Expedition Adventure Racing Returns to New Zealand

Press Release / 21.09.2011

Premier adventure racing company, 100% PURE Racing, has announced today that Queenstown, the adventure capital of the world, will take centre stage next Easter as host of a new multi-day, non-stop, expedition-style adventure race.

GODZone Adventure race, from the 7th - 14th April 2012, is the first unsupported (no support crews) expedition style, adventure race to be held in New Zealand since the world’s inaugural event, the Raid Gauloises, 22 years ago.

Former World Adventure Racing champion Warren Bates and past Southern Traverse winner Adam Fairmaid have teamed up to reintroduce expedition racing to New Zealand.

Event co-director, Adam Fairmaid, says they aim to set a new standard for adventure racing globally and attract the world’s top racers down under to compete.

“New Zealand is the spiritual home of adventure racing, having produced some of the greatest racers the sport has seen and continues to do so. The Southern Traverse was a race that many aspired to complete during its 15 year long tenure and it’s surely no coincidence that New Zealand hosted the very first Raid Gauloises and then later, Eco-Challenge. No other country can boast such a strong history of true expedition racing.”

Entries for the GODZone Adventure are now open and competitors from all over the country, particularly Auckland, Wellington, Canterbury, Marlborough, Otago and Southland, are expected alongside many international teams. Adam says the race will be a real draw card for Australian racers because of the close proximity and quality of terrain and field.

Competitors (teams of four) will travel day and night, navigating, trekking, mountain biking and kayaking over a vast array of terrain and landscape, passing through a series of mandatory checkpoints along the course, the details of which wont be disclosed until race time.

Event co-director, Warren Bates, a veteran of over 25 international expedition length races says he’s delighted with the support GODZone Adventure has received from top New Zealand sports people.

“Our event patron is Steve Gurney, a man who has done it all and in his words he believes these races have a tendency to leave an indelible mark on the racers of old, new and the future. He is so excited to see such a race back here in Queenstown with a strong visionary and energetic organising team. We also have the support of sporting legends Richard Ussher, Wayne Oxenham, Kristina Angelm and Keith Murray who make up our advisory board so it’s an exceptional team behind this new event.”