-
Tony Dodds - Source: Getty Images
New Zealand Elite Triathlete Tony Dodds wants to attract more world class international triathletes to Wanaka for the elite leg of the Contact Tri Series.
The race is on Friday January 20 and he is putting up to $10,000 of money where his mouth is.
Nicknamed the 'Doddsy International', Dodds is hoping to raise enough funds to quintuple the prize pot.
So far he has tripled the $2,000 1st place prize money to $7,000, an athlete-inspired move believed to be unique in the world of triathlon and just as rare in any professional sport - the athlete finding the money and putting it all on the line for all-comers to take away.
"On the international triathlon circuit prize money is the biggest draw-card for a professional athlete. I'm gambling that a few of my international rivals will take the bait, $7,000 will guarantee a few, but $10,000 would dig up a whole lot!" Dodds said.
Most recently Nelson berry company Sujon approached Dodds and offered $1,000 towards the pot.
Several local businesses, a anonymous fan, Lake Wanaka Tourism and Tony's sponsors have all helped to contribute towards the prize.
Plus local tourism operators have donated some adventurous extra-curricular activities including helicopter sight-seeing, hunting and water-sports.
And his hard work hasn't gone unnoticed, with over half a dozen extra elites registered as a result of Dodds' efforts, including:
Kris Gemmell - Olympian, winner of multiple world cups and fellow NZ elite squad member. He won of the recent Barfoot & Thompson ITU World Cup in Auckland.
Laurent Vidal - French Olympian, winner of last year's race, and number seven in the world.
Ryan Sissons - fellow NZ elite squad member from Auckland, ranked 18 in the world in 2011.
Simon Whitfield - From Canada. Sydney Olympics gold medallist, and won a Bronze medal at the Athens Olympics.
