Top NZ windsurfer takes on the Xterra NZ at Blue Lake

JP Tobin in more familiar territory SW

JP Tobin emerges from the water at the multi sport event © SW

My build for Xterra 2011 followed a similar pattern as previous years with total swim training based upon Xterra the year before, consequently my 2XU Elite is a very important piece of equipment…bike and run feature more consistently as integral component’s in my windsurf training, however with a big summer program on the board both disciplines have been just ticking over…I had to quickly find some pace and thanks to Total Sport the timing of both The Dual and The Nugget were ideal in helping me gain some pedal strength and leg speed.

Onto the race…the swim felt pretty short which I guess is a good sign and I arrived into bike transition in reasonable shape, took some time to get sorted for the ride which was mostly due to trying to balance, it actually feels pretty unnatural getting ready to race a bike having just been for a swim, couple this with the fact that my shoes are mountain bike specific as opposed to triathlon so involve coordinating (while still trying to balance) a number of closure systems.

On the bike I was hoping to not repeat the previous two years in which I welcomed back my breakfast…the plan during the swim this year was to focus on the leg drive, particularly during the last quarter to ensure good blood flow when exiting the water, it seemed to work and I felt pretty solid through a great bike course which works in some of the best trails of the Whakarewarewa Forest.

Thanks to Niner Bikes NZ for assisting in putting together one mean machine…racing the Niner rigid (non suspension) resulted in a super light weight ascending weapon with the tradeoff coming in speed/control through the technical sections.

Nutrition stayed with the bike this year, so arrived into T2 (bike-run transition) fueled up and good to go, reasonably quick through T2, a whole lot more straight forward in transitioning from bike to run.

Picked up some extra positions on the 11 km trail run (two laps around the Blue Lake) to finish up sixth overall, first in age group and first non pro…qualifying for the Xterra World Championships in the process…pretty happy as this my best result to date.

Next…Flying to France on the 19th April to race in the French World Cup Regatta (April 24-29, 2011) from there it is onto Weymouth (Olympic venue) to join back up with 'The Team' to pick up and push on towards the British World Cup Regatta (6-11 June, 2011).

All the best,

JP Tobin

See more at www.jptobin.com