New Zealand Delivers Godzone Adventure Race

ARWS News Release / 15.03.2013

Race two of the 2013 Adventure Racing World Series has just finished on the South Island of New Zealand, with teams striving to complete the Orion Health Godzone Adventure Race.

After its launch last year Godzone returned for ‘Chapter Two’ and attracted 34 teams, including the top two in the AR World Series rankings; Team Seagate of New Zealand, and the Swedish based ‘Thule Adventure Team’.  There were also visiting teams from Australia and Brazil completing an international line-up who began the 6 day race in the Mount Cook National Park and made their way to the finish in Queenstown.

Race Director Adam Fairmaid commented; “How do you cap off last year’s Milford Sound start line? That was the question we kept asking ourselves and the sheer magnitude of Mt Cook and the surrounding alpine environment was the answer.”

From the outset the race was lead by Seagate, the current World Champions, and they stayed out in front throughout the whole race, finishing the 514km coursee in just 75 hours 35 minutes.

Nathan Fa'avae, Sophie Hart, Chris Forne and Trevor Voyce climbed, trekked, paddled, mountain biked and navigated their way around the course with power and precision to confirm their pre-eminent status in Adventure Racing, reclaim their Godzone title, and move from second to first in the AR World Series rankings.  (Thule Adventure had been ahead of them, but withdrew early in the race.)

Seagate will be favourites for the World Championships in Costa Rica in December, but may not be the only team from New Zealand for other competitors to worry about.  Godzone has revitalised Expedition Adventure Racing in New Zealand and is helping pull together strong kiwi teams and encourage up and coming racers.

Adventure racing began in New Zealand with the Raid Gauloises in 1989, and the country is known as the home of adventure racing.  Athletes from New Zealand have always been among the world’s elite adventure racers, but they have often had to find a place with teams from other countries, and after the World championships in 2005 there was no expedition length race for them to compete in on home soil – until Godzone.

The race has raised the profile of adventure racing again in New Zealand, and is inspiring new racers and old hands.  Only two international teams managed to break into the top 10 at this year’s race, Macpac of Australia and Brasilia Multisport, and both had kiwis co-opted onto their teams.

Race Director Warren Bates commented; “Ultimately our aim was to produce a world class race for Kiwis to be able to race at home. The older legendary racers like Neil Jones and Jim Cotter came out and raced this year which has been great and the top level teams like Seagate were instantly onboard. But our aim is to encourage more young kiwi racers and grow the sport here again and show people that adventure racing is a viable sport alternative.”

Second placed team ‘Harraways Oats’ were the only team able to threaten Seagate’s dominance, and they were a new team pulled together of experienced kiwi multisport and expedition racers. Successful Coast to Coast racers Dougal Allen and Jess Simson were joined by Stuart Lynch (a former World Champion with Team Orion Health), and Aaron Prince, who was on loan from Team Silva of Sweden.  “Our team was primarily put together for Godzone,” said Lynch, “but we ideally want to continue as an internationally competing team if we can get ongoing sponsorship for it. With another race or two under our belts I'm sure we can be winning World Series races.”

He added, “Godzone is doing wonders for adventure racing in New Zealand.  There is a lot of media interest in the race and it's had a fair bit of time on National news. This race was sold out and there is a huge amount of enthusiasm in the multisport and AR scene for the race. It seems to be working internationally as well with more international teams competing this year.”

Godzone may be the newest race on the 2013 AR World Series calendar, but it is already an established success, and its impact on the series may be significant.  Seagate secured their place in Costa Rica with their win, and they may well be joined by more elite kiwi teams – inspired by Godzone.

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