Former Champion Determined to Retake Title

Former Champion Determined to Retake Title

In 2011 Elina Ussher was odds-on favourite to dominate the Speight’s Coast to Coast. After a resounding victory in 2010, there didn’t appear to be anyone capable of challenging the Finnish-born Nelsonian. So it was something of a surprise when fellow Nelsonian Sophie Hart put up a breakthrough performance to win the 2011 race. Needless to say, Ussher is more motivated than ever for 2012’s 30th anniversary of the 243k race across New Zealand’s South Island.

The Finnish-born multisport and adventure racing star knows from experience that the multisport world championship doesn’t come easy.

Born Elina Maki-Rautila, Elina Ussher was also born to adventure sports. Starting with cross country skiing, where she represented Finland, she was talent spotted by, Team Nokia, the most successful adventure racing squad in history.

That was back in 2000 and with Team Nokia Ussher quickly realised she could make a living from adventure racing. Along the way she also met and married three-time Speight’s Coast to Coast champion, Richard Ussher, which obviously led to her own relationship with the world’s premier multisport event.

In 2006 Ussher became the next ‘big thing’ when she finished second in her debut Speight’s Coast to Coast. She led that year for more than half the race before succumbing to Canadian-turned Kiwi Emily Miazga.

But whereas Miazga went on to win three Speight’s Coast to Coast titles, Mrs Ussher struggled to come to grips with the world championship event, following up her Speight’s Coast to Coast second place debut with consecutive fifth, seventh and third placings.

In 2010, however, she defeated arguably the deepest female field ever assembled and such was her dominance that 2011 seemed a shoe-in. But despite clocking the third fastest female time in history, she trailed the near record win of Nelson doctor Sophie Hart.

Hence, Elina Ussher is not short of motivation for the 2012 race, which will be her seventh consecutive Speight’s Coast to Coast. But she won’t be short of competition. Defending champion Sophie Hart is expected to be on the start line, and Christchurch’s own Fleur Pawsey, the winner in 2007 and runner up in 2008, is returning to the One Day world championship event after two years of winning the team competition with Christchurch-based Dane, Sia Svendsen, who is also stepping up to the world title race.

Ussher, however, isn’t worrying too much about the competition yet. Regardless of competition she admits her focus revolves around, “Mainly concentrating on my own business, really.”

“Of course it's nice when the field is strong. It makes the competition much more interesting.”

This inner-focus is born from previous experience. Ussher is now one of the most experienced contenders and says the biggest lesson learnt is that anything can happen in such a big race.

“It's a long day out there. Also the weather conditions can change quickly and when it happens it can be a completely different race.”

This last comment is definitely born of personal experience. The 2010 win came on one of the worst weather years ever, when flooding and cold temperatures forced the traditional 3k run, 55k cycle, 36k mountain run, 15k cycle, 67k kayak and 70k cycle to be altered to a far different 3k run, 55k cycle, 32k road run, 135k cycle, 17k kayak and 7k cycle. While that win was one of the most dominant ever, she has yet to win the traditional Speight’s Coast to Coast”.

Leading in to 2012, however, Ussher is looking to be stronger than ever. While not changing much in her training, she reveals life has been, “a bit more relaxed build up than over the last four years”.

In recent years she has raced in December’s Abu Dhabi Adventure Challenge, which often left her rushing to pull some form together for February’s Speight’s Coast to Coast

“This year,” she says, “the Abu Dhabi race didn’t happen, so I have some more time to focus on training.”

This final fact could see a stronger, faster Elina Ussher on the start line. But asked about her form and the always competitive Finn remains coy… “I feel like I'm in a pretty good shape at the moment. Anyway, the idea is to be stronger and faster than ever before by the Coast.”

If she is, then the competition will need to watch out.

The 30th anniversary Speight’s Coast to Coast gets underway on Kumara Beach on Friday February 10. Up to 800 entries from all over the world are expected on the start line.

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