The 2007 Adventure Race World Championship
From the Highveld to the Highlands
Lisa de Speville / 21.05.2007
McCain Adventure Addicts are the only South African team in this year's World Championships, but Graham Bird, Jeannette Walder, Philip Swanepoel and Sakkie Meyer are an experienced foursome, and they are relishing the challenge."All the top teams in the World are going and we are looking forward to competing against and learning from all of them," says team captain Graham Bird.
That said, McCain Adventure Addicts is still a team packed with international race experience and one of South Africa's top teams. (They formerly raced as Team Due South). Bird, Walder and Meyer raced together to place 13th (of 90 starting teams) at Primal Quest, an expedition event held in Utah in July 2006. Swanepoel also brings to the team his experiences at New Zealand's Southern Traverse and Eco Challenge Fiji.
The event has an unsupported format so the team's gear and food boxes, bicycles and kayaks will be transported by race organisation from one transition to the next for the duration of the event. "Our experience at Primal Quest has helped us enormously. We had to get used to having a lot less equipment than at supported races," explains Bird.
McCain Adventure Addicts are also a team of exceptional paddlers. "At international level South African teams are very strong in the discipline of paddling," says Swanepoel. “We’re above average - especially Sakkie, Jeannette and Graham - and this will definitely suit us as this race provides for a lot of time on the water with sections on sea, lakes and rivers.�
The team’s pre-race preparations have progressed swiftly. “We’re fortunate to have McCain behind us as sponsors,� says Bird. “We have been able to focus more on training and preparing rather than worrying about the financial implications of competing overseas. The McCain brand and products are well-suited to this outdoor, adventure sport as they support and endorse a healthy, active and balanced lifestyle.�
The team are now in the UK, heading for Fort William and the race start.See All Event Posts
