Seems like an obvious thing, but quite often we take a map and focus on route planning without paying enough attention to the legend of the map. Mountainous areas might have 20 (even 50) meter contour intervals which makes it a whole different story, as steep climbing as well as steep descending slows you down dramatically and ultimately leads to a different route choice strategy.
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Well it was actually a relatively relaxed pre race having had the logistics planner for the past week or so. Really just meant we spent a lot of extra time packing and repacking and analyzing packing choices.
The prologue and opening ceremony on Tuesday evening was a great chance to mingle with some other teams and partake in some classic Aussie style fun – a handball competition, vegemite sandwich eating competition, beach esky and thong relay and surf life saving flag race. Bit of a laugh before the opening ceremony welcome, complete with Tim Tams and steak sangas.
We had sorted and packed all our gear into tubs and after registering and going through mandatory competencies Wednesday morning, we dropped our tubs and bike boxes off Wednesday evening. Quite civilized really.
Read moreGrampians Challenge 2016 updates: new date is announced
Previously postponed Grampians Challenge race has finally got a new date. 27th of November is now confirmed with Parks Victoria. All previous entries are transferred to the new date and registration is open again for those who could not make a previous date but interested to take part 27th of November.
Originally scheduled for 16th of September classic multisport race Grampians Challenge was cancelled due to extreme floods in the Northern Grampians.
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Finished first place in 24hrs 27min 15sec (a new record time for Geoquest apparently)
This was the team’s first hit out since Godzone and we had finally recovered from that epic expedition and were excited and ready to race together again.
"It looked pretty straight forward on the maps, but reality proved different with lots of fresh and old unmarked logging roads etc keeping everyone guessing. Even the MTB park map was incomplete." - enjoy team AdventureJunkie.com.au story, epic jorney through New Zealand wilderness in 4.5 days, prepared by Bern Dornom and Hugh Stodard!
“If you are an adventure racer and you did not race in the Grampians this weekend you missed out a great event”- Rob Preston, team ThoughtSports/Shotz Nutrition said. Grampians National Park is a Victorian gem, listed in Australian National Heritage list and offers endless opportunities for those looking for some adrenalin: dramatic sandstone formations, pristine lakes and extensive net of 4wd roads.
The X-Marathon adventure race, which was held in the Victorian High Country over the last four years, is moving to the Gippsland area and changing its format from 24 hour event to 36 hour fully supported expedition event.
The event is suitable for experienced adventure racers from across Australia and New Zealand and is expected to be accessible for intermediate races and beginners who wish to get a taste of real adventure racing with all its highs and lows.
Ok, it is time to reveal our secret training weaponry! There were lots of questions on schedule and the details, here we go - schedule is firmed up and is available at official Advanced Training Page.
We stick to beautiful country accommodation, Assess Ears Lodge, as our base for those two intensely charged days. On Fri everyone is expected to arrive any time after 7 pm and get ready for Saturday, that's all. We will meet you at cosy dinning lodge with wood fireplace.
Next day adventure begins.
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Brief facts about a race - Wengzhou Adventure Challenge, one of the most prestigious adventure races in China, 4-day stage event, with daily distances around 70-90km. Prize money $150000, distributed among first 12 teams of four. 30 teams, about 22-23 foreign ones and quite strong local Chinese teams is the rest.
Some facts about the team Adventure Junkie - Serge Kurov & Maria Plyshechko, Adventure Junkie full-time crew from Melbourne, VIC; Alex Hunt from Hobart, TAS; Sam Stedman from Townsville, QLD. We have been racing together before for a few times, we working great as a team and our mind is set on the result. It is easy, when goals are clear and the same for everyone in the team.
It’s 07:00 on a cold and wet Sunday morning in November 2013 and I found myself sitting in my car at Brimbank Park in Keilor, a north western suburb of Melbourne. I am feeling overwhelmed and nervous thinking, as I take in my surroundings, that I am in way over my head, that I am out of my depth, I am outclassed, out equipped and I’m about to be exposed as the fraud and pretender that I really am.
I am fighting that voice inside my head that is screaming at me that I don’t belong, that I’m not good enough, don’t know what I am doing and that I don’t have the right or what it takes to be a part of that which lies before me this day.
