XPD Australia
Gale force winds cancel kayaking - Final team into midcamp
Press Release / 09.09.2013
Strong winds on the Spencers Gulf have forced race organisers to cancel the final kayaking stage of XPD, the Adventure Racing World Series event underway in South Australia. Teams will now complete the final leg of the race with a bike ride from Melrose to the finish line at Port Augusta.
Race Director, Louise Foulkes confirmed "Due to VERY strong winds over the next three days, the kayak leg has been cancelled. Teams will now ride direct from Melrose to Port Augusta".
In the history of the XPD adventure race series, this will be the first time that the course has not included kayaking.
This decision has caused some confusion for the two leading teams, Mountains Designs and the young team from New Zealand, Bivouac Colts. Both teams had commenced the kayaking leg last night before camping at the edge of the Spencers Gulf due to the enforced "dark zone" where for safety reasons teams are not allowed to paddle on open water after dark. These two teams will now be transported by car to the final checkpoint at Blanche Harbour and will kayak the final 30 km into Port Augusta.
Will a 30 km paddle decide the winner of this epic 700 km adventure race? Will it be an Australian or New Zealand team that wins the free entry into the Adventure Racing World Championships in Costa Rica?
Final team into Hawker midcamp
New Zealand team Osprey Packs is the final team to arrive at the mid way camp in Hawker on day 6 of the expedition length adventure race in outback South Australia. They took 19 hours to ride the 54 km from the base of the Moonarie rock wall into Hawker in sweltering hot, dry conditions.
The exposed and heart pounding fixed ropes course on The Great Wall at Moonarie, situated on the rim of Wilpena Pound, was a highlight for teams. "The ropes work was GLORIOUS", said Roland Trease from team Outer Edge Racing.
Team Goldfish blogged from midcamp, we "scrambled up the ascent in the dark arriving at the base of the [Moonarie] wall just as the sun rose. The rock walls were deep orange, the air fresh and we were pumped".
"How can you have so much fun in one adventure race... and we are only at midcamp".
After a much needed shower and hot meal, teams will continue on a 155 km mountain bike ride along the Mawson Trail to Wilmington, a 51km trek in the Mt Remarkable National Park, and a final 70km bike ride onto the finishing line in Port Augusta.
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