Pocketweb Management Team finishes Challenge Wanaka Ironman

The team's 3.8km swim, 180km bike and 42.2km run has been followed on Pocket Life and new location based technologies.

Sydney, Australia/Wanaka, New Zealand, 16 January, 2010 - Three directors of Pocketweb have successfully mastered the Challenge Wanaka Ironman race often described as one of the best events on the international circuit, set against the lake and mountain backdrop of Mount Aspiring National Park in New Zealand's South Island. With Alexander swimming, Tony cycling and Michael running the management team gave it all and finished in a little over 13 hours. Says fourth director and mental coach Hanno Blankenstein: "Everybody survived and this is more than we had hoped for."

During the race Tony and Michael carried a GPS handset and were followed by Pocket Life users. Selected trial users on the ground were also handed out handsets to trial new software prototypes enabling them to follow Tony and Michael on interactive maps and receiving notifications when they reached or left pre-defined locations along the race course.

Tony's Bike Ride - tracked via GPS and Pocket Life (red line)

The Challenge itself was won by a Kiwi: New Zealand's own Richard Ussher today showed determination and resilience to not only win the fourth Challenge Wanaka long distance triathlon but to do it in a record time of 8:34:41, smashing the previous record by three minutes. Ussher completed the race ahead of Justin Daerr, of the USA, who finished in 8:38:19 and fellow Kiwi Keegan Williams with 8:41:19.
Described by athletes as the world's most scenic iron distance triathlon (226km), Challenge Wanaka certainly isn't the biggest but the terrain, remoteness and honesty of the course makes it one of the most memorable. The physical and mental challenges pushes athletes to their limits but the enthusiasm and warm welcome of the local supporters is second to none with the resulting atmosphere getting even the most tired competitor across the line.

About Challenge Wanaka

Challenge Wanaka is part of the global Challenge series of long distance triathlons that features races in Germany, France, Spain, Denmark, and Austria, as well as New Zealand. Now in its fourth year, both the Challenge Wanaka and the inaugural Lake Wanaka Half, drew more than 1000 entrants from 24 countries.
Website: /www.challenge-wanaka.com

About Pocketweb

Australian and New Zealand based company Pocketweb (www.pocketweb.com.au) develops and provides technologies and solutions for Location Based Services (LBS) and LBS-enabled Social Networks including customized mobile applications across leading mobile platforms. In 2008 Pocketweb launched the leading geo-integration platform "Pocket Life" for mobile devices and web browsers which provides applications and bundled solutions for consumer and B2B markets. Pocketweb and its partners provide services worldwide and is currently about to open another office in Europe.

For more information, contact:

Dr. Alexander Koeppen
Pocketweb
alexander@pocketweb.com.au
+61 4 159 39 559