When: 10th - 11th October, 2009 Race HQ: Denmark, Great Southern Region, Western Australia Mission: 2 days of stage racing covering approx 200km of spectacular terrain Disciplines: Running, mountain biking, ocean/river paddling, navigation and rope work Categories: Premier mixed, other teams (all male & all female) Format: Teams of 4, with only 3 on the course at any one time Translation: Load the car with all the toys, add three mates, head south, marinate two days, and serve – exquisite!
For the race information booklet from the Mountain Designs Great Southern Adventure Race information night click here
Join us for a challenging 2 day escapade through the simply stunning locality of Denmark in the Great Southern region of Western Australia for the second running of the famed Mountain Designs Great Southern Adventure Race.
This is a race through skyscraper karri trees, along picturesque sandy beaches, around almighty granite boulders and across turquoise waters, all amidst the competitive camaraderie you find in people who are keen to give anything a go. This is a race that’s designed for beginner / intermediate level athletes who want a real adventure – step right this way.
Denmark, Great Southern WA: To sum it up in one word: impressive. In two words: very impressive.
The terrain around Denmark left us breathless for its unique beauty and diversity. Here, we found outstanding old growth forests; rugged coastlines interspersed with blissful rock pools and protected bays; undulating hills split by rolling country roads; small hamlets surrounded by wineries and black & white cows; sheltered inlets and inland waterways... all based around a quaint township that has everything you need.
Teams will race through all these landscapes with a mix of short, sharp and fun adventure stages meaning you’ll never get tired or bored because there is always something new around the corner. We guarantee you’ll be impressed (we were).
The Great Southern
Unlike the touristy coast of Western Australia's southwest which has drawn rave reviews and droves of zinc-nosed party-goers, WA's 'Great Southern' has got it all goin' on and has managed to remain (refreshingly) off the radar. This means there is wilderness a-plenty and next to no one there to spoil your day – sweet.
The Mountain Designs Great Southern Adventure Race amounts to an 'all access' pass to some of the best coastline, old growth forests and sun-baked peaks in the country. Dead set. Granted you'll need a compass once you get there, some of the tracks lack signage, and your team mates are feral, but the journey's half the fun and making it to the finish line should be a proud accomplishment and a goal worth chasing that'll win you lifelong bragging rights.
How hard can it be?
The hardest part to chalking up any milestone is
getting started, and finding three like-minded teammates may be the
biggest challenge. The Team Mate Finder on the website homepage is a great
source for finding teammates and training partners and keep an eye out for
information night dates for a chance to check out your rivals and do some
devious recruiting!
The 2009 event will also be far more beginner /
intermediate friendly than the inaugural event in Albany – guaranteed. We know
the first event pushed the envelope a little too far so this time around we’ll
be a little friendlier – maybe even the weather will cooperate a little too!
Denmark and surrounds
In a word: impressive. In two words: very impressive. The terrain around Denmark left us breathless for its unique beauty and diversity. Here we found outstanding old growth forests; rugged coastlines interspersed with blissful rock pools and protected bays; undulating hills split by rolling country roads; small hamlets surrounded by wineries and black & white cows; sheltered inlets and inland waterways... all based around a quaint township that has everything you need.
As for Denmark itself, imagine a picturesque river that’s flanked by parkland on either side as the foundation of the township. Add a range of shops to cater for your every need, from supermarkets and news agents to book shops and gift houses. Sprinkle in a generous number of charismatic cafe’s, bakeries, wineries and restaurants for any flavour or budget and you’re starting to get the picture. Serve with a whole range of accommodation options from waterfront camping that’s located near the centre of town, to stylish B&Bs and country guesthouses nestled into the forest and you pretty much have it. Yes, Denmark is paradise found for the outdoor lover through to the city cosmopolitan with something for everyone.
Marketing and Event Coordinator role available with Rapid Ascent.
(Posted 16/06/2009)
Rapid Ascent is Australia’s leading adventure sports event management company. We conduct adventure sports events in 5 different states around Australia as well as in New Zealand with up to 13 different adventure races, mountain bike races and other off-road races held annually. We now have a vacancy for an active, organised person to join our team in Torquay in Victoria. Click here for full story ...
Rapid Ascent wins the 48hr Mountain Designs Geoquest Adventure Race for the third year in a row.
(Posted 11/06/2009)
Rapid Ascent’s General Manager Sam Maffett is nursing a pretty knackered body and some very scratched arms and legs after returning victorious from the 48hr Mountain Designs Geoquest Adventure Race held over the June long weekend. Click here for full story ...
