International Line up Expected for the Orion Health Godzone Adventure

News Release / 27.10.2011

High profile international adventure racing teams are lining up to compete in the inaugural Orion Health GODZone Adventure to be held over the Easter break from the 7th - 14th April, 2012.

Previous world class champion teams and adventure racing individuals have all expressed interest in travelling to New Zealand to take on the race which is pipped to be one of the most challenging events on the Adventure Racing World Series.

Co Race Directors Adam Fairmaid and Warren Bates have been pleasantly surprised by the level of interest.

“Since announcing the title sponsorship for the race with Orion Health we have seen a steady stream of teams showing their intention to race next year and the profile of the event has outstripped anything we could have imagined,” says Adam.

I think the dream of racing through New Zealand’s wilderness and mountains is something many of these teams have held for a while and some will be competing for the first time but others who have been here before are desperate to come back and experience more. There is going to be some outstanding competition.”

The race directors spent a week in September travelling through the North and South Island speaking with athletes from Christchurch, Wellington, Nelson, Rotorua, Whakatane, Hamilton and Auckland and found the response to be just as upbeat.

“The local support has been tremendous for this race and the fact that its an unsupported event has allowed many teams, who would not otherwise have been able to race, to now travel to Queenstown to compete which is awesome,” says Warren.

The Orion Health GODZone Adventure has been developed specifically to take in the scenic beauty and outstanding mountainous areas of the lower South Island. The course remains a secret until race briefing but Warren says athletes have already been trying to second-guess exactly where the course might go.

“ Navigation is going to be an important part of this race and teams will need to have at least one person who understands how to read a map and compass properly to find success on the course. It’s going to be a real adventure.”

The aim of the race is to get from start to finish using a map and compass to navigate the team through a series of checkpoints and transition areas over several days and nights. No support crews are allowed on course so the teams will be relying on themselves and the race organisers to survive.

“ This is true expedition style racing and its fantastic to see this style of adventure back in New Zealand,” says Adam. “ It’s been a long time coming and now is the time for teams to step up and get amongst it.”

Race entries are now open for the Orion Health GODZone Adventure. Go to www.godzoneadventure.com to register a team or to find out more information.