RAPID ASCENT NEWS

Thursday 30th March, 2006 Newsletter #15

Keen are Run Leg Naming Rights Sponsor for national series

Continuing their support of the inaugural Anaconda Adventure Race at Lorne last year, Keen are now confirmed Major Sponsors and Run Leg Naming Rights Sponsors for the entire Anaconda Adventure Race National Series. With some of the most comfortable, rugged and funky outdoor shoes on the market, Keen are now a big supporter of Australian adventure racing, so if you're in the market for a new pair of off-road runners, hiking shoes/boots or sandals, check out the range at www.keenfootwear.com

Athlete Profile - Nicole Davies

Last year at Lorne, Nicole Davies proved that beginners can conquer the challenges of the Anaconda Adventure races too. "My first adventure race was the Lorne race. Actually, it was my first race of any kind." Entering initially because of links to the area, she was initially "a bit blasé", but after checking out the website and chatting to fellow competitors, "I realised I  would have to do more training than running the Tan (3.8km loop near Melbourne). I went to the course familiarisation days, Torquay and Port Melbourne paddle sessions, joined Ivanhoe Northcote Canoe Club, rode to work, took some swim lessons and started running in the Dandenongs."

It's no surprise with this effort level that come race day she made it. "Finishing the Lorne race was my biggest achievement last year and it has been the start of an obsession with racing and training. Prior to training for the Lorne race, I was lucky to jog around the Tan once a month ... I train most days and am building a growing to-do list of adventure races and triathlons. I have loads of goals for this year," she adds. "I really want to finish the Lorne race this year knowing I spent more time on the bike leg riding than pushing. Yep I want to conquer THAT hill..."

$20 Anaconda voucher for every early-bird entry, plus a chance to win one of 6x $500 vouchers

Entries to all 3 Anaconda Adventure Races (Qld, WA and Vic) have opened and entries are rolling in, if you enter early you automatically get a $20 Anaconda voucher, and go into the draw for one of 6x $500 shopping sprees (2x for each race).

If you're interested in participating in a race (or even thinking about it) but don't have a full team, post your details on the Team-mate Finder section of the website and we guarantee you'll find someone with goals similar to yours to match up with.

Coast To Coast (NZ) race story

Just after 5am on race morning we lined up for a team photo in the dark. It had been raining torrentially most of the night but thankfully the rain had eased by the time we appeared from our tents to begin a race they call "the longest day". ... On a personal note, I guess it was the start of the biggest gamble of my sporting career. Truthfully, even standing on the start line I still had very little idea what I'd let myself in for ...

Read Del's full report here

   

Busselton Shire Event Partner for Geographe Bay, WA Race

One of the drivers behind the establishment of the Anaconda Adventure Race at Geographe Bay in WA has been Busselton Shire.

A progressive Shire with a reputation for supporting exciting new events, Busselton Shire & the Dunsborough Yallingup Chamber of Commerce will be working with Rapid Ascent and the entire local business community in the Dunsborough area to ensure that visitors to the area during race weekend have the experience of a lifetime.

The famous Cape to Cape region of WA is a 3 hour drive south of Perth and harbours some of most spectacular scenery in Australia, and competitors in the Anaconda race will get to see it all up close, including a detour down the amazing Ngilgi Cave during the mountain bike leg! Word is that Luc Longley will be amongst a star-studded field of celebrities tackling their first ever adventure race.

For further details click here.

Kayak Training Days - Gold Coast

Surf ironman star turned Adventure Racer Guy Andrews is leading some surf kayaking tuition sessions on the Gold Coast based at Tugun Surf Life Saving Club.  If you'd like to get technical advice and personal tuition in a small group setting, contact Guy direct via email. For further details on the sessions click here. Stay tuned for details of kayak training days in WA and Vic.

Sponsorship packages now available

Sponsorship packages have now been finalised for each of the races in the Anaconda Adventure Race Series. If your company is interested in partnering us in this high-excitement Series, please contact us or phone Ben on (03) 9818-2982

   

John Jacoby Wombat Story

For all those of you who have sent their best wishes for a speedy recovery to John, we should probably clarify that the wombat story on the website was bogus. John actually broke his wrist while trying to climb a fence that was electrified and was thrown backwards and snapped his wrist when landing (true!)