Good Luck Dave!
This weekend sees the Bonita Ironman Challenge hit Taupo. This is the longest running International Iroman competition on the globe! There will be well over 1000 competitors taking up the challenge to complete the 3.8km swim, 180km bike ride AND a 42.2km run!!
New Zealand ironman Cameron Brown will have to beat a strong international field if he is to capture his sixth New Zealand Ironman in Taupo this week.
The top eight seeds for Saturday's race are all from different countries, led by last year's winner Ain-Alar Juhanson of Estonia.
Brown is seeded second ahead of Denmark's world long distance champion Torbjorn Sindballe and top Australian Luke Bell.
The 33-year-old has dominated the event since his first victory in 2001 but only managed second last year after severe weather conditions dramatically reduced the distance of the course.
Brown is looking to become the first ironman to win six titles at the same event, but he is wary of the competition.
"I've beaten several world champions in Taupo over the years but this time there's a bunch of very good athletes," Brown said.
One of those very good athletes is our very own Dave Hooton, affectionately known as 'Hooters' here at Hukafalls Jet and he has been in training for what seems like an eternity to all of us, but is now off work preparing for the next couple of days for what will no doubt be the challenge of his life! This is Dave's maiden Ironman challenge but he assures us that he'll be back again next year for more.
Dave is anticipating that he'll cross the finish line after a gruelling 11 or so hours on the track, so look out for him if you're out on the course on Saturday and make sure you send big cheers his way!
Good Luck Dave from all of us here at Hukafalls Jet!
