South Island Para Cycling Camp a success

Over the weekend of 10 – 12 November, Paralympics New Zealand (PNZ) headed to Christchurch for the annual South Island Para Cycling Camp. This year the South Island Para Cycling Camp included three concurrent activities: an introduction to Para cycling clinic, an open training camp, and a Para cycling time trial.

Four new riders jumped on their bikes and joined local ParaFed Canterbury Para Cycling Coach, Paul Odlin, at the Hagley Park Netball Courts for the Introduction to Para Cycling Clinic. Rio 2016 Paralympian Stephen Hills was also on hand to help new riders, and to share his journey from a similar introductory experience to becoming a multiple World Championship medallist. Athletes learnt the basics of bike safety, road safety, and bike handling skills, before showing us their speed in a series of sprint intervals and a winding time trial course. It was a great display of Para cycling, with tandems, tricycles, and hand cycles all out on the course. There were smiles all around, with athletes showing great improvement in their skills and confidence throughout the day. Newcomer Ian Simpson said “I had an awesome time at the camp, me being very new to the sport I didn’t even know if I was able to even ride a bike, my expectations were I was just going to watch but to have the chance to actually participate was amazing and now knowing that it is a sport I can possibly compete in has got me very excited.“ Athletes can now join their local ParaFed and cycling club to continue their involvement in Para cycling and potentially progress along the Para cycling development pathway.

The Open Training Camp provided an opportunity for experienced Para cyclists to come together for coaching sessions with PNZ Para Cycling Development Coordinator Laura Thompson, and educational workshops from PNZ and High Performance Sport New Zealand (HPSNZ) athlete performance support providers. Eight athletes from all over New Zealand participated in the Open Training Camp, which again, included a great mix of standard bicycles, tricycles, and hand cycles, really showcasing the breadth of Para cycling in New Zealand. Athletes participated in workshops on physiotherapy, strength and conditioning, race day warm ups, and bike maintenance, as well as completing gruelling training sessions on the Summit Road and the open roads of Loburn.

On the final day of the camp, nine Para cyclists lined up to race in the Para Cycling Time Trial hosted by the Canterbury Time Trial Association (CTTA). The 15km time trial was held in conjunction with the CTTA’s regular racing schedule, so the Para cyclists joined in among approximately 40 able-bodied CTTA members who were also battling it out on the 15km and 25km courses. After the race, CTTA Race Organiser Darran Humpheson said: “When the CTTA was asked whether we would host a time trial event there was no hesitation saying ‘yes’. Whilst we have had couple of Para cyclists taking part in our Tuesday evening time trials it was fantastic being able to demonstrate how accessible cycle racing can be, whether your 12 or 81 years of age, ride a handcycle or a full TT bike. Hopefully we can be involved next year!”

The Para Cycling Time Trial also served as the launch and race one of the PNZ 3 Wheels Race Series, which is a new initiative, specifically for hand cyclists and trike riders. The PNZ 3 Wheels Race Series encourages high quality racing opportunities for H and T class riders who otherwise have very limited domestic competitive events. Competitors are awarded points based on their placing at each event on the series calendar, with an overall series winner declared at the completion of the 2018 Road National Championships in May. The next event in the PNZ 3 Wheels Race Series will be the Activ8 Waikato Para Cycling event in March 2018. Congratulations to current Series Leaders Shane Blows (Hand cycle) and Stephen Hills (Trike) who won each of their respective races in Christchurch.

A big thank you must go to ParaFed Canterbury, the Canterbury Time Trial Association and High Performance Sport New Zealand for their involvement and support in the South Island Para Cycling Camp, as well as all athletes, coaches and support staff who attended. Without you the camp would not have been the great success it was!

To find out more about Para cycling, please contact PNZ Para Cycling Development Coordinator, Laura Thompson at [email protected], or register your interest now.