Reece from Team Inov-8 is currently on leave from his regular day job, and enjoying the fun of the Queenstown Winter Festival. "Winter" and "Queenstown" generally evoke thoughts of snow and skiiing (and perhaps apres-ski ) but there are also some great runs around Queenstown for the visitor. There is nothing better than the cool alpine environment for an invigorating run - except perhaps the mid-winter mud of the Waitakeres !
Today Reece decided not to take the gondola, but to run the Tiki Track - a 25 minute run starting from the gondola building at the bottom, to the top of the gondola.
He reports that it's mainly hardpack and broken up slate rock, through beautiful pine forest. It's steep - although runnable, with plenty of stairs. There are magnificent views from the top, although the cold makes the lungs burn.
And Reece reports that his Roclite 295s performed brilliantly on the icy rock and steep, technical descent.
Reece Billington works full time for Highbeam (Distributors of inov-8). You might see him at trail running events around Auckland and beyond.