Mountain Designs Geoquest
A Look at the Line Up For Geoquest
News Release / 05.06.2015
As adventure racing teams begin their annual pilgrimage to the NSW North Coast, with friends, partners and children in tow, we take a look at the line up for the 2015 Mountain Designs GeoQuest 48hr adventure race. And like an inflatable raft in an adventure race, we hope this gives you some light hearted enjoyment before the real racing begins!
Starting at the top, you can’t go past the understated force of Damon Goerke and Rob Preston who are the most successful team to have ever raced the Mountain Designs GeoQuest. While their team has had varying names, (this year called Once Were Macpac) they have won the event 5 times previously and look to be going faster with each year. Joined by Kathryn Preston and Peter Preston (and supported by Robert and Julia Preston no doubt) it will be quite a family affair. The start line is the only time you are likely to see this team because after that you will only have their dust to eat.
Tough, stocky and will never let go, Team Mountain Designs are the Pit Bulls of this race. They proudly show the scars of their years of competition. They are a familiar face at the pointy end of the field and a somewhat intimidating one to those with podium aspirations. After a spectacular race last year, leading team Seagate for the first half, they are sure to be full of confidence this year. If you don’t want to race hard, very hard, against this team, don’t take the start line.
Jared Kohlar and Sam Stedman from www.peakadventure.com.au have pulled ex-team Macpac’s biking gun, Josh Street out of retirement. Along with Emma Weitnauer, this team is hungry for a win and specifically to cross the line in front of Once Were Macpac.
The chase pack is getting stronger and more experienced each year. Many of these teams started the the Mountain Designs GeoQuest as novices and over the years have developed the skills, experience and speed to make their mark. Watch closely the likes of Dynamite Adventure Racing, Neverest, Traces of Nuts, Damaged Goods and Midnight Sun. All could pull a rabbit out of the hat.
Like a pyramid scheme invented by blacksmiths, Tiger Adventure have quickly grown into an adventure racing force by uniting and forging lost adventure racing souls into steely teams with a common purpose (and name). Hammering new competitors into established teams these alloys may be the new breed of super team. Fielding seven teams in the full course and one in the half this year, you will never know when one will jump out of the bush and sink their teeth into you. Best of luck to Tiger Adventure Racing, Full Rad Tiger Adventure, Scouts Tiger Adventure, Macarthur Maniacs Tiger Adventure, Isodopes Tiger Adventure, Shackleton Tiger Adventure, Everyday Life Fitness TigerAdventure and Area51 Tiger Adventure.
The All Male category will be an interesting one this year. Team Juggernaut sent shivers through the spines of internet viewers at the last XPD as they showed glimpses of being a podium team racing into 5th place. However their GeoQuest experiences haven’t been as successful and they will be looking to rectify their past DNFs with a solid performance. That’s Cray pipped Juggernaut by one place at that last XPD and with a better track record over the 48hr distance, this team will be holding the psychological advantage. Experienced team Shackleton would also have to be classed as a favourite.
However, teams Proximity, NARA and Quality Nude Time could be the dark horses we may see at the front of the Male category. Quality Nude Time are GeoQuest favourites who have been racing for so many years now it is hard to recall. They are joined by Liam St Pierre who may be the catalyst to take them up a gear. Proximity look to be a reincarnation of the previously successful Outer Edge team.
This year there are a total of 32 teams racing in the full course from all over the country. 6 teams from Victoria, 12 from NSW, 9 from Queensland, 3 from the ACT and 1 all the way form the Northern Territory.
The Geo-Half race this year will be a cracker with a lot of competitive teams toeing the start line.
The All Female category will be particularly exciting with three solid teams racing each other.
Cowgirls Tri Adventure would have to be the favourite given their track record with multiple wins in this category. Onelife Warriors are a new team to the Geo-Half and bring with them a wealth of combined experience, particularly in ocean sports. How this translates to racing through the night will only be seen over the weekend but their team motto - “Only those who are willing to risk going to far can possibly find out how far they can go” - sure has the beginnings of a great race. Warrior Princesses are also new to the Geo-Half and look to be a bunch of tough adventure girls ready to take on whatever the Half has to throw at them.
Picking favourites in the Mixed and Male categories is a tough job! Many teams racing in the Geo-Half have cut their teeth in the full course over many years. Some of these are back in the half with an eye on the podium, and others are in the half for a more relaxed weekend of adventure racing with friends. Some likely convince themselves it will be a relaxing race and change their minds as their adrenalin starts surging in the race!
Team Entropic, Guru’s and Bear Hunt have all been on the podium in recent years. Running on Empty has solid adventure racing experience and may have chosen a team name to lull their competitors into a false sense of security. Keep an eye also on Over Yonder Racing/ BMX Bandits who also have a wealth of experience - though it is currently unclear if they are out for an weekend with friends or a hard race - or both! Stromlonauts look to have headhunted the best athletes from the ACT including super stars of teams That’s Cray and Bear Hunt and also brought out of retirement an athlete who raced at the very first GeoQuest in 2002!
Keeping the field honest are some mainstay teams of the Geo-Half including Tacking Point 186, Australia’s Next Top Models and Which Way is North (formerly the combination of Nags and Stags).
In total there are 28 teams racing in the Geo-Half, 1 from Victoria, 9 form Queensland, 3 from the ACT, 12 from NSW and 1 from Western Australia.
There will be a new live site this year for viewers to follow all of the action online.
Special mentions go to team Rubicon because they are a special team, JPRCA because Jason Rutkowski may attract the dolphins with his sea sickness, Desert Mob who are travelling all the way from Alice Springs in the Northern Territory, Goldfish for remembering the race was on (again), Toms Minions because Tom Landon-Smith is preparing a motivational “Seize the day” speech for his team, Far Canal for a classic choice of team name, Esky Raiders for their photo on their bio page,.
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