Haven for training

Press, 31 March 1989, Page 11

Haven for training

By

MALCOLM CONDIE

New Zealand has provided Rob Barel, of the Netherlands, with an ideal haven from the northern hemisphere winter so he can train for the 1989 triathlon season, which starts in several weeks. Barel and his wife, Cora, have been in New Zealand since the new year. While in Christchurch, they stayed with Dr John Hellemans. The decision to come here was made after talking .to top New Zealand triathletes.

“I met Rick Wells and Erin Baker overseas and they told me New Zealand was a good place to train, and I also knew the Hellemans,” Barel said. Barel landed in Auckland and, after finding sponsorship with Nissan, was given a car to use. “I have covered 9000 km so far, but stayed mostly in Christchurch,” Barel said.

During his stay in New Zealand, Barel, who is a four-times European shortcourse triathlon champion and two-times European long-course champion, competed in seven triathlons. “I won five of them, including the

national long-course championship in Auckland, and in the two others was second to Rick Wells,” Barel said. The conditions in New Zealand have been ideal for Barel’s build-up for what will be a big season of competition. Having travelled from the northern hemisphere summer to the souther summer has meant training has not been subject to weather, “even though Christchurch is so close to the Antarctic,” Barel said.

His training has included 20km of swimming, 500 km of cycling and 80km to 100 km of running a week. Barel, aged 31, has been competing in triathlons for seven years, but left his job with the Department of Agriculture as a botanist only in 1984 to compete professionally. A background of 15 years swimming led him into the sport, but he does not count on competing for a lifetime. “I have a good university training to fall back on.” Barel will leave Christchurch on Monday and will fly to the Virgin Islands on April 15 for the first “high-profile” triathlon of the season.