Red tape a threat to Coast to Coast

In 1995 I wrote a book on the history of the  'Coast to Coast - The Great New Zealand Race.'  I remarked at the time there was no need for Government intervention or certification because high safety standards were used. Today we are seeing gross Government interference. Here is an article from today's Star Sunday Times.

FOUNDER ROBIN JUDKINS: ‘‘Why screw with it when it’s worked so well? It will be the death knell for people who have always wanted to help.’’

One of New Zealand's toughest and best-known sporting events is under threat from government regulation.

The annual Speight's Coast to Coast - founded in 1983 - could struggle to get enough entrants due to a shortage of affordable kayak instructors required to tick off race certification requirements.
Multisport New Zealand president and Sport Central coordinator Bill Godsall said the impact of new adventure tourism regulations on multisport events such as the Coast to Coast were of "huge concern".

 NEW DIRECTOR: Richard Ussher, pictured at the finish of the kayak leg last year.

The 243-kilometre event, which sees competitors race by boat, bicycle and on foot from Kumara Beach on the South Island's west coast to New Brighton Beach in Christchurch, was in danger because gaining the grade two certification requirements to paddle the river legs would be too expensive for many competitors, he said.
The event is set for February.
Under the new regulations due to come into effect on December 12, all adventure tourism operators must pass audits and register with Work Safe NZ.
But the regime was forcing many smaller operators, such as Godsall, to quit. Small or solo operators had to pay between $3000 and $5000 to go through the auditing process, he said.
"We don't make anything, or a lot, so the only people able to or who want to carry on with the grade two process are the big providers.
"They will now have a monopoly on it and their fees are already as much as four times a solo operator."
Kayaking events in the past had been "really big", and to lose that was a "huge concern", Godsall said. Other events such as the Clutha Classic could also be hamstrung by the new regulations.

"The Clutha Classic is the second-biggest kayak race in the South Island. We have good numbers but in the future the sport will take a big hit because of the lack of certified instructors providing a service at a reasonable cost people can afford. It is going to make life quite hard for multisport," he said.
And the man who for decades was the face of the Coast to Coast has also questioned the need for the changes.
Robin Judkins, who last year sold the event he created, said a certification requirement he introduced to the Coast to Coast in 1984 had proven to be "very successful", with no fatalities happening during the event's 30-year history.
"It's certainly not a positive thing for multisport, that's for sure. Why screw with it when it's worked so well?" he said.
"It will be the death knell for people who have always wanted to help."
New Coast to Coast director Richard Ussher shared concerns about the impact of the regulations on the race.
"It has raised a whole lot of grey areas for us. We are trying to work through and how best we move forward with that."
The auditing regime was nothing more than a paper trail, he said.
"All it is doing is adding to the costs and compliance, and not actually adding to the safety.
"It is more of a paper trail than critiquing actually what people are teaching, how they are teaching and what people will go away from that with."
Wanaka adventure tourism operator Guy Cotter said he was concerned highly qualified single operators would decide it was too hard and drop their concessions, leaving the adventure industry to be run by corporates.
The audit regime was a "knee jerk reaction" by the Government after British tourist Emily Jordan died in a river boarding accident in Queenstown in 2008 and the Fox Glacier plane tragedy in 2010 that killed eight skydivers and the pilot, Cotter said. Both events were governed by existing Maritime and Civil Aviation safety regulations but instead of tightening those laws, the Government had got stuck into the whole industry and the typical $800 three-year audit cost leapt to $10,000 to complete just one WorkSafe audit, Cotter added.
Canterbury Kayaking owner and instructor Sam Milne said as a solo, full-time operator he had gone through the auditing process, but because of the high costs he would be forced to increase prices.
"I could just afford to do it and not go broke but this summer I will not make any money because of the costs associated this year."
Despite the cost, he saw the auditing process as positive for the industry.
WorkSafe New Zealand project manager Bryan Smith said the new regime would improve safety and the department had created "a robust and practical scheme".
"The regulations are raising the bar for safety in the sector, and the independent audit process is a key part of that."
The costs were in line with those associated with professional administration of the audit process, appropriate assessment of the high level of risk that exists within the adventure activities industry and the level of liability undertaken by audit providers, Smith said.

