Expedition Africa 2012

Merrell Adventure Addicts Win Expedition Africa 2012

News Release / 11.05.2012

Team Merrell Adventure Addicts successfully defended their Expedition Africa adventure racing title, with an impressive win, finishing nearly 12 hours ahead of the nearest rivals, Team Red Ants. After 65 hours of racing – and just 3 hours sleep – the team crossed the finish line at the race headquarters in Port Alfred at 11.49pm on Wednesday the 9^th May.

The second edition of Expedition Africa, now part of the World Adventure Racing Series, was set in the picturesque Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. Race organiser, Stephan Muller said, “The beauty of the surroundings is in its rawness and provides some really challenging terrain that would certainly test the 13 teams who started”. The range of stages included: a few arduous treks along empty beaches and through dense river valley’s; some long undulating mountain biking sections; estuarine and river kayaking; and a big abseil off an 80-meter high railroad bridge.” 

The race began at first light on Monday the 7^th at the toposcope in Bathurst, the highest viewpoint affording the competitors a convenient 360 degree view of the 500km race route ahead.

Merrell Adventure Addicts, under the experienced navigation of captain Graham ‘Tweet’ Bird showed their class as South Africa’s premier adventure racing team by assuming an early lead with some shrewd navigation. A decision to take a hidden hiking path saw them rapidly gain 20 minutes on Team Red Ants by the first transition and it was to be the last time Team Merrell came close to any of the competition throughout the 500km race.

The lead continued to stretch with each leg of the race, especially the kayak sections where they dominated on the water. These sections also provided some special memories, with team member Donovan ‘Tiny’ Sims, who was racing in his local province, commenting there were a few “once in a lifetime” experiences getting up and close with elephants browsing at the river’s edge as they powered past. The team worked hard to widen the gap in the first half of the race, as Team Merrell’s late replacement, Craig ‘lightie’ Carter-Brown explained, “We wanted to get out of sight of our competitors and thus out of mind”.

12 hours into the race and the team had already completed four of the thirteen legs. A rapid midnight transition at the Bushman’s rivermouth, saw the team get onto their bikes for the first time. Team Merrell’s female powerhouse, Tatum “Hobbit” Prins remarked that the bike legs ‘went really well’ allowing a consistent pace and the team to further extend their lead.