Pedalling in the Park 2014 focuses on kids

17 March 2014

Pedalling in the Park 2014 focuses on kids

The accent will be on kids in this year’s Pedalling in the Park, the popular annual event which will take place on 6 April at the Wellington Road entrance to Queen Elizabeth Park accessed via Paekakariki.

Added to the usual family biking fun will be the exciting addition of Kids Only mountain bike races, organised by the Paekakariki Primary School Pedallers.

“Queen Elizabeth Park is a pedaller’s paradise and offers some great opportunities for interesting and challenging riding for children. This is a children’s only mountain bike race with the family ride later in the day,” says Jan Nisbet, co-ordinator of the weekly primary pedallers’ rides.

The Paekakariki Pedallers are also part of the organising group for the event, so they will also learn new skills including using a GPS, customising race details for each age group, health and safety and promotion.

The emphasis is on fun, with the course comprising a few hills followed by a sweeping downhill, creek crossings and single tracks.

Seven year old Kahu Warena, who has ridden with the group for the past two years, is really excited about having a specific event for kids. “Adults have so many races for them. I am excited about this race as Queen Elizabeth Park is a cool place to ride.”

There are a range of distances for different age groups. Age classification is based as at the day of the event.

Ages 6 & 7 years: Ride a short course of approximately 3km.
8 & 9 years: Approximately 5km (1 circuit of the full course).
10 & 11 years: Approximately 10km (2 circuits).
and 12 – 14 years: Approximately 15km (3 circuits).

After the races, there will be a family ride on the flatter parts of the park including a visit to the newly opened Jubilee Bird Hide, or a chance for children to take their parents around the race course.

A map of course is available at: www.facebook/avantipluskapiticoast or www.gw.govt.nz/events.

Races start 11am but participants should be at the park by 10am to collect race numbers, check the course and warm up.

Bookings are required (places are limited). To make sure the races are available to as many as possible the entry fee is only $5. On the day entries only if space available. To enter call Mat Walsh on 04 830 4041 or email bookings@gw.govt.nz.

Also available will be seesaws, ramps and jumps at the park for people to play on while waiting for the races to finish.

It is hoped to make this an annual kids only event so book in soon as the Paekakariki Pedallers are putting in a lot of effort to share their pedalling paradise with others and places are limited.

This is a joint project with the Pedallers, Greater Wellington Regional Council, Avanti plus and Kapiti Coast District Council.

ENDS

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