Primary Schools Triathlon programme gets underway.

Avanti TriKids launches at Ponsonby Primary School today from 1pm, activating a programme to introduce the fundamental sports of swimming, cycling and running to over 10,000 primary school children during the upcoming summer season.

Co-founder of Avanti TriKids, former World Champion Triathlete and Commonwealth Games representative swimmer Rick Wells MBE, says the initiative is for children of all abilities aged between 5 and 14 years old. 

“Our triathletes have achieved incredible success at the international level and we want to provide opportunities for young children to follow in their footsteps, and take their first steps into three activities (swimming, cycling and running) that every New Zealand child should have access to. Our aim is not only to get children to experience a multi-sport event but to also think about healthy active lifestyles.”

Proudly New Zealand owned and operated bike manufacturer Avanti sponsors many leading New Zealand athletes and events and has provided TriKids with 35 bikes and helmets to kick start the programme. Co-founder of Avanti TriKids™ and former professional rugby player now primary school teacher Mark Weedon says this support was crucial the event getting off the ground.

“Without the support of Avanti we would not have been able to get started. Having the bikes means we can provide the equipment so that all children can have a go. It also allows us to teach the children about bike safety and awareness.”

Making it even easier for schools to be involved with Avanti TriKids™, they do not need access to a swimming pool to be involved.

“We have many activities that we use instead of swimming and they still involve getting wet. For schools that have pools we also use the opportunity to talk about water safety”, says Rick Wells.

Avanti founder and Managing Director John Struthers is thrilled to be involved with such like minded people on the TriKids series.

“We are delighted to be a founding partner in such an initiative.  It is great to be able to work alongside Rick and Mark who have the same philosophy as Avanti; to provide children with the opportunity to develop their interests and indeed uncover their potential in the sporting arena and have fun.  With child obesity at record levels it’s great to see this kind of grass roots organisation happening.

“Avanti has been involved with some of New Zealand’s very best sportsmen and women and a common thread between them all is their love of the sport began at a young age, therefore when we heard of what the guys were doing with Avanti TriKids we jumped at the opportunity.  Providing bikes and helmets to help inspire kids to get out there and have a go and triathlon meets one of our core objectives of helping create a nation keen to cycle more and enjoy the multiple benefits it can offer”.

Learning opportunities are also created inside the classroom.  Worksheets are made available to the school covering the sport of triathlon and New Zealand’s many successful triathletes plus post activity self-assessment sheets.

Providing guidance to children who wish to join a club is an important element of Avanti TriKids™. Associations will be formed with schools to include after-school and Saturday morning programmes for those who wish to further their training. Avanti TriKids™ aim to have two clubs operating by early 2011.

Avanti TriKids™ plan for the clubs to compete in the upcoming Contact 1:2:1 series for children along with providing support to those children competing in the Weet-Bix Tryathlons.

“One thing I have noticed as a teacher is that children love competing and we want to support children into a healthy environment that encourages them. We are not just looking for the next Bevan Docherty or Andrea Hewitt; research has shown that a healthy and active child has a greater chance of being that way in adulthood so it is also about teaching positive lifestyle choices”, says Mark Weedon.

Triathlon New Zealand also supports the scheme and is encouraging schools to participate. Brett Reid, Coaching/Youth Development Manager for Tri NZ sees Avanti TriKids™ meeting a number of objectives.

“It is great to see opportunities for primary school aged children to get involved in sport and recreation through triathlon. The Avanti TriKids™ programme is a fantastic initiative and fits perfectly with Tri NZ’s vision of wanting all New Zealand children to have the opportunity to participate in a triathlon.”

“It will also help us to make heroes of our many international triathletes as they build towards the Olympic Games and of course our own ITU finale event in Auckland in 2012”.