Sea to Summit Etajima
Sea to Summit events are triathlons with a difference. As the name suggests, they start at sea level and finish at the top of a (relatively) nearby mountain.
Unlike in a triathlon, however, you shouldn’t have to get wet as the sea portion is by kayak. Back on land, you switch to a bike and the event finishes with a hike up to a mountaintop. The series has been running for a few years and usually involves a hike up to a mountain of considerable height, such as Daisen in Tottori or Asahi-dake in Hokkaido. This year, as part of the Setouchi Shimanowa promotion campaign, an event on the nearby island of Etajima has been added to the series. With the final climb up being up the diminutive 402m Houdai-yama [砲台山], this might be the ideal event for the novice looking to try an “adventure” race.
Be warned, however, although the 5km hike and 23km bike ride may not sound too strenuous, the kayak leg, which goes out and back around a little island, is 10km long.
Entry opens for the June 1 event on March 1. There are individual and team divisions (no relay) and it costs ¥10,800 a person to enter. Numbers are limited to 300, so it is likely to fill up fast. There are also a limited number of kayaks available for rent, but, again, these are likely to snapped up fast (call Etajima City Office for details 0823-40-2762).
The event is to be held on June 1, but registration must be done at the Okimi race site on May 31 and participation in the environmental symposium, sandwiched between registration and the mandatory race orientation, is kind of compulsory – so it’s a weekend comittment. the race starts at 7am on June 1 from Sun Beach Okimi on Etajima.
