MEDIA RELEASE 14 October 2008
Lorne welcomes the Anaconda Adventure Race grand final
Victoria is set up to welcome the last leg of the Anaconda Adventure Race
National Series when over 1,000 athletes converge on Lorne for the Race kick off
on Sunday, 7 December.
Lorne is the birth place of the Anaconda Adventure Race National Series, which
began in December 2005.
The 52 km race will start at 8:00 am at Lorne Pier and include ocean swimming
(1.9 km), beach run (400m), ocean paddling (13 km), coastal and trail running
(11.2 km), mountain biking (24 km) and a beach run (1.5 km). The race is
accessible to beginners, with a 'relay teams' category where participants can
join up with friends and colleagues to do just one leg each.
Adjacent to the main event will be the Anaconda Junior Survivor event on
Saturday, 6 December from 3pm on the Lorne foreshore. About 500 kids between
seven and 13 years old will be competing over a 4km fun obstacle course. Kids
can register to the event by visiting www.anacondaadventurerace.com.
There will be fierce competition at the Anaconda Adventure Race with
participants including world adventure racing champion Richard Ussher (NZ), one
of the current leaders of the Anaconda Adventure Race National Series and
Melbourne athlete Jarad Kohlar as well as former Surf Ironman Guy Andrews.
In the women's category, former Surf Ironwoman champion Kirsty Holmes, Anaconda
Adventure Race champion Christie Sym, McKinnon (Vic) athlete and winner of last
year's Lorne race Deanna Blegg as well as Wendy Wilson of Torquay (Vic) will be
fighting for the first position.
The overall winner of the 2008 Anaconda Adventure Race National Series will be
named at the Lorne event.
John Jacoby, Anaconda Adventure Race director, said the 2008 Anaconda race in
Lorne is building up to be bigger and better.
"We're expecting great numbers for this year's event. So far, over 740 athletes
have registered and this should reach about 1,250. It will be great to see all
these athletes lining up for the swim start," he said.
"The Lorne Anaconda Adventure Race is the most spectator-friendly because the
course loops through Lorne. There will also be an Expo on the Lorne foreshore
with sponsors stands, food and entertainment for the whole family!
"We've made the team run slightly shorter and extended the mountain bike leg,
which should be a popular change among athletes," Jacoby added.
The 2007 Lorne race saw over 1,000 competitors fighting for the title, racing
individually as well as in teams. NSW resident Ben Allen took out the gold in
the male category with a finish time of just over four hours and McKinnon (Vic)
athlete Deanna Blegg was the first female to cross the finish line after four
hours and 45 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.
To respond to growing popularity, the 2009 Anaconda Adventure Race National
Series will expand with races in Tasmania and New Zealand.
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.
Anaconda prides itself on inspiring, equipping and enabling people to get
outdoors and experience their own adventure. Anaconda currently has 14 stores
around the country including three in Victoria located in Geelong, Bayswater and
Carnegie.
The Anaconda Adventure Race National Series was held on the Gold Coast (QLD) on
10 August, in Forster (NSW) on 30 and 31 August and in Geographe Bay (WA) on 2
November.
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.
|
|
|
