New owners for iconic run

NZSki owner Trojan Holdings has bought the Routeburn Classic through its events company, Ultimate Event Productions Ltd.

The 32km mountain trail run, which winds along the Great Walk through Mount Aspiring and Fiordland National Parks, has been a popular fixture on the trail running calendar for over a decade.

But now Evan McWhirter has called time on his ownership, selling the event to Trojan Holdings' events company, Ultimate Event Productions Limited, which also owns the Kathmandu Coast to Coast.

"The event has been a labour of love for me," McWhirter says, "and I’m confident that Ultimate Events will continue to build on the success of the event and take it to new heights."

Trojan Holdings is one of New Zealand's tourism giants. It also owns The Hermitage, Ultimate Hikes, a 40% stake in AJ Hackett Bungy, along with a number of transport and property companies.

Ultimate Hikes has been running guided walks for a number of years along the Routeburn, which winds through beech forests, past waterfalls and up through alpine passes over the Harris Saddle at 1300m.

"We're excited to add the Routeburn Classic to our portfolio of events," Ultimate Event Productions Ltd Director Noel Saxon says. "The event is a unique and challenging trail run that showcases some of the most spectacular scenery in New Zealand.

"We're looking forward to continuing the tradition of the Routeburn Classic and providing an unforgettable experience for participants and spectators alike."

The run starts at The Divide, 85km from Te Anau, and heads up over the top and down to the Routeburn Shelter, 25km from Glenorchy.

The event attracts runners from around the world but was cancelled due to snow in 2018, a storm in 2019, and then came the pandemic.

The 2023 Routeburn Classic is scheduled to take place on Saturday, 29 April, with only 350 spots available for athletes.

Registration for the event is now open, and interested participants can enter online at www.routeburnclassic.co.nz.