---

Slip Slidin’Away…

Susan McKenzie / 15.11.2004

There are some phrases that get heard over and over again at any given race. For Southern Traverse 2004, one will surely be “if the weather closes in.� Even before the race began, the phrase was heard often and by everyone.

Well guess what? The weather did close in this afternoon. By late morning the sun had disappeared altogether, the cloud had socked in the tops of the Kelly and Bald Ranges and at times the rain poured down in cold, gunmetal gray sheets. At TA1, bemused deer watched as support crews waited for teams to come off the bikes and make the swift transition to the trek. Some teams, like ING/NZ Army, had veritable homesteads set up (they served toasted paninis and sausage for brunch).

Others, such as Britain’s Microsoft 1E, were more sedate in size but big in decoration. Microsoft pinned a giant Union Jack to the fence near its lone campervan, while inside the van, words of encouragement (“Use The Force�) were taped to the windows.

“We’re going to change them every day for the team,� says Lyndy Leggett, who is married to racer Tim Leggett.

“Yeah, she always has sayings that she uses,� says her co-support crew, Lee.

See All Stories On This Race