Southern Traverse
Challenging Conditions
Jenny McLeod - Southern Traverse / 14.11.2004
The first stage took them, often in heavy rain, through forest and bush roads. Parts were board walked, made slippery in the wet, and in other areas steps had to be climbed.
Local knowledge proved to be the winner on the first stage with Duncan Hamilton’s West Coast based Team Kathmandu first in to the transition area at 12.48pm.
A bunch of teams, with only a minute separating each, followed just five minutes later – Port Nelson followed by Bridgedale Socks, Sierra International, Mainly Tramping and Team Queenstown Lakeview Holiday Park.
The American/Kiwi team Go-Lite Timberland which had led the field through the first checkpoint, lost ground and was in seventh place at the first transition, 12 minutes behind Queenstown Lakeview Holiday Park.
Similarly Swedish team Lundhags Adventure, ranked seventh in the world, was at the front of the pack in the early part of the race, but finished in ninth place at the first transition.
Team Kathmandu made a fast change over and set off on the trekking section just in front of the field. Rain was falling steadily and again local knowledge appeared to be in play as they disappeared into the bush heading for the ridges on the 1400m Bald and Kelly Ranges on the western edge of the Southern Alps.
The following teams took the more predictable route before finding their way into the bush.
Race director Geoff Hunt says this section, which is only 24kms, could take teams anything from 14-20 hours and is probably the most difficult on the entire 430km course.
\"This is the first opportunity for teams to test their navigation skills. Each team is taking a different route and it’s interesting to see the different choices they are making.\"
He says it is a steep climb through thick country and it will certainly put teams under pressure. When night falls teams are likely to find it even harder going in the dense scrub, and with snow in the forecast conditions will be cold.
The leading teams are expected at the second transition area at an area known as Kelly’s, possibly around 2.00- 3.00am on Tuesday (November 16). From here they will undertake a 49km mountainbike ride before beginning the first paddling section starting on Lake Haupiri and heading to the whitewater on the renowned Ahaura River.
The 2004 Southern Traverse is sponsored by the West Coast Development Trust and is a forerunner to the Adventure Racing World Championships in 2005.
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