The Swisse Mark Webber Tasmania Challenge
Swisse Active Continue to Dominate
News Release / 01.12.2012
The Swisse Active team of Jarad Kohlar and James Pretto had taken command of the Swisse Mark Webber Tasmania Challenge adventure race after the fourth day of competition on the state’s north east coast.
With gale force winds cutting the final kayak leg short, competitors tackled over 50 kilometres, starting at The Gardens, and finishing at Akaroa, near St Helen’s.
Pre-event favourites, Team Tasmania’s Richard Ussher and Braden Currie have held on to their second placing, despite both suffering illness over the demanding course but are now 58 minutes 55 seconds in arrears with just one day remaining.
Formula 1 star, Mark Webber, completed his second full day of the event, before he turns his focus to the citizens Adventure Run in the state’s capital Sunday morning.
Heading into the penultimate day, Swisse Active led Tasmania by just 23 minutes, and from the outset from the start line on Binalong day, pushed hard to increase their buffer.
"We really pushed hard on the first paddle and managed to drop Richard and Braden (Tasmania), and the rest of the day we were just super cautious and made sure we made no navigational mistakes,” Kohlar said.
"Both James and I are pretty strong paddlers and they were tough conditions out there.”
"I actually thought on the last mountain bike leg as we came around the headland that they might cancel the last kayak leg, so we really pushed super hard on the last 10km on the bike.
"It's hard to win these big international adventure races and a lot of things have got to go right, so we'll just stay focussed until it's over."
Having just returned from the final Formula 1 race in Brazil last weekend, Webber is loving the challenge of competing in the race that carries his name, and challenging himself in the Tasmanian wilderness.
"The first paddle was really nice and we had some nice tail winds and that was good fun. Then it was in to the snorkelling where the water was fresh and I a made a school boy error and left my shoes on," Webber said.
"But there were plenty of different strategies used by competitors, which is what adventure racing is all about, different styles and techniques.
"The mountain biking was probably the highlight of the day in terms of the course. There was some very nice tracks that were technical and required lots of concentration.
"This is a beautiful part of Tasmania and the mountain bike trails are world class, as is the scenery.
"It's been a great event and we get a big variety of people entering the race, from world class adventure racers to groups of people who are really coming down here to test themselves on virgin territory.
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