Karapoti Classic
Encyclopedia
The Karapoti Classic is New Zealand
's longest-running annual mountain bike
event, started in 1986 by Paul Kennett. It starts at Karapoti Park off Akatarawa Road between Upper Hutt
and Waikanae
, and heads up the 8 km Karapoti Gorge
. From there it begins a single 30 km loop in the native and pine
forest of the Akatarawa Ranges.
The 1986 Karapoti was New Zealand's first national mountain bike race and was self declared the National Off-Road Championships. The event was managed by the Kennett Bros
until 2002.
The event differs from most races because it comprises a large single loop and the route does not change from year to year.
It is held on the first Saturday of March every year.
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
's longest-running annual mountain bike
Mountain bike
A mountain bike or mountain bicycle is a bicycle created for off-road cycling. This activity includes traversing of rocks and washouts, and steep declines,...
event, started in 1986 by Paul Kennett. It starts at Karapoti Park off Akatarawa Road between Upper Hutt
Upper Hutt
Upper Hutt is a satellite city of Wellington. It is New Zealand's smallest city by population, the second largest by land area. It is in Greater Wellington.-Geography:Upper Hutt is 30 km north-east of Wellington...
and Waikanae
Waikanae
Waikanae is a small town on New Zealand's Kapiti Coast. The name is a Māori word meaning "The waters of the yellow eyed mullet". Another settlement called Waikanae Beach exists near Gisborne on the east coast of the North Island of New Zealand....
, and heads up the 8 km Karapoti Gorge
Karapoti Gorge
Karapoti Gorge is one of the entrances into the Akatarawa Forest, a regional park in the Wellington Region in New Zealand. The Akatarawa River West runs through this narrow, mostly bush-clad gorge towards the Akatarawa Valley. A narrow road winds its way along the steep slopes, providing access...
. From there it begins a single 30 km loop in the native and pine
Pine
Pines are trees in the genus Pinus ,in the family Pinaceae. They make up the monotypic subfamily Pinoideae. There are about 115 species of pine, although different authorities accept between 105 and 125 species.-Etymology:...
forest of the Akatarawa Ranges.
The 1986 Karapoti was New Zealand's first national mountain bike race and was self declared the National Off-Road Championships. The event was managed by the Kennett Bros
Kennett Bros
The Kennett Bros is the business name for brothers Paul Kennett, Simon Kennett and Jonathan Kennett. They have been heavily involved in mountain biking in New Zealand since 1984, and in publishing books about cycling and cyclists.-Activities:...
until 2002.
The event differs from most races because it comprises a large single loop and the route does not change from year to year.
It is held on the first Saturday of March every year.