MEDIA RELEASE 11 July 2008
The Gold Coast Anaconda Adventure Race starts here
The first of a national series of Anaconda Adventure races will kick off at the
Tugun Surf Club at 8 am on Sunday, 10 August.
The Anaconda Adventure Race is the ultimate test between some of the world's
best athletes in triathlon, surf life saving and multi-sport.
There will be fierce competition at this year's event with former surf ironman
and Tugun resident Guy Andrews fighting for his 2006 and 2007 crown against New
Zealand's Richard Ussher, three times world adventure racing champion. Ussher
will be racing on the Gold Coast for the first time, but he was unbeaten in all
the other Anaconda Adventure Race courses he participated in last year.
The 2007 Gold Coast race saw over 450 competitors fighting for the title, racing
individually as well as in teams. So far, 200 participants have registered for
this year's race and competitors have until the race day to sign-up.
The 48.4km race includes ocean swimming (1.9km), ocean and river kayaking
(13km), creek and mountain running (12.5km), mountain biking (18km), board
paddling (1km) and beach running (2km). The race is also accessible to
beginners, with a relay teams category where participants can choose to do just
one leg, except for the board paddling and beach running sections which must be
completed by all members of the team.
In conjunction with the event is the Anaconda Junior Survivor challenge held
from 4pm on Saturday, 9 August, where over 500 enthusiastic children, aged
between seven and 13, are expected to jostle for position on the start line. The
2008 Anaconda Junior Survivor course has been improved with a range of exciting
obstacles and water activities set in a bush and beach environment.
John Jacoby, Anaconda Adventure Race director, said the 2008 Gold Coast race is
building up to be bigger and better.
"We have tweaked and improved the course from 2007 to remove the section going
through the Sanctuary and add a board paddle up leg in the Currumbin Creek. This
will provide a more challenging and rewarding off road adventure for everyone,”
Jacoby said.
"Also, the course showcases a side of the Gold Coast few ever knew existed. It
takes competitors through the rainforest, over hills with extensive view on the
city and on the Pacific coast. The scenery becomes a real inspiration when the
going gets rough,” he added.
Last year, Guy Andrews took up the gold in the male category with a finish time
of just over four hours and NSW athlete Christie Sym was the first female to
cross the finish line after four hours and 37 minutes.
Adventure racing attracts 'every day' people and elite athletes from around the
globe. Adventure racing, a combination of off-road triathlon and surf life
saving, has emerged as the big brother to marathons, road races and triathlons,
and has seen a significant increase in popularity all around the world over the
past 10 years.
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 won many adventure races around the world. Anaconda currently has
four stores in Queensland which are located in Ashmore, Everton Park, Logan and
Townsville.
This year's Anaconda Adventure Race National Series includes:
Sunday, 10 August: Tugun Gold Coast
Saturday, 30 and Sunday, 31 August: Forster, NSW
Sunday, 2 November: Geographe Bay, WA
Sunday, 7 December: Lorne, Victoria
This is the fourth year of Anaconda Adventure races, which began with the first
race in Lorne in December 2005.
The races have their own unique characteristics to suit their terrain but all
include a combination of running, cycling, swimming and kayaking.
Participants can find more information and register to the races by visiting
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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