Godzone Adventure Race
Godzone Waves the Flag for Kiwi Adventure Racing
Rob Howard / 05.03.2014
There is a subtext to the press release which offers a round-up of team news ahead of the 3rd Chapter of the Godzone Adventure Race, which starts this coming weekend in Kaikoura. (See previous report.)
The posse of visiting Australian teams don’t get a mention (but that is probably just a kiwi/Aussie rivalry thing), and there are very few other international teams or racers to take into account – the Checkpoint Zero team from the U.S. get a passing mention, but that is it. The message is loud and clear that this race is about the Kiwi teams, their experience, strength in depth, up and coming teams, and whether anyone can even get close to Seagate. Read between the lines and you get; “Watch out the AR world, the Kiwis are coming and this is the warm up.”
It is a strong entry with 41 teams, which is exceptional for an expedition race these days, and a credit to the organising team, who have done an amazing job establishing the race in just two years. But for the first AR World Series Race of the year, it’s not a strong international entry, whichever way you look at it. The only top 20 ranked teams taking part are the home based teams, Seagate and Bivouac Colts.
It looks like the world’s elite teams may have decided that racing Seagate on home turf is not a sensible option and they are putting their available time and resources into competing elsewhere. It’s probably a sensible choice. You don’t travel to King Kong’s island to pick a fight, when you know he’ll escape later in the year.
Seagate do have a changed line-up, but there are no grounds to hope the team is weakened as Trevor Voyce is replaced by double and current World Champion Stuart Lynch! (Lynch was UK based for a few years and has been an elite ‘Wild Card’ racer recently, but he’s now settled back in New Zealand so it will be interesting to see where he races this year.)
Teams have been asked their aims and hopes for the race, and most go for ‘finish the course’, a few are more competitive and say ‘Top 5’, and Seagate all just put ‘Win’. They have won the first two races and are going for the hat trick.
With the costs of travelling to New Zealand it’s understandable that international entries are limited, though it’s a pity as Kaikoura is such a fantastic destination. Team Checkpoint Zero are there and there is one more Stars and Stripes on the entry list, which is Team Merrell Alpha Pack.
Why it is a U.S. flag is anyone’s guess as the team is multinational; made up of English adventurer journalist and former British Army Captain, Tobais Mews; New Zealander multisporter and slalom kayaker, Ben Gibson; Chilean triathlete and sportswomen, Catalina Gerstle and South African adventure racing veteran, Graham Bird.
The team are all Merrell brand ambassadors and have been brought together for a film project. “The primary focus will be about four people, with varied skill levels, challenging themselves in a variety of disciplines in some of the most beautiful and extreme landscapes in the world,” commented Team coordinator Dan Whitney. “The team will be filmed as they experience the highs and lows of the week-long trip, developing their relationship as they unite taking on this unique expedition in New Zealand’s stunning South island”. It should be an interesting race for them and a fascinating film.
The only other flag which is not from Australasia is the Irish tricolour of Moxie AR, a very experienced team who are joined by UK racer Sabrina Verjee.
However, there is no escaping the Silver Fern is dominant and it would be a surprise if any other flag graced the podium or even the top 5. Godzone was set up to fill the expedition racing void in New Zealand after Southern Traverse fell by the wayside, and this start list is testament to their success. Their 3rd race is stuffed full of experienced Southern Traverse veterans (the likes of Jim Cotter and Neil Jones) and strong younger teams gaining the experience to challenge on the World stage.
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