Adventure Racing, in particular Mark Burnett’s Eco Challenge is the reason I run today.
When I first saw Eco Challenge Australia on TV sometime in the late 90′s or early 2000s, something stirred within me, something raw and natural came to life, emotions were awakened and life seemed to take on new meaning, it’s purpose made clear.
Adventure! Life was to be an adventure, it was to be lived, enjoyed, explored and conquered!
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Australian Multisport Championships
The idea to race the Freycinet Lodge Challenge has been with me probably from the first time heard about it: two days of racing in one of the most spectacular regions of Australia sounded absolutely fantastic.
Most of our fellow adventure racers were there, bringing back great memories and stories, so the Australian Multisport Champs was on the must do list for a long time. Race headquarters was located at the Freycinet Lodge at Coles bay Tasmania, a place of exceptional beauty with stunning views of the granite peaks of The Hazards, white sand and blue sea including Wineglass Bay (voted by several travel authorities as one of the world’s ten best beaches).
The countdown is on, 2 weeks to go, perfect timing to have a good hit out in one of Adventure Junkie's fantastic Victorian events, 8hrs of fun adventure in Nagambie!!!
Mike and Angus teamed up together and with Paul away skiing and Phlip out injured, I had a new partner in crime in Sophie. With my weakness being kayaking and Sophie being a gun Kayaker, I was quite excited to hit the start line.
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Serge and Maria finished 10th in Mixed Category in World Rogaining Championships 2013.
We went to our homeland Russia, this year for a month in July not only to visit our families and see friends but we also kept in mind World Rogaining Championships hosted this year in Pskov region. This area is known to be an orienteering mecca for ages, having pretty much 'Scandinavian" - style landscape. I think it was one of the hardest terrains to navigate through, with numerous 5 to 15 meter depressions randomly distributed through the forest without any system except ridgelines and depressions directions; multiple marshes, bogs and impassable water bodies.
It was my second Geoquest and probably around 10th smaller (30-50hours) expedition race. I’ve got a spot in a very good team again with Hugh Stodart, and Sam Stedman and Jenny Roberts from Townsville. It is amazing how team got formed, from different and so remote spots. I’ve raced twice with Hugh both times quite successfully with 10th place finish at 2011 AR World Championships in Tassie and 13th at 2012 Ordos Adventure Quest in China.
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26-28 of April Team Peak Adventure Junkie is racing in Chinese Baise Leye Outdoor Quest.
Team consists of Jarad Kohlar, Ian Franzke, Serge Kurov and Maria Plyashechko.
It's three days stage race through the mountainous and quite picturesque region of Guahgxi Province.
Course is divided into 3 stages, the total distance is 220 km.
Disciplines include running, mountain biking, kayaking, rope related activities (abseil or zip line), some puzzle solving and Chinese national games.
There is other very competitive Australian team Moxie Gear/ Nuun racing: Deanna Blegg, Darren Clarke, Tim Boote and Alex Hunt.
Besides, overall field looks good: Thule team (France, NZ, Sweden), FJS (competitive and very experienced Swedish team), Latvian team Ebike.lv, French team Merrell VP, traditionally strong Chinese teams.
Before the race | Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3
Hope everyone is as excited as Adventure Junkie team about first MSS race in the season at Lilydale coming this Sunday! Heaps of fun, light and fast course is waiting for you out there. A few fresh ideas AJ put together for you - something that never been out is gonna hit the Lilydale tracks this Sunday!
Final event instructions could be downloaded here >>>
Team list looks quite impressive here >>>
Also check out Lilydale race scheme and 'timing' here >>>
Equipment and everything else is pretty standard, though specifically for Lilydale race it is very important to have pe or pencil as apart of your equipment; as well mountain biking course is not technical and could be ridden on commuter bike. Road bikes are not recommended.
There is still a chance to register >>> up until Friday night, do not hesitate - see you out there!!!
Photos >>> (More photos sorted by team number are available from results page - just click team name link)
New Interview with overall race winners team Hammertime Andrew Baker and Brett Jacobi here>>>
More photos are available on our Facebook page >>>
Hope, you all enjoyed the race and we're looking forward to see you again! The next adventure scheduled is Winter Challenge 18th of August, Nagambie, VIC.
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