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A race around Mauao on a paddle board, beach volleyball and an iconic children's triathlon is wrapping up the inaugural Mount Festival of Multisport today.

Mount Maunganui has been transformed into a hub of sporting skill and stamina in the last three days, with a taxing half ironman and a fast-footed sprint along the main street.

Sanitarium Weet-Bix TRYathlon competitors Alex Thompson, 10, Isabella Wilson, 10 show their medals. Photos by: Cameron Avery.

Event director Dave Mee says more than 800 children, aged seven to 15, gave the Sanitarium Weet-Bix Kids TRYathlon a go this morning, alongside about 80 paddle boarders in the King and Queen of Mauao Paddle Board race around Mauao.

This year's Weet-Bix Kids TRYathlon began one month earlier at its new location at Pilot Bay to coincide with the giant multisport event.

'They loved going on the course that the Tauranga Half athletes went on,” says Dave. 'That was one of the big drives to put the kids on the same course at the Mount along Pilot Bay.”

He's 'pleased but very tired” the event is almost finished.

'It's been something that's got the makings of a good long-term strong festival that will really compliment the region.”

Although, Dave says he's learned a lot from the first big event that's ushered in a new era of sporting event for the Bay of Plenty.

'We'll re-evaluate everything we did, including is this week in January the best week?

'I think it's a great week because people are still holidaying but it's not jam-packed full. So we can still bring people into Tauranga for the various events.”

Dave says today's Weet-Bix TRYathlon and paddle board events have brought people to the Mount from outlying regions and international visitors from Hawaii and America.

'Each of the events in their own right are drawing people from all over New Zealand and some international athletes as well.”

The highlight of the three-day sporting festival was the Port of Tauranga Half Ironman.

'I think we've re-established it. Next year I think we're going to sell out the entries very, very quickly because it went so well.

'Moving to Coronation Park I think was a good idea, it gave us more space. The men's field was just outstanding.”

Five-time world ironman champion Craig Alexander, dubbed the ‘King of Kona' won the half Ironman in three 3:48:02, in front ofBraden Currie coming in at 3:49:11 and third place winner Cameron Brown finishing with 3:49:32.

Gina Crawford has won the women's elite section of the half Ironman for the second year running in 4:22:05.

Michelle Bremner crossed the finish line 10 seconds behind Gina, with Julia Grant in third place with a time of 4:37:25.

The three-day multisport began with the New Zealand Tag Team Championships and Tri Short Course, and the 400m sprint Jetts Dash for Cash on Friday, with the Mauao fun run, paddle boarding and half ironman on Saturday.

The National Beach Volleyball Championships continues at Mount Main beach today.