Expedition Africa
Merrell Adventure Addicts Triumph at Expedition Africa
Press Release / 13.05.2011
Outdoor events do not come more brutal or challenging than Expedition Africa. Imagine a gruelling route through the southern Cape mountains, with teams of four running, mountain biking, hiking, paddling and canyoning through the night. Made up of a mix of both male and female athletes, these foursome AR units have to be totally self-sufficient while navigating to dozens of check points using topographical maps and compasses.Sleep on the 2011 Expedition Africa was reduced to a compulsory 5hr break midway during the race, as well as the occasional snatch of shuteye in a ditch along the road or huddled together in a dark pine forest. This is adventure racing, the so-called ‘Sport of the Gods’, and it is most certainly not for the faint-hearted.
The MERRELL Adventure Addicts definitely do not suffer from any ‘heart condition’ though, and so far their 2011 has been a massive year. Wins and podium places in events such as the Garden Route 300km MTB Challenge and a number of other races led to the GARMIN Wartrail, a 3-day suffer fest of extreme trail running, mountain biking and paddling in the remote northern part of the Eastern Cape. ‘The Addicts’ went ballistic along the course – it consists of a 60km mountain run, a 130km MTB and a 60km paddle - to once more hoist aloft some serious silverware.
However, the ultimate test of their ‘Merrell mettle’ was to be the brutal Expedition Africa, a true expedition-style, non-stop Adventure Race. This multi-disciplinary event, presented by Kinetic, combines the full gamut of adventure sports, and teams from all over SA (as well as a few international athletes) were on the start line in the village of Hermanus.
When the start gun went at dawn on Monday morning of May 9th, few racers better understood the pain and suffering that lay ahead. The Adventure Addicts, however, never once showed any hesitation as they surged ahead with the 22 other teams to rise to the challenge. Awaiting them was three to five days of racing along a 500km route crisscrossing the southern Cape mountains as well as the gorgeous Whale Coast.
“I knew this would be an extreme test of team dynamics, fitness and commitment�, said team captain Graham Bird, “but our build-up has been superb�. Tatum Prins, the lone female ‘Addict’ and long-time stalwart, agreed that the team had never been more hungry for glory: “These are ‘My Boys’, and God knows, I am willing to go through the very gates of hell with them by my side�.
Before the end of Expedition Africa, the MERRELL Adventure Addicts (figuratively anyway) did exactly this. They ran from Hermanus through the Fernkloof mountains and Walker Bay Nature Reserve to Gansbaai (a quick mountain marathon of 40km-odd), then got on their bikes for a 140km MTB crank to Bredasdorp. Now thoroughly warmed up, they trekked through the night along the ridgeline of the Grootrivier ranges, past Napier and onwards to Salmonsdam Nature Reserve. See All Event Posts
