新西兰英语 402 Coast-to-Coast Race

　　This year – the 29th year since the race first began – there were 800 competitors². Competitors run, cycle and kayak 243km; some do this in two days (Friday and Saturday) some do it in teams of two, while others prefer to do the individual “Longest Day” starting at 6am on Saturday. They have to cross the Southern Alps³ on foot at Goats Pass which is 1100m above sea level. A lot of this 33km run is in river beds which sometimes have a lot of water in them and sometimes very little. It is not like running on a road. This year there was a lot of water.
Then they kayak 67km. It rained heavily in the mountains last week so the river was high and perfect for kayaking. There was a strong tail wind which helped although gusts⁴ of wind were a problem too.
The last part of the race is the 70km cycle to the beach in Christchurch. Usually the north easterly wind makes this very difficult but this year competitors had a nor’wester to help them for part of the way.
The men’s winner was Richard Ussher of Nelson. His time was 10 hours, 41 min, 12 sec. His wife, Elina, was the second fastest woman. The winner of the women’s race was Sophie Hart, also from Nelson where she is a doctor at Nelson hospital. Her time was 12 hr, 10 min, 31 sec.
You can see photos on
the Press website
Questions
How can a serious multi-sport competitor¹ have a job as well?
Nelson has many good kayakers. Is it helpful to train with other people?
The women who were first and second are friends. Is it difficult for friends to compete against each other?
Does New Zealand have the right kind of geography for races like this?
Look also at the questions for last year.

1 competitor   

n.竞争者；对手；比赛者

参考例句：

• The first prize was awarded to the youngest competitor.一等奖授给了最年轻的比赛者。
• After defeat of the new competitor,the prices can rise again.新的竞争者被击败之后，价格就会重新上升。

2 competitors   

竞争者( competitor的名词复数 )； 对手； 参赛者； 竞赛者

参考例句：

• We are now outselling all our competitors. 我们现在比所有竞争对手都卖得多。
• We are lagging far behind our European competitors in using new technology. 我们在使用新技术方面远远落后于我们的欧洲对手。

3 Alps   

n.[the-]阿尔卑斯山脉(欧洲)

参考例句：

• I'm going skating in the Alps next month.下个月我去阿尔卑斯山滑雪。
• The river springs in the Alps.这条河发源于阿尔卑斯山脉。

4 gusts   

一阵强风( gust的名词复数 )； （怒、笑等的）爆发； （感情的）迸发； 发作

参考例句：

• Her profuse skirt bosomed out with the gusts. 她的宽大的裙子被风吹得鼓鼓的。
• Turbulence is defined as a series of irregular gusts. 紊流定义为一组无规则的突风。