Rock and Awe at Goat 2024
A preview for the Ruapehu Goat 2024
The 20th edition of the Goat is shaping up to be a family affair, with 8-time winner and legend of the event Sjors Corporaal of Galatea returning to the fray after a foot injury kept him sidelined last year. Despite coming off a year of limited racing the 47-year-old is in scintillating form, producing an impressive 8.59 over 3,000m in his less favoured track discipline two weeks ago following his 15:10 at the Night of Five’s last month laying claim to be one of the fastest in the world for his age for the 5000m. Lining up alongside Sjors will be his daughter Allie, son Kaya who has also been putting up solid track times and Kaya's partner Miriam Clark all of whom will be medal prospects in the respective Open Men's and Open Women's races.
The race which is part of the World Mountain Running calendar, earns its title as an 'adventure race' notorious for the crashes, falls and blowouts on its unforgiving course. Starting on what could realistically be dubbed New Zealand's 'fastest road mile' down the Bruce ski road. The road leads to the entry into a rocky landscape which along with stunning views of Mt Ruapehu, contains no less than 5 up/down cycles over a stretch of around 16km. The trail includes a series of scree rock fields, river crossings, knee deep mud and sharp drop-offs. With the final stretch starting down a slippery waterfall descent, onto a narrow boardwalk and then onto a sharp waterfall climb around 25% in gradient and into the final "Mama’s mile" up the punishing Turoa ski field road to the finish.
Miriam Clark last year's second place will start as a favourite alongside Maia Flint for the women's crown. Flint finished 65th at last year's World Mountains (Up/Down) in Innsbruck, Austria. Former Champion, many times NZ Mountain Running Champion and representative, Sabrina Edwards will be a contender again with her vast experience on the course. Also lining up next to them in group 1A will be Swedish orienteer Johanna Ridefeldt currently ranked 14th in the world and local athlete Michaella Wills.
In the mix for the men's race outside of the Corporaal dynasty will be NZ Mountain representative Toby Batchelor 53rd at in the 2023 Worlds in the Up/Down, Ring of Fire winner Glen Chesterman, along with elite multisporter Bobby Dean taking part in his first Goat. While with such a gruelling race there are always bound to be some surprises heading up Mama's mile to the finish.