 

JO MCKENZIE-MCLEAN AND MARJORIE COOK - Sunday Star Times

The Great New Zealand Race is sold. Coast to Coast.

Every time I go back to New Zealand I look up my good friend 'Juddy', Robin Judkins. Above is a photo I took of him in 2009 on a trip to Arthur's Pass. Every time I see Juddy, I ask him " When are you going to sell the Coast to Coast?" Well he finally did it. This was in the New Zealand headlines today.

The longest running multisport event in the world, the Speight's Coast to Coast, has been sold.

The iconic event's colourful founder and race director Robin Judkins, is teaming up with new owner, Queenstown-based Trojan Holdings Limited after 31 years staging the race from Kumara Beach on the West Coast to Sumner in the east.

"Since 1983 I've enjoyed the ultimate challenge and seeing around 20,000 competitors battle themselves, each other and the environment over 243 kilometres from the Tasman Sea to the Pacific Ocean," Judkins said.

"It's a reflection of New Zealand at its finest, just brilliant - it really is New Zealand's great race. But it's time for me to look to a new era with a lesser role."

Each Coast to Coast event has about 3500 people directly involved, generating economic activity and international profile.

"We strive to have a world-class event in harmony with our special environment and wildlife, a passion I will continue to pursue," he said.

"I deeply appreciate the fun and support over 30 years of so many wonderful people - DOC, our managers, volunteers, sponsors, competitors, support crews and local communities.

"I love the event to bits and am really excited about its future.

"I intend to still be there in a supporting role for years to come, at the start to fire them up and at the finish to hand out well deserved cans of Speight's"

The event fits with iconic adventure and tourism-based businesses already operated by Trojan Holdings interests, including the Milford and Routeburn tracks, the Mt Cook Hermitage, AJ Hackett Bungy and NZSki (Coronet Peak, Remarkables, and Mt Hutt ski areas).

Thanks to Stuff.co.nz for permission to use this article.

Reflection on Robin Judkins.

I got to know Juddy well in the 1980s when I competed three times in the Coast to Coast. Then John Woods and I decided to write a history of the Coast to Coast, which we called the Great New Zealand Race. It was fun interviewing Juddy on numerous ocassions and as the years passed, we have become very close friends.

I meet my old friend Juddy every time I go to New Zealand and below are a few extracts from old blog articles.

We stopped at Mt. Rolleston, and gazed at the Bealey Face. Photo: Bob McKerrow

In 2008 my Christmas and New Year present were two spanking, brand new knees that work so well and I feel no pain. The joy of striding across green fields with a strength in my knees is a feeling I have been devoid of for many years, and, to cap it off, no pain.

On Thursday 8 January 2009 I felt I was back to normal seven weeks after the operation as I did totally normal things such as day outings into the mountains and to be in the thick of beech forests in Arthur's Pass.  

My good friend Robin Judkins, the creator of New Zealand's famous Coast to Coast endurance event, pulled up in his BMW yesterday, and said, "we are off to do my pre-Coast to Coast checks and PR."  Being the owner of one of the largest, longest-running, and potentiallly dangerous mountain triathlon, Robin Judkins and his team leave no stone unturned when it comes to organisation and safety. With his car stacked with his sponsors products, Speight's beer, we headed off towards Arthur's Pass.

The first stop was at Jim Adams farm near Sheffield. Jim is a sheep farmer with a large land area and stock, provides a paddock on the road as a car park, during the Coast to Caost. Robin drops off a few crates of beer and talks to him about the car park and how it will be organised. Robin has the common touch, and mixes freely in a warm and endearing manner.

Robin Judkins discussing carparks and safety with farmer Jim Adams. Photo: Bob McKerrow

Looking towards the high peaks of Arthur's Pass. Mt. Avalanche is the prominent one in the left. Photo: Bob McKerrow

How I enjoyed driving up towards Porter's Pass with temperatures soaring up to 35 oC and the wind blowing in my hair. We visited Castle Hill village and beyond that we struck the view of the high peaks of Arthur's Pass. This is part of the mighty Southern Alps that string almost the length of the South Island.

