The World Adventure Racing Championships (XPD Australia)
Merrell Adventure Addicts Ready To Take On Tasmanian Devil
News Release / 24.10.2011
Australia will shortly host the prestigious ARWC, but this year the wilderness arena in which it will unfold is the rugged and dramatic West coast wilderness of Tasmania. According to Race Director Craig Bycroft, “The remote terrain of the West Coast is the perfect destination for a true expedition race and it promises to be an experience like no other. It will definitely suit the physically and mentally tough teams, and like all XPD Races, this will be a true expedition-style race through genuine wilderness conditions�.The MERRELL Adventure Addicts have been competing together as a team for more than four years, and have developed a detailed understanding of their individual strengths and weaknesses to shape a powerful racing unit. The team is led by captain and navigator Graham Bird, and for him it will all be about focusing the team at the right moment.
Stalwart Hanno Smit, one of the original war horses, will once again be at Bird’s side, contributing quiet determination and experience to the mix. Tatum Prins, the ‘girl power component’ of the MERRELL Adventure Addicts, brings true grit, dedication, commitment and motivation to the team. Completing the foursome is Donovan Sims, an adventure racer at the top of his game: “I’m ready to lay down life and limb to help this team make it to the finish�, he quipped as the team completed final preparations for their trip Down Under.
After winning the 500km Expedition Africa Adventure Race staged in the Western Cape in May this year, the MERRELL Adventure Addicts focused on preparing for the ARWC, undoubtedly the premier AR event of the year. “At the beginning of this year we set the ARWC as our main goal for 2011�, stated Bird in an exclusive media interview. “The team has had a great build-up and are raring to go!�
The MERRELL Adventure Addicts have had a successful period over the past few years, competing in numerous Adventure Racing World Series races around the world, finishing in second position at the XPD Australia race in May 2010. This rated as the toughest Adventure Race the team has ever competed in and, according to Bird, “We seem to get stronger the longer and tougher the race is. After competing in the 2010 Australian race by the same organiser, we hope the 2011 race will be just as tough and hard.�
The team used the 500km Expedition Africa to test new team strategies, as traditionally they were slow starters, conserving their efforts for the latter stages of racing. In an effort to close in on some of the top international teams, they realized it was necessary to race fast and hard from the start and hope to do so successfully at the AR World Champs.See All Event Posts
