The ARWS-Africa Series 2022 Opens Entries and Announces a New Partnership with Merrell

Press Release / 14.12.2021

2021 – A Remarkable Year for Adventure Racing in South Africa

The Adventure Racing World Series (ARWS) Africa regional final, held in the Drakensberg in November, concluded the series in South Africa for 2021.

This year was the first year that the Adventure Racing World Series - Africa series took place in South Africa and 125 teams, consisting of 2 or 4 members, travelled from all areas of South Africa to take part.

The national series started in February with the first event in Bronkhorstspruit -Mpumalanga. Four more events followed in; Swellendam – Western Cape, Parys – Northwest, Cape St Francis – Eastern Cape, Coffee Bay – Wild Coast, and the regional final in the Drakensberg – KwaZulu Natal.

The prize for the winner of the mixed team category was a free entry at the Adventure Racing World Championship in Paraguay in 2022 and several teams set their sights on winning this amazing opportunity. 

Although the focus to win an entry for the World Championship was on the mixed team category of four, there are categories for male and female teams as well as a pairs category – male, mixed and female.

Click on the following link to see the 2021 final rankings of the ARWS – Africa series http://www.expafrica.net/

The First ARWS Regional Rankings and Champions

Racing throughout the series was extremely close and the winners only emerged in the final minutes of the final event when Team Songlines cycled over the finish line 2 minutes ahead of Team DSV Cyanosis to take the win.

The Top 10 teams for 2021 were:

1 Team Songlines

2 Team DSV Cyanosis

3 Team Pinegold

4 Team Truffle Hunter

5. Team Addicted2adventure.co.za

6. Team Jabberwock

7 Team Red Ants Adventure Racing

8 Team Balega 

9 Team Shnazen Hazen

10 Team Gone Racing

10 Team Mountain Mammoth AR

Our heartfelt thanks to all teams, that with the added Covid challenges, travel restrictions and date changes, were still willing to travel all over South Africa and compete. Adventure Racing World Africa series and their RSA Race Directors, partners and sponsors were extremely privileged to host this prestigious international series in South Africa, and it was a remarkable success story.

Teams can now rest up over the festive season and plan for the ARWS – Africa Series 2022. The 2022 calendar will see teams travel to all corners of South Africa and experience great adventures and well-organized, fully supported events with no seconding crews required. The organizers will provide kayaks, paddles and re-supply boxes and move all the team’s equipment between transitions.

A New Partnership between Merrell and ARWS - Africa 

It is with immense pride that we can announce a new partnership between ARWS - Africa and Merrell.

Merrell are the perfect brand and fit for Adventure Racing. At recent events it is quite apparent that Merrell Trail Running shoes are fast becoming the number 1 trail shoe of choice in the AR community.

With the support, partnership, and shared vision of Merrell South Africa, the ARWS - Africa Series will be powered by the “Sharing the Simple Power of Being Outside with Everyone” philosophy of Merrell.

5 Races at 5 incredible destinations around South Africa will be part of the 2022 series. We kick off the first event in the picturesque town of Swellendam in the Western-Cape. (At this event Expedition Africa will also offer a 60km option.) Entries for this event and all 2022 events, are now open at www.expafrica.net.

ARWS – Africa will take a short break over April, to eventually host the 10th Edition of Expedition Africa. The long-awaited Expedition Africa 500km race in Lesotho – Kingdom in the Sky, which is part of the ARWS and a qualifier for World Championships, will host more than 50 teams from all over the world. 

ARWS – Africa 2022 then restarts in May and teams will head to Wakkerstroom – Mpumalanga, followed by the Merrell Transkei Tuff – Wild Coast in July. In August, the series will visit Plettenberg Bay - Garden Route for the first time and then the final event will be in Clocolan - Free State.

The ARWS – Africa Series organizing team is made up of 3 Race Director couples in South Africa, Heidi and Stephan Muller, Thinus and Jolene Matthysen, and Trystan, and Bruce Viaene. All three couples are experienced race organizers and are passionate about growing, developing and uniting the sport of Adventure Racing in Africa.

They are extremely excited about 2022 and believe that it is the start of a new era, where teams in South Africa can enjoy professional races, and gain the experience to compete on the AR world stage.

Heidi Muller from Expedition Africa said; “It’s a privilege to take hands with the adventure racing teams and co-organisers in South Africa and together grow our beloved sport. We have invested over 25 years into the sport of adventure racing and the last 12 years have been dedicated to organizing 100 plus AR events all over the country. It is a passion to share it with like-minded people and to see how adventure racing is inspiring them.” 

Jolene Matthysen from Expedition Africa commented; “We are so excited to showcase two new breathtaking areas to the adventure racing community of South Africa.

“Wakkerstroom, the jewel of Mpumalanga, will be the host venue for the adventure race in May 2022. The various mountain biking and trail routes are great for exploring the beautiful wetlands of Wakkerstroom. Adventure Racers and their families can book accommodation all over this quaint town in a variety of cozy B&B’s. Supporters can take on their own adventure by exploring the glass art studio, coffee shops, village bakery, book shops and other interesting shops.

The venue for the 2022 Adventure Racing Regional Championship, scheduled for November 2022, will be on a guest farm just outside the small town of Clocolan in the Eastern Free State province. If you think the Free State is flat, think again. Single tracks, farm roads, climbs, technical challenges and views from above will spoil all the racers.

“Will the kayak leg be on a river or a reservoir, or both – you’ll have to participate to know the answer? A variety of accommodation on the farm includes a guest house, backpackers, tented village and a camping area. Definitely a venue for supporters too, as this is a living farm where farm animals can be stroked, chicken eggs can be self-collected, and the reservoirs are full of fish waiting to be caught.” 

Trystan Viaene added; “This series has proven to be a growth platform for the sport of Adventure Racing, specifically in South Africa, and we are incredibly excited to be a part of the 2022 Africa series. The Merrell Transkei Tuff will once again feature, in July 2022, where teams have will have the opportunity to explore the true beauty and diverse terrain that makes up our beloved Transkei.” 

The winning mixed team of four will once again claim a free entry into the Adventure Racing World Championship, this time hosted in November 2023, and it will take place in a very exciting new destination.

Adventure racing has always been an escape from normal life for many - a dream, a goal, to travel and to unite. The ARWS - Africa series Race Directors are committed to bringing to you this escape!

2022 awaits!  Join us!