I always pay a visit to Oscar Coberger ski depot which is now the Wobbly Kea. It is a pilgrimage to a great mountain man who brought the European alpine village concept to New Zealand and was a ski instructor, mountain guide and gear hire depot at Arthur's Pass.  His grand daughter Annelise won a silver medal in slalom skiing in the 1992 winter olympics, the first and only New Zealander to do so.

The brief story of Oscar Coberger's shop. Photo: Bob McKerrow

The memorial tablet to those in the Corberger family who have passed away. Photo: Bob McKerrow

This larger building was built by Hans Bohny, a Swiss mountain guide and is now the Wobbly Kea. Photo: Bob McKerrow

After pulling over at the Mt. Rolleston car park, we took in the amazing view of the Otira Face of Rolleston. There were many cars with kayaks and racing cycles on the tacks and the owners were here for training on the kayak section on the Waimakariri River. Robin stopped to talk to the competitors who all knew this living New Zealand treasure.

As we drove, Robin Judkins studied the landscape carefully. Being an artist he's always looking for inspiration. Here is one of his paintings of this area.

Robin Judkins pointing up the mouth of the Mingha River (thanks Jamie) which is where the mountain run finishes. Photo: Bob McKerrow

We then inspected the situation at Klondyke Corner. Robin was delighted one strand of the river came right to the foot of the carpark. He checked all the facilities and talked to competitors who had just run form the West Coast over the Goat pass via the Minga and Deception rivers.

We called in at the Bealey Pub which was built and still owned by Paddy Freaey mountaineer, publican and the 'man who rediscovered the Moa'. Robin and I have known Paddy for years and he came from his house across the road with his wife Rochelle to join us. Here is a living legend. An Irishman who joined the SAS in the UK and rose through the ranks to be an outstanding soldier and an even greater mountaineer. From his base at Arthur's Pass he inspired and trained many of New Zealand's great climbers such as Russell Bryce and Rob Hall. Paddy who is in his early 70s or more, is still actively climbing and doing trips to Patagonia, and other major trips with Rochelle.

At the Bealey Pub, L to R, Robin Judkins, Bob McKerrow, Rochelle and Paddy Freany

Robin with the new manager of the Bealey Pub. During the Coast to Coast, he books out the entire pub for the weekend. Photo: Bob McKerrow

Next it was onto Mt.White bridge the change over from the cycling leg to the long kayak stretch down the Waimakariri River. Here Robin goes in for a swim to check out the kayak landing. To keep his clothes dry he swims naked, not a pretty sight.

At Mt. White bridge, Robin surveying the landing point. Photo: Bob McKerrow

One of the other key people in the region is station master and rail repair man at Cass, Barry Drummond. Cass is an isolated spot on the railway line between Christchurch and Greymouth and its Barry's job, to maintain the track. After Cass, we drove down from Porter's Pass to be blasted by a hot furnace as Christchurch was sweltering in 35.7 oC. As we came into Christchurch the car swayed and lurched in a dangerous manner. We skidded to a halt to find the rear tyre had blown open. Never a dull moment with Robin Judkins. A day where I met Jim, Barry, Rochelle, Paddy and lots of Coast to Coast competitors. Above all, I renewed my relationship with Tane Mahuta and the high Maunga.

December 2011 Meeting Juddy after the earthquake.

Juddy (Robin Judkin's) shows me the gaps and cracks in his house which sustained much damage during the February earthquake. His hillside section has a faultline running through it and there is an errie feeling of 'what next.'  Juddy has been severely traumatised by the damage and the uncertainty that awaits him, and other Christchurch residents. I walked along the beach with him, and climbed up to his hill-top house and enjoyed a pot of tea and bisciuts. Photo: Bob McKerrow 

Although having a damaged house, a section that may crumble away in the next quake,  Juddy was able to find some humour. As we walked along Sumner beach  we came to a decapitated Shag Rock, he said " let's try and do the first ascent of Shag Rock," now headless and renamed by Juddy as 'Shag Pile.' So Judkins asked me to join him on the first known ascent of 'Shag Pile," a difficult climb on shattered rock. Juddy led up a steep gulley, almost to the summit, which we reached, almost together. From the top of Shag Pile we could see Ed Cotter's shattered house, pictured below. Bizzare humour for bizzare situations.