Doddsy challenges the worlds top triathletes to the Wanaka Contact Tri

New Zealand Elite Triathlete Tony Dodds is helping to attract leading international triathletes to Wanaka for the Contact Tri Series on Friday 20th January. 

“Cmon guys” says Dodds “I’m always bragging about it, now’s your chance to see first-hand what’s so great about Wanaka. Beat me on my home turf and win not only cash, but the adventure tourism experience of a lifetime, including helicopter sight-seeing, hunting and watersports”. 

Local businesses, a very generous anonymous fan and Tony’s sponsors have all contributed towards the prize. Local support has been helped by Lake Wanaka Tourism who got on board and sent a memo about the ‘Doddsy International’ to dozens of local businesses. 

So far Dodds has managed to triple the prize money to $6,000 and is arranging some adventurous extra-curricular activities for elite athletes that respond to the challenge. 

“On the international triathlon circuit prize money is the biggest draw-card for a professional athlete. I’m gambling that a few of my international rivals will take the bait, $6k will guarantee a few, but $10k would dig up a whole lot!” says Dodds.

And his hard work hasn’t gone unnoticed, big names registered so far include:

Kris Gemmell – Olympian, winner of multiple world cups and fellow NZ elite squad member.

Laurent Vidal - winner of last year’s race, and number 7 in the world and olympian

Ryan Sissons – fellow NZ elite squad member from Auckland

Simon Whitfield - Canada, gold medal Sydney Olympics, Bronze medal Athens Olympics

Adding further incentive for sponsors to part with their money, should Tony win, he has advised that all the additional prize money will be donated to Cystic Fibrosis research.