sunday 24 March 2024 - mount maunganui

swim

bike

run

Latest News

Follow our Facebook page for all the latest news in the lead up to the event, during the event day and post event updates. 

Feel free to use the Facebook page to connect with other participants if you are looking for a training partner to get you out swimming, cycling and running or if you have any questions about equipment, race kit, etc. 

There are a set of FAQs at the bottom of this page to help you get answers to the most common questions. 

Contact Paul the Event Director for any further information.

countdown to event day

Days
Hours
Minutes
Seconds

race distance

Sprint

Swim: 750m
Bike: 20km
Run: 5km

Monster/short

Swim: 400m
Bike: 10km
Run: 2km

Mini

Swim: 100m
Bike: 2km
Run: 1km

registration

Monster - 12-15 years

Mini - 6-11 years

*Plus Booking Fees

**Triathlon New Zealand (TriNZ) One Day Membership (ODM). Required for all Sprint distance entries. Unless participant is an Annual TRIBE member. Only ONE person in a Sprint distance Team entry requires ODM (or TRIBE membership).

location

Set against the beautiful backdrop of mauao (Mount Maunganui), the marra sprint Triathlon returns for the 37th year

course map

click the map to see a bigger version of the course

race information

Most frequent questions and answers

Registration will take place on Saturday 23rd March at MYRIDE,  37 Totara Street Mt Maunganui from 12pm to 3pm. We ask that you attend this registration to collect your race-pack, which will include your race number, timing transponder, swim cap & race info. 

 Late entries will be taken at the registration with a late fee of $10.

THERE ARE NO LATE ENTRIES TAKEN ON THE RACE DAY

If you are unable to make this time, someone else may register on your behalf. In a case where nobody can collect for you we can make arrangements for the racepack to be collected on Sunday between 6:00am-7:00am, prior to the Monsters/Mini’s race briefing. Please phone/email the Race Director – 027 2705300 or events@triathlontauranga.org.nz

Sprint Distance – Draft-legal 

  • Swim 750m, 1 lap – Ocean swim parallel with the shore, with an in-water start.
  • Bike 20km, 2 laps – The Mall, Adams Ave, Marine Parade to Turn-around @ #209 Marine Parade. Return to Turn-around @ Prince Ave.
  • Run 5km, 1 lap – The Mall, via left @ Adams Ave, past the boat-ramp, Pilot Quay & then onto the Mauao (Mount) Base track, exit back onto the boardwalk & down the ramp, along in front of Campground & Surf Club then right onto Adams Ave & finally a left onto The Mall to follow down to finish.

Monster / Short course

  • Swim 400m, 1 lap – Ocean swim with an in-water start
  • Bike 10km, 1 lap – The Mall, Adams Ave, Marine Parade to Turn-around @ #209. Return to transition.
  • Run 2km, 1 lap – The Mall, via left through the boat-ramp carpark to the turn-around on Pilot Quay . Return to finish on The Mall.

Mini’s

  • Swim 100m, 1 lap – Ocean swim with an in-water start.
  • Bike 2km, 1 lap – The Mall, Adams Ave, turning at the Adams Ave round-about & back down The Mall.
  • Run 1km, 1 lap – The Mall to the turn-around at the corner of Commons Ave & return to finishline.

Attached is the Race briefing for the Marra Sprint Triathlon.

Marra Tri Race Briefing 2019

Below are the Race rules that you need to be aware of for the Marra Tri

MARRA Race rules 2019

 

    • The Marra Sprint Triathlon was formerly known as the Life Pharmacy Bayfair Triathlon.  It has been running now since 1988, some 35 plus years and is a popular local event supported by local and visiting triathletes.  This is a sprint distance triathlon and is open to all levels of experience from novice to elite.

    • The event will be held wet or fine. If necessary the event will be modified for safety reasons& it will only be cancelled if the weather prevents race organisers from hosting a safe event for everyone.

    • Any decision on the race will be made at least 1 hour before the intended race start time.

