Swisse Mark Webber Tasmania Challenge
Mark Webber Challenge competitors ready to take on Tassie
Will Gray / 21.11.2013
A formidable field of ex-Olympians and top-class adventure racers will make this year’s Swisse Mark Webber Tasmania Challenge the toughest in the event’s history – according to the reigning champions.
The stars in the event, which starts on November 27, include Olympic gold medallists Emma Snowsill and Kenny Wallace, triathlete Courtney Atkinson, seven-time surf champ Layne Beachley – and Mad Max stuntman and former ironman Guy Andrews.
Adventure race specialists Jarad Kohler and James Pretto won last year’s five-day event but the strong field, unpredictable West Coast weather and a tense rivalry between top competitors could create a classic this year.
“I think this year’s event is going to be super close,” said Pretto, whose parents will also be competing this year. “The competition is as tough as any races I’ve competed in and this year's going to be even tougher.”
The professional sports stars, however, could find it tough to be in contention as the unique combination of kayaking, mountain biking and trekking over five long days is a challenge for even the world’s best athletes.
Snowsill, who took gold in the Olympic triathlon in 2008, said: “For sure I know how to ride a bike and run, but it's a different skill when you have to go off-road – it’s completely out of my comfort zone!
“Our racing schedule means I haven't had many opportunities, but when I did get out and tried this sort of 'off-road adventure' it somehow scares me but excites me at the same time.
“I am used to having to go flat out for a session, rest, recover and go again, but I am the least fit I have been in my whole life – so I am surrounding myself with some much more experienced people in this type of environment.”
For Atkinson, who raced in the event last year, experience tells him the first step is finding his way.
“It’s better to be going slower in the right direction than quicker in the completely wrong one,” he said. “This and the Olympics are obviously two completely different experiences.
“The Olympics is the pinnacle of sport. But this is a tough but enjoyable and rewarding challenge in some of the most amazing locations you can imagine.”
NEEDLE TENSION
While the Olympians may make an occasional appearance at the front, the main contest is expected to be between Australians Kohler and Pretto of Swisse Active and New Zealand racers Richard Ussher and Braden Currie.
Ussher, one of adventure racing’s legends, finished second with Currie for Team Tasmania last year but was struck down by illness and is confident the pair can fight harder for victory this time around.
“There is a little rivalry there that Braden and I are keen to reverse the result from last year,” said Ussher. “It was a tough year for us with me already sick and then Braden getting sick also.
“They (Team Swisse) raced well but we'd like to think we have the measure of them this year. We'll certainly be giving it full gas every day.”
Tasmanian local Mark Hinder, who won in 2011, is also hoping to challenge for top honours – and do a bit of Olympian bashing.
Hinder said: “I'm excited to be able to take on the world’s best adventure racers in my home state – and I'll also try and dish out some pain to the Olympians in a race that is a bit outside their comfort zone!
“The scenery each day is outstanding. This year we’ll complete the ‘loop’ around all the major national parks in Tasmania, so I am looking forward to some new racing locations.”
WEBBER HERO
The event’s originator Mark Webber, who was one of 10 original racers in the first cross-Tasmania event back in 2003, will be missing from the field for the first time due to team commitments.
Instead, he will send his protégé Mitch Evans, who is climbing the ladder to F1 and spent this season in GP2.
“He's given me a bit of advice,” said Evans. “He thinks I will be fine, as we train together most of the time he has a good idea of where I’m at. I have high expectations in terms of it being seriously tough mentally and physically. I can't wait to test myself.”
Webber, who competes in his last F1 race this weekend in Brazil, will keep a close eye on events unfolding over in Tasmania.
Webber hopes his departure from F1 will allow him to develop and compete in more events like the Challenge in future – and he has already earned the respect of many racers in the adventure racing community.
“Mark’s got a huge amount of talent in sport away from the car,” said Ussher. “I've no doubt if he'd chosen a different path to pursue when he was younger endurance sport would probably something he could have done very well at.”
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