Mather and Bennett outclass to win Anaconda MTB Enduro – Red Centre
(Posted 29/05/2009) The Anaconda MTB Enduro – Red Centre finished this morning after 5 days and 7 stages of intense and skilful riding through spectacular terrain surrounding Alice Springs. From Stage 1 on Monday the pace was on and competition furious between the top riders who are amongst the best that Australia has to offer. The majority of the 264 participants were along to enjoy themselves and just complete the gruelling event that would give them bragging rights for years to come. Click here for full story ...
Entries and interest is building for the 2009 Mountain Designs Great Southern Adventure Race
(Posted 22/05/2009) Having just returned from a recent course research and stakeholder liaison trip to Denmark, our opinion of the venue of the 2009 Mountain Designs Great Southern Race (MDGSAR) have only grown – this is a very impressive landscape. Click here for full story ...
Outer Edge Launches into Outer Space
(Posted 21/05/2009) Outer Edge magazine is now offering something new – adventures on mouseback. Yep, the ultimate adventure publication has launched a website. A proper one. Not a blog, not a mere reflection-of-the-current-magazine kind of site, but a genuine online meeting place where people can hook up and share experiences, race reports, trail knowledge, news, opinions, reviews and adventure tips. Click here for full story ...
Competitors come from far and wide for next week's Anaconda MTB Enduro - Red Centre
(Posted 20/05/2009)
Entries for the Anaconda MTB Enduro Red Centre have continued to steadily flow in for what promises to be an amazing week in the desert country around Alice Springs and the majestic MacDonnell Ranges next week. Numbers are up over 30% from last year with over 260 competitors which is fantastic for this type of event when everyone is being extra careful with their pennies. Click here for full story ...
Mountain Designs Great Southern Adventure Race information night
(Posted 11/05/2009) So you’re interested in doing the Great Southern Adventure Race held in Denmark, but also a bit apprehensive. How difficult will it be? What does the event involve? Is it within my ability levels? Well question no more because the Rapid Ascent team and Mountain Designs are conducting a free information evening to answer any questions you may have. Click here for full story ...
Stunning result for Keen Adventure Race with Kiwi team Orion Mixed stealing the show
(Posted 2/05/2009)
In this third running of the Keen Adventure Race it was again the New Zealanders who stole the crown from the Aussies. This year it was the Orion Mixed team of Anna Berthelsen and Stuart Lynch who bettered their runners up place from 2008 with a faultless race. This dynamic duo were in the lead right from the start in this 500km, 5 day epic stage race, their win made even more remarkable by the fact that their team with one male and one female beat the all male pairs.
Click here for full story ...
Chocolate and adventures - How Keen are you?
(Posted 9/04/2009)
As you relax over Easter and unwind a little, catch up on the news papers and chomp down on a few Easter Eggs, if you are at all like us you may find yourself thinking, ‘Hmmm, I’m bored. I want an adventure...’ Well its adventures a-plenty we can guarantee come the last week of April when the 2009 Keen Adventure Race kicks into gear. Click here for full story ...
Augusta is announced as the new location for the Anaconda Adventure Race, Western Australia
(Posted 27/03/2009) Western Australia’s biggest adventure event has found a new home and Rapid Ascent is very happy to announce that Augusta in the state’s South West is the new Adventure Central and home base for the Anaconda Adventure Race come November 8th 2009. Click here for full story ...
One one of the West's most popular adventure races is back again with the 2009 Mountain Designs Great Southern Adventure Race set to take place around Denmark. Are you ready to give it a go, or do you still need to fine-tune your weakest discipline? No, we’re not talking about writing your victory speech, although you might need to practice that as well. Navigation is the most important skill in adventure racing – it’s the one discipline that SAVES you energy. It will prevent you wasting all those months of endurance training Click here for more details.
Mountain Biking
Western Australia is truly a great place to be a mountain biker. Within an hours drive of Perth you’ll be riding some of the sweetest trails that are alive with the sound of ... click here for full story.
Paddling
World Champion Paddler & multiple Avon Decent Winner with a Ph.D. in paddling Ash Nesbit, welcomes paddlers of all ages and skill levels to attend surf ski’s ‘school of cool’ where you can pick up the slick skills that’ll put a sting in your stroke and give you the ocean street cred to kick butt this summer. Baptise yourself on a salty smorgasbord that caters for beginners and intermediate level paddlers who’ve already got a few sessions ‘under their belts’ and want to spruce up their skills. ... click here for full story.
Off Road Running
Some of WA's toughest endurance athlete's from the surf & turf are partnering Rapid Ascent to bring you a comprehensive smattering of training sessions aimed at the beginner to intemediate level athlete looking to enhance their skills for the race. First off the blocks John Toomey, WA's own epic ... click here for full story.
Training Programs
Andrew Budge, of Trysport WA has joined forces with the adventure race event organisers Rapid Ascent to provide a professional and comprehensive online training program service, specifically designed ... click here for full story.