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Xtreme Adrenaline in Swazi Kingdom

Press Release / 23.03.2009

The countdown has started in all earnest for the Swazi Xtreme, rated by many adventure racers as the African continent’s premier expedition event. In less than 50 days, more than 260 athletes will set off on a life-changing adventure through the awe-inspiring landscape of the Kingdom of Swaziland. Along the way, they will encounter a heady blend of outdoor adventure, traditional culture, friendly people and mind-blowing vistas.

At present, the race region and start destination remain a closely guarded secret, and will only be made public a week before the actual event kicks off. “We can however confirm that once again racers will experience a challenging course maximising the breathtaking mountains, rivers, forests, waterfalls and savannah plains characterising Swaziland, a country rated by many as Africa’s best-kept secret”, ventured race director Darron Raw.

An exciting change in format will this year see racers balancing risk and reward as they race for maximum distance over a period of 60 hours. “With the Swazi Xtreme, we have consistently aimed to keep the ‘adventure’ in adventure racing, and do not want this to ever become just another elitist ultra-distance event”, Raw continued. With this in mind, the course directors have opted for a shift from the usual ‘shortest time takes the podium’ approach, instead prompting teams to go all out in an effort to attain maximum distance in a race time of 60 hours.

Route choice will depend on compulsory control points (CPs), but top dogs will undoubtedly add to their tally from optional CPs. These optional control points will detour athletes via some of Swaziland’s hidden tourism gems, thus adding an exhilarating edge to the race. Reaching these CPs will demand navigational skill, consistent speed and teamwork, all the while permitting the front runners more time to push themselves to the limit within the allocated time. Slower teams who stick to only compulsory control points will still finish at the same time as top teams, thus adding to the overall vibe of this amazing race.

This innovative format will in all likelihood result in a higher overall finishing rate, without in any way deviating from a pure approach to a classic and non-stop adventure race. The minimum compulsory distance for the 2009 Swazi Xtreme has been calculated at 220km for the Pro Event competitors, with an additional 100km in the offing for those top teams keen to push the proverbial envelope. Adding to the overall strategy will be six hours of compulsory sleep outside the transition area, an additional factor sure to test the survival aptitude of all the teams.

Disciplines will include the full gamut of human-powered sports, with mountain biking constituting at least 50% of the overall distance. In addition to time in the saddle, racers will slug it out along rugged treks and face up to the full brunt of the Swazi Kingdom’s many rivers. This year, competitors will get to paddle flat-water canoes, tube thundering rapids, get wet on kloofing sections and submit to an open-water swim. (The race officials have however confirmed that no crocodiles have been sighted in the race region recently). Bouldering and technical rope sections will further add to the challenge.

The Swazi Xtreme is organised and underwritten by Swazi Trails, Swaziland’s leading tour operators. The company has been operating here since 1987, and has enthusiastically supported the race for the past 9 years due to the event’s remarkable ability to focus on the extraordinary adventure industry in the tiny kingdom. "Swaziland stands out as a unique venue for individual, group and corporate adventures," states Raw, "and its proximity to major centres such as Gauteng and Durban makes it a hassle-free way to taste a diverse and exciting African flavour without breaking the bank".

For all the details visit the event website at www.swazixtreme.co.sz.