visiting nz and summer events

tom Posted: 10 May 2004, 11:37 AM   hello, I'm a french guy planning some nz holidays in july-august (2004) and I'd be glad to take part in some O events there (and can trade french/NZ nice maps)... As I'll be travelling light, I won't have any gear but running shoes and outfit, but I'm also interested if someone needs a spare teammate for some adventure racing event (skills: O, mtb, canyoning, ice-climbing, DH ski...). here is the calendar of events I gathered so far from various websites : July 11 OY4 Spencerville (paponz) July 18 Silver Hills Forest (Rotorua) July 18 OY 2 - Pulpit Rock (nwoc) July 17/18 Guthrie Smith (Hawke's Bay) July 25 Wheel Relay, Groynes (paponz) August 1 OY 3 - Hobbit Woods (nwoc) August 1 Te Mata Park - Wanganui August 8 Score, Kaiapoi (paponz) August 15 Street event in Rotorua (Rotorua) August 15 OY 4 - Spaghetti Soup (nwoc) August 14/15 Havelock Hills August 22 0Y5, New Map (paponz) --- of course I don't plan to take part in all of them, so I'm all hears about the most interesting ones, so that I include them in my travel plan ! any other hiking('tramping' )/paddling/biking advice about a nice place ?!? Tom =;]   mark Posted: 11 May 2004, 1:12 AM   As David Shepherd would say 'Je peux mange un poulet entier" This message was edited by mark on 11 May 2004, 9:16 AM   mark Posted: 11 May 2004, 1:13 AM   I reckon that Hobbit Woods and Spaghetti Soup will be the best of those events. (If you ignore the fact that they are in Dorkland) On the 1st of August the Te Mata Park event is in Hawke's Bay. The other event on the 1st of August near Wanganui would be worthwhile. It will probably be on one of the maps used for the World Masters champs a couple of years ago. This message was edited by mark on 11 May 2004, 9:54 AM   fraser Posted: 11 May 2004, 9:08 AM   There are some other adventure race type events on around that time in Auckland which you might be interested in. Check this page http://www.endurancesport.co.nz/events/   tom Posted: 11 May 2004, 6:00 PM   ok, it took me a while to figure out about so called 'dorkland'... any more info about these events : long / sprint / score ... ? I got it wrong : I thought Te Mate Park was in Wanganui... so what are the two events ? thanks for the link : I asked for more information about some bike Rogaine... =;]   bendover Posted: 12 May 2004, 7:23 PM   go paddle in abel tasman national park. its awesome.   tom Posted: 12 May 2004, 8:06 PM   how about the water temperature during july-august ? let's say in auckland, wellington, nelson, christchurch ?   Martin Posted: 13 May 2004, 3:23 AM   cold, cold, cold, even colder: its winter   mark Posted: 13 May 2004, 4:14 AM   I think most of the orienteering events on your list will have an estimated winning time of around 60 or 70 minutes for the longest course.   addison Posted: 14 May 2004, 12:00 PM   Also if you want party central, you know where to come to. (the place currently has a SUPER 12 side in the SEMI's!)