State Paihia Classic, Bay of Islands

Paihia, Bay of Islands

Known as the 'Jewel of the Bay of Islands' Paihia is the main tourist town in the beautiful Bay of Islands. With 144 islands and bays, the Bay of Islands is one of the best maritime parks in New Zealand.

"It's not every day that people can swim in a safe environment from the country's first capital, Russell, to the beautiful shores of Paihia and we're sure this event will become one of the highlights of the series."

The State Russell to Paihia event provides an ocean swim event for all ages and abilities.

• The State OceanKids is for children aged between 6-10 years old and consists of a 200m shallow water swim along the shore line which is lined with Surf Life Saving NZ guards – read more. The State OceanKids takes place on Paihia Beach
• The ‘Give It A Go’ 300m Ocean Swim is a great introduction to open water swimming. The 'Give It A Go' 300m takes place on Paihia Beach
• The ‘Step It Up’ 1000m Ocean Swim is an achievable distance for individuals with swimming experience and could be training for the ‘I’m Going Long’ swim at one of the other events. The 'Step It Up' 1000m swim takes place on Paihia Beach
• The 'I'm Going Long' 3.3km Ocean Swim starts in Russell and finishes in Paihia - this swim is for individuals with swimming experience and have trained to complete this event.

Registration Details

Swim pack pick up/registration will take place in the following centres on the dates below. Venues will be updated as soon as they are confirmed.

If you are unable to make it between the times above and don't have friends or family that can register for you please contact us for alternative arrangements. We do now offer a pre-paid courier service that will courier your pack including your cap and timing chip to you the week leading up to the event. You can book and pay for this service when entering online or purchase from the ocean swim store.

All entrants will receive:

• A timing chip which is loaned to you for the event
• A swim cap that you must wear or the duration of the event
• Your finish time text to you after the event
• A personalised certificate that you can download and print at no charge from the results page
• A pair of Goggles courtesy of State Insurance
• Other sponsor goodies
• Free Bag Transport Service

Entry confirmation

Check your entry, make changes or print your e-ticket for the State Paihia Classic

Individual Entrants

Series Pass Entrants

Important dates

Carbo loading buffet dinner

Join your fellow swimmers at a carbo loading buffet dinner the night prior to the State Paihia Classic. You can collect your swim pack and then stay on for dinner at the Copthorne Hotel & Resort. Tickets are $25 per person and can be purchased when you enter or through the ocean swim store. Tickets will be included with your registration pack.

Venue: Copthorne Hotel & Resort
Date: Friday 9 December 2011
Time: Dinner starts at 6:30PM till 9:30PM

Menu
Sundried tomato and olive pasta salad
Mixed green salad with balsamic glaze
Smoked chicken and roasted bell pepper salad

Four cheese pasta with grilled parmesan
Kumara gnocchi with a roast vine tomato sauce
Smoked chicken, basil and pinenut bake

Sticky date pudding with beaten cream and butterscotch sauce
Vanilla ice cream
Berry compote

Prize Giving

Prize Giving will take place at approximately 11:30AM on The Village Green.

Accommodation

As New Zealand's largest Hotel owner/operator, Millennium, Copthorne & Kingsgate Hotels and Resorts are pleased to be associated with the State New Zealand Ocean Swim Series.

We have a standard of accommodation to suit all contestant needs through our Copthorne and Kingsgate Hotels in the Bay of Islands. Rates start from $99 including GST per room on a single, double, or twin share basis and along.

As well as providing the opportunity to win weekends away at any one of our 30 Hotels nationwide, for competitors, participants and their supporters we have put together some great rates for you to enjoy "our world of hospitality" throughout the series. To access these rates, please visit http://www.millenniumhotels.co.nz/oswim/ or phone our toll-free reservations team on 0800 808 228 and quote rate code OSWIM.

Official Charity – Surf Life Saving NZ

Surf Life Saving NZ provide an essential service on New Zealand’s beaches and at the State NZ Ocean Swim Series. They keep all of us safe on the beach and in the water which is why they are the official charity of the State NZ Ocean Swim Series.

Please give generously to Surf Life Saving NZ. All donations will receive a free gift. You can donate when you enter or through the Ocean Swim Store. You can also donate on event day.

• Donations of $5 and $10 will receive a Surf Life Saving NZ 100 Year Centenary key ring
• Donations of $20 will receive a Surf Life Saving NZ toy IRB boat
• Donations of $40 will receive a Surf Life Saving NZ Teddy Bear
• Donations of $90 will receive a Surf Life Saving NZ Centenary book

All gifts will be handed at your event registration or couriered if you have pre-booked the courier service.

Cut off times

The cut off times for the State Paihia Classic are:

• 'I'm Going Long' 3.3km - 2 hours from your wave/group start
• 'Step It Up' 1000m - 40 minutes from your group start
• 'Give It  Go' 300m - 13 minutes

Post Event - Celebration

Join us at 35 Degrees South for a drink and some lunch after the prize giving (approximately 12:30pm). This restaurant and bar is located right across the road from the Village Green and they will have 2 for 1 drink specials on 35 Degrees Ale. We look forward to seeing you there!

Inspirational Story

My partner, Keith, decided for me that I needed to get into ocean swimming when he gave me a wetsuit for my birthday in August last year. Thanks mate! - Deb Clarke

read more inspirational swimming stories