The World Adventure Racing Championships (XPD Australia)

---

The Qualifiers

Rob Howard / 25.10.2011

There was intense competition in the World Series this past year, not just to place well, but to win the chance to race at the World Champs in Tasmania. The opportunity to race in Tasmania was so popular that the openly available places all quickly sold out, leaving qualification through first or second places at the World Series races as the only way in.

So, its not surprising that for the first time ARWC has all the series winners listed to start on November 2nd (these had a free entry), plus many of the second place qualifiers (who were guaranteed a place but had to pay the entry fee). This has helped ensure the race has a stellar line-up, with few of the top teams or racers missing from the 80 strong start list. ARWC 2011 is also the biggest and the most international field ever.

Top of the list are the defending title holders ‘Buff Thermocool’ who are returning with a strong team . The three male team members are the same as last year, but the champions are missing their powerhouse captain and driving force Emma Roca, who came out of retirement to race in her home country and win last year. However, they have an equally strong replacement in Sari Anderson (USA), who is also an AR World Champion (with Team Nike in 2006) and they will not give up their title without a fight.

Second on the list are a late entry, Team Seagate of New Zealand, qualifying as second placed team in Spain last year. Then Nathan Fa’avae and Chris Forne (both former champions) raced in the Blackwater team and they are now joined by Sophie Hart and Marcel Hagener to make up a powerhouse Kiwi team packed with experience, who must be among the race favourites.

The third team at ARWC last year (and the year before … and in 2006), were the Swedish squad now racing as Team Silva. Former European and Swedish champions, and multiple winners of Explore Sweden, the team is lead again by Bjorn Rydvall with Swedish based Kiwi Aaron Prince joining
Josefina Vikberg and Mattias Nystrom. The team won their place with an emphatic win at APEX Switzerland, a race where few teams completed the full course.

TeamBlackheart.com will be the home favourites after their close and controversial win in XPD Australia last year and say; “We looking forward to having the opportunity to race a World Championship in our home country without the usual issues of jet-lag and excess luggage expenses!� The team they narrowly beat last year, Merrell Adventure Addicts of South Africa, are back to race again and aiming to go one better.

The 2009 Champions from the UK are back again, now as Team adidas Terrex, with one change in personnel – Sonya Clark of New Zealand replacing Nicola Macleod. Warren Bates is now New Zealand based and is one of the Race Directors of the new World Series Godzone Adventure Race, while Nick Gracie and Tom Gibbs are flying across the world from the UK. See All Event Posts