XPD Expedition
Blackheart.com.au takes Line Honours
Kimberlee Philip / 02.12.2008
XPD covered the most mountainous terrain of any expedition race in Australia with teams gaining over 20,00 metres in elevation throughout the race.
\"The course this year was really different, much harder than last year. On every leg of this race, at least one of us had a moment of pain, at some stages it was all 4 of us were in pain\". Said Damon Goerke from the winning team Blackheart.com.au.
There were 31 teams competing, seven of which were internationals. Teams of four traveled over 800km on foot, mountain bike and kayak in the only Australian qualifier for the World Championships. Team members were to keep within 100metres of each other throughout the entire race and averaged 1 to 3 hours of sleep per night throughout the race.
The race kicked off in the rocky outcrops of Mt Buffalo in the Victorian High Country, with teams navigating their way through the thick fog and rain. The area received over 100mm of rain in 24 hours, playing havoc on the overnight mountain bike leg and the next days 85km Bogong and Feathertop trek legs.
The rain certainly made for a quick kayak down the rushing Kiewa River although the increase in water levels forced teams to walk the first 8km of the kayak, a mental blow for sore tired feet coming off the back of an 85km trek. Then in came the snow, with racers making their way through the high plains on bikes, but the inclement weather saw race organisers put a stop to racing for a 24 hour period while the weather eased.
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