Wild Earth BTU TC Photos, BTU Tarawera Podiums, 9 Dragons, Salomon Race Pack Guide, Elite Line-up and 10% Discount Code
Wow, what a few weeks it has been. First up, our first Wild Earth BTU Training Camp for the year! Hosted by our BTU Coaches Liam McKenzie, Jodie Oborne, Katie Dall and Susannah Harvey-Jamieson. Massive thank you to Wild Earth Australia, Salomon Aus/NZ, Hammer Nutrition Australia, Smartwool Aus and Red Bull Energy Drink for supplying samples and gifts for our runners.
If you missed this camp, don't worry, you can grab an entry to our next one, a qualifier for the BTU110 and BTU60 on the 6th of April. Here is the list our our upcoming training camps below;
Wild Earth BTU- STWC Training Camp- APRIL 6TH - 30KM/OR 44KM BTU30, BTU60 AND BTU110 QUALIFYING EVENT
Wild Earth BTU- STWC Training Camp- MAY 4TH - 10KM - TRAIL SKILLS RUN ALL WELCOME
Wild Earth BTU- STWC Training Camp - MAY 25TH-26TH BACK TO BACK - 48KM SATURDAY -18KM SUNDAY BTU60/BTU110/BTU100MILE QUALIFYING EVENT
Wild Earth BTU- STWC Training Camp - MAY 25TH - 26TM SATURDAY ONLY - BTU60-BTU110 QUALIFYING EVENT
Wild Earth BTU- STWC Training Camp - MAY 26TH - 18KM SUNDAY ONLY - BTU30/BTU20 QUALIFYING EVENT
We announced the growing female lineup, but who is racing in the men’s races?
Aidan Hobbs is returning and racing the BTU20 to be part of the Golden Trail Series Australian Final. He is joined by a star-studded lineup of Australian Representatives with BTU30 regular winner Ben Duffus, who is switching from the BTU30 to the 20 to be part of the action. Podium regular Team Salomon Brodie Nankervis will make the trip up from Victoria, with 2023 2nd place Nathan Pearce, and will race local legends Billy Curtis, Zac Newsham, and ACT Runner Max Taylor, but can they all beat BTU20 Record Holder Jeremy Hunt?
Other names to watch in other events and yet to enter are Wild Earth Australian (WEA) Athlete Jack Gill and WEA, Hammer Nutrition Australia and BTU Coach Liam McKenzie, Andrew Leach.
BTU30 podium regular Gabriel Flor is stepping up to the BTU60, with Kiwi Benje Patterson dropping to the shorter distance from the Miler.
Tassie athlete David Bailey has entered the BTU30; he is joined by Josh Kersavani and Eric Concè BTU30.
Now what’s happening in the Ultra distances? Will Team Salomon Vlad Shatrov return?
BTU110 Winner Jordan Nukes is racing the Miler; he is joined by George Murray, Giles Penfolds, and Brendan Verrier. Piotr Babis, Miler's record is taking the shorter option this year and racing the BTU110. The podium winner Miler who is undecided is Noelis Rehault.
So, with these names in mind, let's see how the past BTU Podium Winners went at Tarawera Ultra 2024;
TMiler
Mike Carroll 3rd, George Murray 4th, Mathew Dunn 5th
Chantell Smith 2nd, Jessica Schulter 8th.
T102
Andrew Dey
Sarah Ludowici 4th, Buha Bali 7th,
T50
Eric Concè 7th,
T21
Ben Duffus 4th,
It was a big weekend of racing. In Hong Kong, the epic 9 Dragons Ultra was on! Race Director Shona Stephenson attended this as support for BTU Community Legends Cora Lau, BTU Coach and MC/BTU Live Presenter, Australian Ultra running representative who has beaten cancer TWICE! Jodie Oborne, with Sheree Rowling, TRAQ social media representative Suzanne Chatterton and BTU110 winner Hayley Teale.
All our hopes of Aussie glory rested on the shoulders of the gusty Hayley Teale, who came 4th overall in the 50Miles and 50 km with over 8000m of vert stretched over the 140km course of stairs and continuous ups and downs. This event is renowned as a quad killer! Sheree Rowling also nabbed a respectful 10th place, and Cora Lau finished before the strict cut-of and was the 13th female to complete the 50Miles/50km distance.
Susan Chatterton was smart and picked the 50Mile race on Saturday and made it before cut off, and Jodie Oborne inspired many with her recent recovery from cancer, which returned after a few years of remission. Jodie completed the 50km course with 4000m of vert but narrowly missed the finish line. She proved that just getting out on the course, training, and testing your body again no matter what time is worth it because Jodie's satisfaction with achievement was immense, and she convinced retired athlete Shona to give it a crack in 2025. Shona also mingled with the podium winners and invited them to the BTU 2024. Let’s see which athletes will make the trip down under to race our gruelling course.
Salomon Aus/NZ have put together a great guide to help you pick the right race Vest for your BTU Event and Training Runs;
Under 1 hour: a belt or a 2-litre vest pack.
Race belts and 2-litre vest pack can be used for the BTU10 and BTU20.
1 or 2 hours: 2 to 5 litres
Small vest packs can be used for the BTU10, BTU20, BTU30 and BTU60* in fine weather or cooler conditions when extra fluid is not required.
3+ hours: 6 to 10 litres
6-10 litres vest packs can be used for the BTU60, BTU110 and BTU100Mi in fine weather or cooler conditions when the Foul weather kit is not required.
Ultra trails/runs off the beaten track: 12 litres
12 Litres will cover you for all distances at the BTU!