All XPD Adventure Challenge Teams Have Made Falls Creek
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(Updated Friday 21 November 2008)
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Late arrival (or was it early morning) of the remaining 16 teams participating in the long course of the 800km XPD event. About 4.30am this morning the last of the teams in contention for a place in the longest trek leg ever in Australia made it to the check point at Falls Creek Alpine Resort.
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The longer than expected leg across the high plains has tested the navigation skills of adventure race participants. An additional 8km trekking leg was added to the tough 85km first leg which included summiting Mt Bogong (Victoria’s highest mountain owing to changed water conditions on the Kiewa River.
The 30km kayak leg began at Redbank (as opposed to Riders Bridge) and when they’ve completed that stretch they get out of the river at Indi Bridge and take part in the 210km leg on a bike to Tintalda.
Quite a number of the teams taking part in the XPD Challenge will be out on Mt Bogong throughout the day. Currently the Blackheart.com team have a narrow lead over the Salomon Blackheart team and a Canberra-based team (Tangerine), renowned for their orienteering skills, have overtaken one of the overseas entrants Bull of Africa.
Blizzard conditions are forecast for the next two days so the teams will encounter some seriously bad weather as they continue the quest to complete the 800km alpine course which includes 450km on mountain bikes, 150km in kayaks and 250km on foot, across some of the hilliest terrain in Australia.
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The gruelling 800km XPD Challenge arriving at Falls Creek Alpine Resort .
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XPD Expedition Adventure Race Expected to Arrive
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(Updated 19 November 2008)
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The first of the thirty one teams entered in this 800km long endurance event (200km on foot, 450km on a mountain bike and 150km in a kayak) are expected to arrive at the Falls Creek checkpoint around daybreak tomorrow.
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Competitors begin this odyssey at Mt Buffalo then spend up to 24 hours per day wending their way across the high country to the eventual finishing line. The more experienced participants will complete their race in about five days.
Race participants were also delivered a less than desirable weather forecast with the prediction of cooler temperatures, showers and thunderstorms for the week, which will only add to the intensity of the XPD Challenge.
“The course for this year’s XPD is going to be really hilly, climbing and descending our way across the Australian Alps,” says Rob Preston, Team Captain of Salomon Blackheart, one of the teams expected to finish the race in just over 5 days.
“The terrain and the bad weather that is predicted is going to make this a really tough race,” says Preston.
“XPD 4th edition will be a race of mammoth proportions,” says Race Director, Craig Bycroft.
“Teams will race day and night with little sleep for five to ten days, the clock won’t stop and each day their bodies will expend more energy than they can possibly replace.
"A single leg of this race would be considered by the general public as an expedition in itself, and teams will complete thirteen of these legs consecutively, staying within 100 meters of each other at all times.” says Bycroft.
Founded in 2004 the fourth edition of XPD, which is staged every 18 months in a different destination, will focus on the quintessential Australian high country
Teams from throughout Australia and overseas will be unsupported throughout
their 800km journey. Participants will encounter Australia's highest mountains (including Victoria's highest Mt Bogong), turbulent rivers fed by melting winter snow, navigate through alpine forests of snowgum and tall sub-alpine mountain gums.
All teams are given up to ten days to complete the course. Navigation is a key element of the event. In the spirit of a true expedition, teams will be unsupported with their equipment, pre-packed in plastic trunks, being moved to various points on the course by the race organisers.
As a member of the AR World Series, the fourth XPD expedition length adventure race, is a qualifying event for the Adventure Race World Championship.
First and second place in the premier mixed category will automatically qualify for the World Championships and receive an all expenses paid entry. Premier mixed category teams consist of primarily 3 men and one woman. To win the event outright teams must be a mixed team.
The AR World Series is an international circuit of premiere adventure races
in 10 countries culminating every 12 months in the Adventure Racing World
Championships.
For more details check out www.XPD.com.au
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