The World Adventure Racing Championships (XPD Australia)
ARWC 2011 is Underway!
Rob Howard / 01.11.2011
It was a colourful scene on the beach at Burnie this morning, with flags flying, teams in their white and blue bibs and 158 yellow and red kayaks lined up on the sand. From 7am onwards the beach got busier and busier and by 8am most of the teams were there, putting their kayaks down and preparing. Those who were first could go to the Eastern end of the line, nearest the port, and so have less distance go paddle, and it was Merrell Adventure who were in prime position. Not that it will make much difference, but it helped avoid getting caught in the melee of kayaks and any risk of a collision.
The final admin before the start was to collect the SPOTs (and be briefed on their use again), seal up mobile phones, and receive wristbands and control cards to use at each checkpoint. With the start not due until 9am there was no great rush, and most teams had time to chat to friends and supporters, pose for photos with their country flags, or gather their thoughts for the race ahead.
A few were giving a final pump to the inflatable kayaks (Sevylor Ocean SK17’s) and all the mixed teams had one of these and one plastic sit on top, mostly Dagger Voyager II’s. (Race organisers Geocentric have borrowed all the kayaks they can find for this huge race!) The team from Costa Rica were busy tying their two kayaks together, possibly because of having some paddlers inexperienced on the ocean. One of the Estonian team admitted he’d never paddled on the ocean before!
After the speeches and admin it was a slightly delayed start (by 7 mins on my watch). Teams lined up behind their kayaks and ran a few metres to them, then in splash of surf and a whirl of paddles the race was underway with 79 teams setting off on this world championship course.
They have one CP before the first transition at Penguin, then run into the hills with a stop for shooting practice. It could get cold up there, snow has been forecast for high ground tomorrow ...See All Event Posts
