MEDIA RELEASE 3 September 2007
NSW gets ready for its first Anaconda Adventure Race
The first Anaconda Adventure Race for NSW will kick off at Main Beach Forster on
Saturday, 22 September.
Adventure racing is a relatively new sport that attracts elite athletes from
around the globe as well as 'every day' people. Adventure racing has emerged as
the big brother to marathons, road races and triathlons. According to Adventure
Sports Magazine, adventure racing has expanded from 12 races held in 1998, to
over 500 scheduled in the year 2005 and has sometimes been called the off-road
triathlon. The races have their own unique characteristics to suit their terrain
but all include a combination of running, cycling, swimming and kayaking.
This is the third year of Anaconda Adventure races which began with the first
race in Lorne, Victoria, in December 2005. It is Australia's largest premier
adventure race series by number of competitors.
The Anaconda Adventure Race Forster is expected to attract between 300 and 400
competitors, racing individually as well as in teams. So far, over 180
participants have registered for this year's race and registrations are closing
soon.
The race runs over two days, with the Saturday course being optional. The race
includes ocean swimming, ocean and lake kayaking, coastal, beach and trail
running as well as mountain biking. The Saturday and Sunday legs go for
respectively 48.9 km and 63.9 km. The race is also accessible to beginners, with
a relay teams category where participants can choose to do just one leg.
The Anaconda Adventure Race Forster follows the Gold Coast race which was held
on 5 August and saw former surf ironman Guy Andrews take the win for a second
consecutive year.
"I train for four hours every weekday and up to eight hours on weekends, doing
all the core disciplines including swimming, mountain biking, running and
paddling," Andrews said.
"What I like best about adventure racing is the variety of locations and
multiple disciplines. I compete in about 15 events around the world every year,
some team-based as well as solo," he added.
According to Andrews, the biggest contenders for victory – after himself! – are
Jarad Kohlar, 2006 winner of the final round in Lorne, New Zealander and current
multisport world champion Gordon Walker as well as Richard Ussher, also New
Zealander, former multisport world champion and professional adventure racer.
Christie Sym, Leanne Southwell and Kim Beckinsale will also be battling for the
gold in the open female category.
The Anaconda Adventure Race Forster is particularly appreciated by competitors
for the region's beautiful landscapes which couldn't have been covered in a
one-day course only.
Outdoor adventure retailer Anaconda is the principal sponsor of the race series
which is run by Rapid Ascent headed up by former world champion kayaker John
Jacoby who has competed in many adventure races around the world.
The Anaconda Adventure Race national series will also be held in Geographe Bay (WA)
in November and Lorne (Vic) in December.
For more information on the Anaconda Adventure Races and to register, please
visit
www.anacondaadventurerace.com.
Anaconda can be contacted on 1300 669 137 or by visiting
www.anaconda.com.au.
Released for Anaconda by Dennis Rutzou Public Relations (www.drpr.com.au)
For further information please call Kim Larochelle or Nicola Rutzou on (02) 9413
4244.
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