Expedition Africa

A Celebration of Expedition Africa

Rob Howard / 11.05.2013

Today has been a celebration of Expedition Africa 2013, the 3^rd edition of the race, and one during which it has firmly established itself as an international event of the highest standards.

Just after midnight the first finishers of the day were Omjakon and Sweco, who had had such a difficult time on the final trek. Omjakon had come across the Swedish team hunkered down in their tent, very cold and in low spirits, and despite their own weariness had done all they could to rouse them and get them moving.  The teams then made their way together across to the trail in the National Park to find their way back to the finish.  As the approached Sweco stopped to allow the Finnish team to go ahead in respect of the help they’d been given.  The teams were amazed to find they had finished 5^th and 6^th. 

After a gloomy dawn teams began to arrive on their bikes from T6, with Merrell Denmark and Beast of Ballyhoura/V Graph coming across the line first to celebrate their finishes.  Then the teams came quickly all celebrating on the hotel steps in pouring rain against a backdrop of the thunder clouds covering the Drakensberg.  Soon the veranda and foyer were full of teams holding champagne bottles, all exchanging stories and experiences of their own Expedition Africa.

Then through the late morning and afternoon the teams who had stayed the full course and experienced the difficulties of the final trekking stage began to come through to the finish line having found their way down off the mountains.  These were 6 South African teams, and the last two Black Diamond and Castle Lite finished just a minute apart!

By late afternoon all the teams were accounted for and finished, and all had celebrated their achievements in the race, but there was still the chance to do so again when everyone involved with the race joined together for the closing ceremony and prize giving.  This came after another feast provided by the Mont-aux-Source hotel, and was beautifully presented with many video clips and slide shows, and with thanks given to all those who made the race happen; sponsors, marshals, medics, media and supporters.

All of the teams were ranked according to how much of the course they had completed, and presented with specially made trophies to remember the race by.  Heidi and Stephan Muller and the Kinetic team received a standing ovation at the end and in her speech Heidi said, “Adventure Racing is our life and our passion and it’s our dream and our vision to make this the best race in the world.”  Those who applauded them at the closure of the race tonight have helped them take a big step towards achieving that dream.

Full results can be found on the live race website at http://www.kineticgear.org/leaderboard/