It takes a large team to put together this event. Rest-assured, even when your legs are wobbly, your feet hurt and you have not clue where you are - we have the team on hand to make sure you have a memorable day and get home safely. Primarily, our volunteers come from the Kawerau Harriers Club, Gravity Sports Club in Kawerau, Scion, RATs Triathlon Club, Kawerau District Council, Rotorua District Council and Whakatane Amateur Radio Club.
Contact
the Vibram Tarawera Ultra.
meet the talented team...
Race Director - Paul Charteris
Forever wishing I was a faster runner, with better tanned legs. I started planning this run in late 2008, because I love trail running and I love this area. See blog posts about the Tarawera philosophy and my experiences after one year (in 2009) of starting a small trail running business.
I am responsible for overall coordination of this event. However, after the 2010 race, I realised I needed some serious help to efficiently run a growing event. Hence, the dream team you see assembled here. If you'd like to see what I am up to, please view the blog. In between organising runs, I work at Scion - and run in the Whaka Forest every lunchtime. If you have any questions or comments, there are many ways you can always contact me.
I am responsible primarily for staffing, overall planning, financials, as well as most media, sponsors and athletes liaison.
The Tarawera Ultramarathons is run by NZ Trail Runs Ltd. of which I am the sole shareholder.
Event Operations Manager - Mike van der Boom
Mike has been the events manager for the Whakatane District Council for the past five years and now works for Cheeky Rooster Ltd (Communications, PR and event management). Mike has practical event management experience in a broad range of events including the Bike Odyssey (a three day Mountain bike event), adventure races, concerts and festivals. Mike loves the outdoors and has competed in numerous endurance events including the Speight’s coast to coast, Ironman NZ, the Kepler Challenge and the Tararua Mountain Race. Mike also worked as a school teacher for 15 years and has coordinated many outdoor education courses and trips.
Safety Coordinators- Budgie and Henry from Peak Safety.
The Peak Safety crew have decades of experience managing risk in the outdoor environment and continue to use the skills and knowledge on a daily basis.
Being totally good buggers, they mountain bike, ski, raft, hunt and sea kayak, climb rock, ice and snow, surf, skate, dive, parent and whitewater kayak. They fish in the rivers and oceans and sometimes even catch something.
Mark (aka Budgie) has been developing and managing safety systems and emergency response in challenging environments for over 20-years. He has been at the forefront of the development of safety systems in the ski industry and managed the safety services operation for Whakapapa Ski Area, the largest ski area in New Zealand, for two decades. Henry has been managing safety in the outdoor environment for over 10 years.
Safety coordinators will be under the guidance of the event doctor and will coordinate with St. John Ambulance services which will be on-hand during the event.
Kawerau Coordinator - Edwina O'Brien
Rotorua Coordinator - Katrin Walbert
Hi, I'm Kat...Dr.Kat. In real life I work with Paul C behind the fence at Scion as a Forest Pathologist and pretend to be smart. But whenever I can, I work at sporting events. I've been working in the sport industry since my time as a student (yes there is a history in Aerobics and skimpy lycra outfits…) and been involved in events organisation for over 8 years now. Events I've worked on range from the Great Race (Rowing), UCI Trials World Cup to Triathlons, Duathlons and MTB races. I have been part of the NDuro Events team for several years now and look after the boyz' timing and registration process. I am also an active figure in the Rotorua Triathlon Club (RATs) – currently I am the boss and try to keep them under control and spend all the money on fun things. Aside from organising stuff and drinking coffee at Zippy's [ed. note - Zippy's rocks!] I actually also enjoy being out there competing and riding my bikes, swimming the lakes and running the glorious trails we've got in the Rotorua Wonderland!
Sponsorship Coordinator - Mark Copeland
Mark Copeland is a Rotorua-based commercial lawyer who has been involved in ultra running for over 25 years. Among myriad activities he has run every Great Walk in New Zealand and has also competed overseas, including in the Pikes Peak Marathon and various Fell circuits in the UK. He co-founded the Wellington-based RidgeRunners trail running Group, and has twice organised the New Zealand Rogaining Championships. Mark is currently experiencing something of a renaissance in his trail running, helped greatly by his enthusiasm for the Tarawera Ultramarathon.
Tracks and maintenance - Mike Tennent
In the lead-up I will be helping wherever possible. I have helped clear a section on Eastern Okataina Trail and will be finishing off the work Paul has started on the Blue Lake to Okareka Trail. I am bound to be involved stuffing competitor bags like last year and may get to help Paul buy Pak’n’Save out of Jelly Beans again in the big Aid Station Shop! On the day I will (probably) be the liaison person for Team Salomon and/or the Ultra 168 Team. am primarily a half marathon runner who does the occasional ‘long run’. TUM last year was my first and only Ultra to now… but won’t be the last. I raised just over $5000 for Hospice running last year and this year, commencing 4th May, I am attempting to run 52 Competition Half Marathons (or longer) in 52 Weeks to again raise money for Hospice… catch up with me through VTUM’s Facebook page to learn more. hi le I welcome everyone to the Vibram Tarawera Ultra Marathon, I send a special welcome to all of those running their first Ultras. I was in your position last year and I can only encourage you to immerse yourself in the event. Do everything, talk to everyone – both before, during and after the race – enjoy your run in Paradise… it is something special!
Athletes Liaison - kerry Suter
I offset my sedentary IT professional lifestyle with as much running as the day allows. A huge fan of Tarawera Ultra, Ive run it every year since inception and hope to maintain that unbroken streak for as long as I remain unbroken. I'm currently enjoying my running without obsessing about it and have a good working knowledge of ultra distance training and competing at a national level. Always keen to talk about the sport I love, I welcome questions from athletes of all abilities. BTW - Kerry is a 2x Champion of the Tarawera Ultra. and holds multiple course records.
Marcus Diprose - Timing Controller
Active timing s supplying timing services for the Tarawera Ultra in 2011, as we did in 2010. We are a company based in Rotorua and we specialise in timing sports event, the more complex the better! And the Tarawera Ultra is definitely a complex event with multiple races and multiple legs spread over a large distance. It is certainly a challenge but one we are up for. We work closely with Paul to ensure we are providing the best service for the Tarawera Ultra. Apart from providing results for the event, one of the most important aspects we help events with is competitor safety. As part of the our timing services for an event we have a competitors medical information a mouse click away and work in closely with the race director and the safety manager to ensure all competitors are looked after during the course of the event. You can visit us at our website www.activetiming.co.nz See you in March 2011 Marcus has also been running NDuro Events in and around Rotorua for eight years. Thousands of mountain bikers from all over the world have taken part in NDuro good honest fun events including the Whaka 100. Marcus is also a key dude bringing the singlespeed world championships to New Zealand in October 2010.
Tarawera Forest Course Coordinator - Neil Jones
If you want someone responsible for making sure the course is right - it pays to use a local, the fittest dude you can find and someone with the best navigation skills on the planet. That narrows it down to one person. Neil is a legend in adventure racing circles. He has raced professionally and won nearly every major adventure race around the world. Neil and his family can be found competing (and often winning) or volunteering in nearly every endurance race in the Eastern Bay of Plenty.
