Anaconda Adventure Race, Geographe Bay

In stunning fashion, Guy Andrews trounced a stacked field yesterday at the Anaconda Adventure Race at Geographe Bay in the beautiful South-West of WA. Faced with calm cool conditions and a tough technical course, Guy swam to the front to start the 2XU ocean swim.

He was momentarily headed by Australian champion Jody Zerbst during the Keen coastline run and young Victorian Jarad Kohlar during the Jamis mountain bike, but in the end powered away to win by nearly 20 minutes from Jarad Kohlar (2nd) and kiwi champion Gordon Walker (3rd).

In the open female category, it was a 3-way battle between Queenslanders Karla Gilbert and Kim Beckinsale and Sydney's Christie Sym. It was Karla who led the field out, swimming stroke-for-stroke with Guy Andrews to put 6 minutes into her nearest rival, South African champion Trudi Barnes.

Pocket-rocket Kim Beckinsale then forged her way to the front during the mountain bike leg, extending her lead with a slick caving segment in Ngilgi Cave. But mowing them down from behind was champion mountain biker Christie Sym who took the lead early in the Enervit paddle leg and loped away to win by 8 minutes over Kim Beckinsale (2nd) and Karla Gilbert (3rd).

We spoke with Guy and Christie after the race to find out how their respective races unfolded. {Click here for the full article.}

Star athletes visit schools

Guy Andrews and Christie Sym visited Our Lady of the Cape and Dunsborough Primary School. During their visits to the schools, both Guy and Christie attracted some loyal followers who were there at the finish line to "high five" them across the line on race day.

Karla Gilbert and kiwi champion Gordon Walker visited Busselton Primary School and Busselton Senior High School - Karla was mobbed like a rock-star and Gordon's show-and-tell with his very expensive MTB proved very popular.

Jarad Kohlar and African champion Trudi Barnes visited Geographe Primary School and Steiner School. Jarad's method of distributing prizes to the kids by asking them questions based on what he'd just said proved that it pays to listen!

All up the star athletes spoke to a combined total of well over 1,000 students ... hopefully well over 1,000 future adventure racers !!!

And the EventsCorp King of the Cape winner is ...

Jarad Kohlar (aged 23 from Victoria) and Mark Finucane (aged 28 from Claremont in WA) were the two crazies who launched themselves into five metre swell and some very scary conditions in the King of the Cape race on Saturday. Mark triumphed by 28 minutes over Jarad and was feeling confident going into Sunday's race that he could hold off the young gun from Victoria, but in the end Jarad was too strong, putting over an hour into Mark in Sunday's race.

It was certainly a cash bonanza for Jarad who not only won the $500 EventsCorp King of the Cape prize, but $1,500 for placing 2nd in the Anaconda race, and another $250 for scoring the fastest run leg. To read Jarad's Anaconda race report, click here. To read Jarad's King of the Cape story, click here.

Anaconda Adventure Race Lorne early-bird entries

Kayak survey on the beach at Bunker Bay

Plastic surf skis topped the list, no surprise that the WA-manufactured Spirit racing ski and Endorfinn were plentiful on the beach at Bunker Bay. Molokai skis are certainly increasing in popularity making up 15% of craft paddled, Dean Gardiner is certainly doing his bit to make sure that all the good paddlers are on one of his Fenn ocean weapons.

Of the more intriguing craft used for last Sunday's race, the award goes to competitor number 413 in his crusty old Wavehopper, a finishing time of 1 hour and 27 minutes just goes to show that old down-river racers never die!

Click here for the full survey results.

Paddle events in Melbourne

For people wanting to have a weekly hit-out on the bay, come on down to Port Melbourne (Sandridge Surf Club) every Sunday afternoon at 4pm for a free paddle session, e-mail Brendon for further details.

Otway Odyssey entries now open

Says Kelly, "I am preparing for the TransRockies Challenge in August 2007, it's a 7-day 600km MTB stage race. I will be coming to Australia's hot summer direct from our very cold winter. To train for Otway Odyssey, I will be doing a lot of cross country skiing, snowshoeing and running. {Click here for full story}

For those of you who want to know exactly where it goes, a detailed map has also been posted. Get your entries in quickly !