  • There are 3 different length swims – Mini’s 100m, Monster / Short 400m & Sprint 750m ( all swam parallel to the shore ).
  • You will be able to stand in all distances depending on how deep you swim. 
  • There is to be NO walking in the swim.
  • Please wear the swimcap provided on the outside of any other caps you may wish to wear.
  • If you need SLSNZ assistance than please raise one hand & don’t panic.
  • You don’t have to wear a wetsuit.  They are optional.
  • As per the race schedule we have Male, Female & Team waves for the Sprint distance event.
 
  • This can be any kind of pedal powered bike. No E-bikes. Please ensure the bike fits YOU.
  • Helmets must be worn at all times. Please ensure this fits correctly. Helmet must be on before un-racking your bike & remain on till bike is racked after the bike leg.
  • We do have road closure for the event, but please be aware that residents & businesses can still access the roads. We have marshals on all street corners.
  • Please ride as close to the left-hand side of the road as practical & pass on the right 
  • Please learn to change a flat tyre as we don’t have bike mechanics on course.
  • Please remain alert through-out the entire ride as there maybe faster cyclists starting in swim waves behind you that need to pass.
  • There must be no form of listening/music devices on the course. 
  • These races are draft-legal. If you are uncomfortable drafting, then please don’t. No riding on aerobars in the bunch. Only on the front.
  • Please pass on the RIGHT.
  • You must NEVER cross the centreline.
  • Your race bib number can be worn on the bike.
  • There are no bike checks, so please make sure the bike is safe, brakes work & is in good condition.
  • Please wear shoes the entire time.
  • Race number must be worn on the run only
  • Take care around the Mauao (Mount) Base track ( if doing the Sprint ).  Stay on the MAIN track.
  • The course for Sprint is down onto the Boardwalk in front of Surf Club. Not through the campground.
  • This is a run/walk leg. Please no skates, skateboards, scooters or any other device.
  • Some of the run course is alongside the bike course so please run as close to the kerb as possible.
  • There is also parts of the course that are 2-way runners. please stay to the left. (Just like driving on the road).
  • Please no strollers/buggies on course.
  • There is to be no MP3, I-Pods, phones, bluetooth headphones or any other listening devices on course. 
  • As there are many hundreds of athletes racing we ask that family & children don’t run with you. This helps keep the race safe for everyone.
  • The Team race is a relay with a Team of 2 or 3 doing a leg each. Only the person who registers the team will receive the confirmation email. All the members must join the team through the online entry platform.
  • The swimmer will start in the Team wave with the timing transponder on their ankle.
  • The Swimmer tags the cyclist at the Team Tag area near the back of Transition. Please place the transponder around the ankle. The Cyclist must wear the helmet number.
  • The Cyclist then racks the bike & tags & places the transponder around the ankle of the Runner. The Runner must wear the race bib number for the run.
  • All Team members may run across the finish-line together. Please just be courteous to any other competitors finishing.
  • The Transition area for Sprint distance will stay open during the Mini, Monster/Short race as you will be racked separately.
  • Each race will be asked to move from their Transition area 15-20 mins before your race start. 
  • The Team race will have a Tea Tag area near the end of the swim exit.
  • Please only Athletes in the Transition area.
  • There are separate racks for Mini’s Monsters & Sprint. Sprint will be allowed in Transition whilst Minis & Monster/Short course races are being held.
  • The Mini’s & Monster/Short will be allowed to remove bikes from transition periodically during the morning but not whilst other races are using the Transition area.
  • Bike racks aren’t numbered but are in the different races.
  • Please remove any excess bags onto the grassed area within the transition area or the bag drop tent.
  • Please don’t take up to much space in transition. No large bins, boxes or bags are to be left at your bike. Only the kit you need to race should be placed under the bike, in “your space”.
  • Please use only the space you need. Place your bike back in the same spot as it came out of.
  • Please make sure you take only YOUR equipment from the transition area after the race.
  • Please don’t hang your wetsuit on the bike rack.
  • Marra Transition map
  • The Sprint Distance race is DRAFT-LEGAL
  • Get to the Transition area early. The Sprint area will be seperate from the Monster & Mini’s so you can still be in transition up to your briefing. Check the times on the race schedule.
  • High Tide 7:43am
  • Don’t forget your transponder & don’t lose it or it will cost you $100.
  • Medical aid can be found near the finishline.
  • Please don’t park any where on the race course.
  • You MUST attend the race briefing on the day, 15 minutes before your race.
  • Please have your upper torso covered at all times during the race (except in the swim if you don’t wear a wetsuit).
  • Please wear covered shoes at all times during the race.
  • Please wear a helmet at all times during the bike section of the race.
  • Monster & Mini’s transition areas will open after the last bike has completed the bike leg of the Sprint race.  Approximately 10am.
  • Turn up to race hard & have FUN.
  • Bring Sun-screen & suitable clothing.
  • There are Merit medals for Sprint, Mini & Monster.
  • There are spot prizes to be won. You must be present to win.
  • Visit Mount Mainstreet before & after the event.
Saturday 23rd March 2024
  • 12pm-3pm registration @ MYRIDE, Mt Maunganui

