John Jacoby From Rapid Ascent Wins Prestigious Adventure Award

News Release (Rapid Ascent) / 29.10.2015

John Jacoby, founder and Director of Rapid Ascent, has won the prestigious Australian Geographic Society “Adventurers of the Year” Award, as announced at the awards presentation in Sydney on 28 October.

The award was made to John and three team mates for recently completed a circumnavigation of South Georgia Island by sea kayak. In February and March this year, they sailed 1,400km across the South Atlantic Ocean to reach the glaciated mountainous island known as the ‘Gateway to Antarctica’. They then paddled approximately 500km to circumnavigate South Georgia Island, after which they traversed the island on foot, following in the footsteps of early explorer Ernest Shackleton.

The team consisted of John Jacoby, Andrew Maffett, Chris Porter and Jim Bucirde. They’re only the fourth crew in the world to achieve a circumnavigation of South Georgia Island by sea kayak, and they completed it in record-breaking time.

“It is a great honour to win the Australian Geographic Adventurers of the Year award. We feel humbled to be amongst such esteemed company when you see the list of previous winners. We really just consider ourselves as a bunch of old guys who want to get out and do good stuff. Hopefully our expedition inspires others, both young and old, to go out and chase your dreams and adventures,” said an exuberant John Jacoby.

John Jacoby is one of the most experienced and accomplished adventure racers in the world. John was awarded the Keys to the City of Melbourne in 1987 after being crowned World Marathon Kayak Champion for the 3rd year in a row, going on to win the title four times. He has completed 30 major international adventure races in 16 countries and was the first Australian to win the coveted Coast to Coast title in New Zealand.

Since retiring from competitive racing, John has developed a reputation as a designer of ‘very challenging’ but interesting courses for Rapid Ascent, regarded as Australia’s leading adventure sports event management company.

“We are very proud of John and the rest of the South Georgia Island Circumnavigators on receiving this award. The fact that we have someone so well regarded in the world of adventure adds a lot to the Rapid Ascent team and John’s experience in the great outdoors helps us deliver the best possible adventure events for everyone,”, said Sam Maffett, General Manager, Rapid Ascent.

For more about John Jacoby and Rapid Ascent visit www.rapidascent.com.au

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