Posted: November 12, 2005

Adventure Racing: World Class Adventure Racers Converge On New Zealand's West Coast

The cream of the world's adventure racers have arrived on the West Coast of the Southern Alps for the challenging Adventure Racing World Championship which is scheduled to start in Westport on Monday (November 14).

The event which is principally sponsored by the West Coast Development Trust has attracted 46 teams representing 20 countries. They include New Zealand, USA, Canada, Australia, France, Poland, Czech Republic, South Africa, Sweden, Finland, Brazil, Holland, Chile, Spain, UK, Guatemala, Croatia, Russia, Lithuania, Scotland and Japan.

ARWorld Championship director Geoff Hunt says competitor registration is being carried out today and tomorrow and teams are upbeat about the event.

"There is an air of excitement amongst the competitors, volunteers and organisers. To have such a world class field as we have gathered for this event is a major coup for adventure racing in New Zealand."

Competition is expected to be intense between the crack international teams and the lead Kiwis.

Captain of the US Nike Balance Bar team Mike Kloser predicts a tough course in the rugged Buller region of the West Coast.

"We know it's going to be tough. We've been out there over the last couple of days checking it out."

The classy New Zealand team Team Balance Vector is expected to provide the biggest Kiwi challenge for the title. Led by veteran racer Nathan Fa'avae the team includes 2005 Coast to Coast title holders Richard Ussher and Kristina Anglem. German Marcel Hagener is a late replacement for George Christison who had to withdraw due to injury.

Ussher also reckons the course will be very difficult.

" It will be hard going and it is the teams who make the least mistakes who will be the successful ones. I think this is going to be a great race and a good test to see which teams are really on top of their game."

There is also money on West Coast based Team Kathmandu which includes the legendary Hamilton brothers Duncan and Hamish. Kathmandu won the 2004 Southern Traverse on the West Coast and local knowledge was a significant factor.

Internationally Cross Sportswear of Sweden and Merrell Wigwam Adventure of New Zealand and USA are also favourites.

Disciplines included in the World Championship are trekking, mountain biking, rafting, kayaking (ocean and river) rope skills and caving.

Registration has included stringent sanitising conditions for kayaks to combat the spread of the algae Didymo.

"Everyone is very aware of the Didymo issue and we have set up facilities for all kayaks and gear to be cleaned at race headquarters," says Hunt." We will also ensure that boats are washed after every river section."

The course for the World Championship will be revealed on Sunday (November 13) following a street parade of the teams through Westport.

The race itself starts at 9.30 am on Monday November 14 and the first teams are expected to complete the course by Friday November 18. The last teams are required to finish by 5.00pm on Saturday November 19.

Southern Traverse Ltd is a premier international sports event management company operating elite events around the world, including the Adventure Racing World Championship, the AR World Series and the Southern Traverse.

The Adventure Racing World Series is an international circuit of premiere adventure races representing 10 countries creating a 12-month calendar of professional events around the world. The series events are: Beast of the East-USA, Raid the North Extreme- Canada, Ecomotion/Pro - Brazil, Explore Sweden - Sweden, The Bull of Africa - S.Africa, Terra Incognita - Croatia, Bergson Winter Challenge - Poland, Wilderness ARC - Scotland and Southern Traverse -New Zealand. Adventure Racing World Series events are qualifiers for the Adventure Racing World Championship

Website: www.southerntraverse.com.