Will the Addicts prevail?

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Thursday, 29 April 2010 17:06

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After a quiet second half of 2009, and their well-deserved fourth place finish at the AR World Series Race in Spain. The McCain Adventure Addicts once again find themselves taking to the sky as they travel to North Eastern Australia with the Tropical city of Cairns as their ultimate destination. The Australian XPD Adventure Race, a 700km expedition style event which takes place from 17-28 May is set to be the World Champs in 2011.

The Addicts are up against 50 teams of four competitors from around the globe, as they trek, mountain bike and kayak for five to ten days in this world renowned expedition. They will race day and night over 800km pushing themselves to the ultimate limits of human endurance. The 5th Edition of XPD promises to take teams through the most beautiful terrain that Queensland has to offer. “This race couldn’t come at a better time as “actual racing” is the best preparation we can do for the AR World Champs that will be held in Spain later this year”,  says Tatum “Hobbit” Prins.

“The course is generally linear and it will be “as much an expedition as a race”. Teams are provided a course booklet and maps 24hrs before the start. The course booklet contains the location of each of the race checkpoints. To complete the course teams must navigate through all the checkpoints and arrive at the finish line at Race HQ. The course will be challenging for first time expedition racers and experienced teams alike. It is expected that the winning team will complete the course in 4‐5 days.

All other teams will be permitted up to 10 days to complete the course. Organisers have removed mid race cut‐offs and allow the full 10 days for teams to complete the expedition. This format is particularly attractive for teams attempting their first expedition length adventure race. If you finish early then you are encourage d to remain at Race HQ and enjoy some of the local activities or just kick back and relax.

Organisers plan to take competitors through the Great Barrier Reef and nearby islands, the rich and diverse rainforests of the wet tropics, over waterfalls and cascades that feed crystal clear rivers, across lakes of the tablelands and through eucalypt woodlands of the Eastern savannah country. They even plan to incorporate some of the iconic legs undertaken in the Eco‐Challenge of 97.