Expedition Africa Namaqua West Coast 2018
Race Village is Bustling
Press Release / 18.05.2018
Race village is bustling with excitement as athletes from all over the world gather for this year's Expedition Africa. Over the past two days, athletes have trickled into Vanrynsdorp, meeting team mates, catching up with foreign friends and essentially reuniting their 'adventure racing family'.
Registration officially opened 09h00 this morning, where teams were able to collect their maps, submit their equipment for inspection, receive their unique race bibs and pose for their race 'mug shot'. According to Craig Geise, of the Expedition Africa media crew, there is a great energy and excitement at registration, with teams streaming in readying themselves for Sundays start.
Each year many hours go into the design and creation of the Expedition Africa race bib, to include elements that are significant to the hosting area. In 2016, fynbos represented the lush Knysna forest and the greenery within the Garden Route. In 2017, buffalo were featured, signifying the Baviaans region and this year, Heidi Muller has chosen to include the Namaqualand National flower, symbolic to this year's arid yet beautiful host region.
All 52 teams will parade this stunning new bib at the opening ceremony which takes place at Letsatsi Lodge this afternoon. This ceremony will officially welcome each team to Africa's contingent of the Adventure Racing World Series. Kallie Louw of the Namaqualand Municipality is amongst the speakers on the programme for the afternoon, including race organiser, Heidi Muller who will be the master of ceremonies. Race briefing will be conducted by Stephan Muller, walking teams through the important facts and information regarding this year's gruelling route of an estimated 560km.
Keeping with tradition, a flag parade will take place at 17h00 this evening, where each team will wave their representing country's flag from the Vanrynsdorp Museum through to Letsatsi Lodge. Letsatsi Lodge and Klawer Wines will then treat athletes, crew and organisers to a social dinner ending off day one of the events official proceedings brilliantly.
A three hour transfers to Expedition Africa's 'secret start' will commence at 06h00 on Sunday morning. With the live tracking element of this event in place; supporters from all over the globe can prepare their dot-watching stations for a 09h00 start via http://live.arworldseries.com/africa18/
This site conveniently features all race media content, social media highlights, race leaderboard and so much more, so get ready to sit back, relax and dot-watch your way through Expedition Africa 2018.
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