wednesday, May 3, no entries can be made on the day.

On Tuesday, May 9, the Ride Raro Cycle Race will be held. Athletes start from the BSP Bank in town and do one flying lap of the island. This is a draft legal race, meaning that all cyclists will be riding very close to each other and at significant speeds. Road users are asked to take extra care on this afternoon and be very mindful of this race. Local athletes are welcome to be part of the fun, race entry is free for locals and cyclists must be at the start line to enter by 4pm on race day.

Neururer said: “It is fantastic to once again be able to hold our week of events for our local and overseas athletes. We have around 100 athletes who will be involved with the main event on Saturday and the CITC Boiler Swim and Ride Raro Cycle Race add to the excitement and fun.” 

Events Schedule

Thursday 4th May 2023: CITC Boiler Swim from 4:30pm at Trader Jack’s Avarua Township, Prize Giving & Carbo-Loading Pasta Dinner at Edgewater Resort & Spa – Arorangi 7.30pm; Saturday 6th May 2023: Air New Zealand Rarotonga Triathlon Festival at Titikaveka Triathlon Site – Transition area open

11:30am, Race Start 1:30 pm, Race cut-off 6pm; Sunday 7th May 2023: Prize Giving Awards Dinner starting at 4:30pm at Edgewater Resort & Spa – Arorangi; Monday 8th May 2023: Ride Raro Mountain Bike Tour – Venue: Edgewater at 8am, Hash House Harriers Fun Run and Island Feast at Beachside Arorangi (Next to The Sunset Resort) starting at 5pm; Tuesday 9th May 2023

Ride Raro Cycle Race from Avarua Township at 4:30pm, Post race BBQ and final get together at Edgewater Resort & Spa – Arorangi, starting at 7:30pm.