Tauranga brothers Mason and Maclain Kritz will be among nearly 700 youngsters, aged seven-15, racing around the Sanitarium Weet-Bix Kids TRYathlon's new Mount venue this Sunday.

But nine-year-old Mason says the event, who he'll be sharing with Maclain, aged seven, and a friend from Auckland, will be strictly for fun.

Tauranga brothers Mason and Maclain Kritz are excited about participating in Sunday's Sanitarium Weet-Bix Kids TRYathlon at Pilot Bay. Photo by Tracy Hardy.

'Heaps of kids participate and it's not about winning it's just about having fun and enjoying the time at the tryathlon,” says Mason, who is embarking on his third Weetbix triathlon.

'The first year I was on a team with two of my friends. I did the run. Last year my best friend Seb Towers and I competed together – we had so much fun.

'I've moved from Auckland to Tauranga and he's now coming down here to participate with me at the Mount, then I'm going to Auckland to do the North Shore event with him.”

This year's event is taking place one month earlier at a new location – Pilot Bay – coming under the umbrella of this weekend's inaugural Mount festival of Multisport.

Sanitarium Health and Wellbeing Companygeneral managerPierre van Heerden says they've never provided an event out of school term. 'We wanted to look at an event that allowed kids to participate during the holiday break.

'Mount Maunganui provides an ideal location for this as it's an extremely popular holiday destination.

'We also felt there was a nice synergy for kids to participate on part of the same course elite adult athletes use on the day prior, for the Mount Half Ironman.”

Pierre says connecting with the multisport festival offers something the whole family can be part of, with events for all age groups.

'We've also been lucky enough to share the use of infrastructure and coordinate promotion of all the events under the festival's umbrella.”

Meanwhile, Mason's been training. 'Biking, swimming and running – I need to do two of those a day,” says the Bethlehem Primary School pupil.

'At the Tryathlon I get to do some of my favourite things and I like it because it's about fun and participation.”

Pierre agrees this is the events' drawcard, with 12 schools registered for Sunday.

'It's all about giving sport a try in a fun and rewarding environment and it's a great way for kids to get active with their friends.

'It's turned into a rite-of-passage for youngsters and is the world's largest triathlon series for under 16s, certified by the International Triathlon Union.

'Every child who takes part will feel like a champion.”

Seven-year-olds participate in a 50m swim, 4km cycle and 1.5km run; those eight-10 do a 100m swim, 4km cycle and 1.5km run; and 11-15-year-olds complete a 200m swim, 8km cycle and 1.5 km run, with TRYathlon ambassadors Ella Williams, Alison Shanks and Cameron Brown cheering every child across the finishline.

Sunday registrations, costing $42.50, are permitted between 7am-8am, with an event briefing 8.30am before it starts at 9am. To learn more, see www.try.weetbix.co.nz