The event laid down the gauntlet early to the first batch of competitors, starting the race with a run/kayak rogaine which saw teams collecting 185 points out of a possible 200. To throw a spanner in the works, competitors were only given the kayak CP locations and values at race registration, leaving the run section a complete unknown until after the start. <br />
<br />
From the start, teams darted off in all directions, most opting to complete the foot rogaine before heading out on kayaks to gather the full 80 points on offer. A quick swim across a channel was required to access the kayaks, many squeals of both anticipation and actual cold could be heard across the Narrabeen Sport and Recreation grounds. Team “Have a laugh with Stuâ€Â? almost didn’t make it back across due to fits of laughter surrounding their attempts at keeping their gear dry as they crossed. Most teams picked up on the fact that the only 15 point kayak CP was also the best place to dump kayaks and run around Jamieson Park to the 25 pointer, therefore making it the best option to dump the 15 points in the foot section.<br />
<br />
After a little over an hour of racing, the top 6 teams completed leg 1 within 2 minutes of each other, and headed off up (and up and up) a short foot section to TA2, and their awaiting bikes, where they started with a tough uphill section which was followed by some sweet singletrack sections as teams rode around the fantastic mountain biking of the Red Hill region, collecting 8 checkpoints before arriving at another foot rogaine section, that saw teams collect two bush checkpoints, before heading into the leafy northern beaches suburbs to collect a further 9 urban checkpoints, leading them back to their bikes.<br />
SleepMonsters