Sunday 24th March 2024

  • 6:00am Transition area opens (Salisbury Wharf carpark, Pilot Bay)
  • 7:05am Mini/Monster & Short transition closes
  • 7:10am Monster / Mini’s & Short Course race briefing
  • 7:30am Marra Mini’s 10&11 years start
  • 7:32am Marra Mini’s 8&9 years start
  • 7:34am Marra Mini’s 6&7 years start
  • 7:45am Marra Monster Individual & Teams race start 
  • 7:50am Short course start
  • 8:00am Sprint transition closes
  • 8:15am Sprint Distance race briefing
  • 8:30am Sprint Distance move to the start-line
  • 8:45am Sprint Distance Men start
  • 8:46am Sprint Distance Female start  
  • 8:50am Sprint Distance Teams start
  • 9:15am Mini/Monster & Short prizegiving (approx)
  • 11:00am Prize-giving or 15 mins after last competitor

Age Groups will your age as of 24th March 2024.

Mini’s Youth Age Division is 6-11 years of age.

Monster Youth Age Division is 11-15 years of age. 

Online entries will close on Wednesday 20th March 2024 at midnight. Then late entries will be taken on Saturday 23rd March 2024 at the registration. These late entries will incur a fee of $10 + the entry fee. 

You are able to transfer your entry to another Athlete with an Admin fee of $5. Please contact event organisers

If you need to withdraw from the race prior to race-day due to an injury etc, a refund may be issued with a $15 Admin Fee.  The booking fee is non-refundable.  There will be NO refunds after 2nd March 2024. Please contact event organisers.

No refunds will be given due to cancellation of the event due to circumstances beyond the organisers control including, adverse/extreme weather conditions,  natural disaster, any Civil Defence warnings (i.e. Tsunami), earthquake, pandemic or any other event when it is deemed unsafe to safely host the event. Any decision is final and will be made in the interest of safety.

If the event is cancelled due to Covid-19 only, registered athletes will be entitled to a 70% refund of their entry fee. Note this does not include credit card fees or booking fees. No transfers.

There will be plenty of fantastic spot prizes at the event. Prize-giving will be held approx 15 minutes after the last athlete has crossed the finish line of the Sprint distance race. Numbers will be picked at random. You MUST be present to receive your prize.

Mini & Monster prize-giving will take place whilst the Sprint distance athletes race. Once they have all finished the swim leg. There will be finish-line medals for the Marra Mini’s & Monsters only. 

Medals for Minis is overall time for the whole race, so Age 6 will be competing against age 11 for overall merit medals. There are no age groups, just 1st, 2nd, 3rd overall for each gender.

Medals for Monster race is also overall time for the whole race. There are no Age Groups in the Monster race. There are no age groups, just 1st, 2nd, 3rd overall for each gender. 

Age group medals will be presented in 10 year age groups for the Sprint.  There is $1000 in cash prizes to be split even for Male & Female overall in the Sprint race.  1st overall $250, 2nd overall $150, 3rd overall $100

  • 2014 – Find them here
  • 2015 – Find them here
  • 2016 – Find them here
  • 2017 – Find them here
  • 2018 – Find them here
  • 2019 – Find them here
  • 2020 – Find them here
  • 2021 – Find them here
  • 2022 – Find them here

sponsors

Please support these businesses that support the Marra Sprint Triathlon

event sponsor
gold sponsors
Silver & Bronze sponsors
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community partners