Anaconda Gold Coast & Keen Junior Survivor Preview

Tugun Surf Life Saving Club on the Gold Coast sees in the new season of Anaconda Adventure Races, with the first event being held this weekend. Nearly 500 competitors will be hitting the turf (or water) on Sunday in the second running of the event.

Can Jarad Kohlar back up his win at the 2006 season ending chapmionships in Lorne ? There he beat both race favourite Guy Andrews and reigning world champion Richard Ussher in a powerful display, but he will need that and more in Guy's back yard. Joining the fray is Coolangatta Gold winner Caine Eckstein, and both the Bribie Island Multisport winner & runner-up; Robert Pomie and Glenn Kirby. Rounding out a very strong top 6 is last year's surprise packet, Ben Allen from NSW who may just be the joker in the pack.

The women's race looks like a race in two at this stage between Kim Beckinsale and last year's winner Christie Sym. With Karla Gilbert sitting out this year, will the title stay in Christie's posession, will evergreen and ever-improving Kim cause an upset, or will a new contender emerge ? Find out on August 5th at Tugun Surf Life Saving Club.

Keen Junior Survivor Challenge

Meanwhile the afternoon of the 4th sees the Junior Survivor Challenge hit town, with nearly 450 entrants of its own - the event doubling in size in only its second year. Competitors range from ages 5-13 and will tackle a challenging course of approximately 5km, including a dozen or so obstacles along the way.

WA Course Familiariser - August 18/19th

Polish the rust off your favourite outdoor activity and head south to the chilled adrenaline town of Dunsborough Geographe Bay as August brings one last blue sky hurrah before winter’s grey curtain descends.

Get the jump on your rivals and sign up for two days of self-soiling daredevilry and take time out to feel better about your own shortcomings by laughing at the expense of others..

Splash test dummies – this is the warm baby pool of paddling adventures where aspiring paddlers go to get schooled so give capsize the middle finger and don’t be squeamish.  {Click here for full story.}

Anaconda Gold Coast & Keen Junior Survivor Video

Looking for a piece of memorabilia that will really show what the event was like ? Look no further, Tri-Sports Technology have decided to cover both the Keen Junior Survivor Challenge on August 4th, and the Anaconda Adventure Race Gold Coast on August 5th.

A very professional unit indeed, these guys covered the race last year as a reconnaissance mission and are back bigger and better in 2007. Says Grant Middleditch of Tri-Sports Technology, ”A lot of work has gone into the preparation this year; location checks ... hot spots ... extra cameramen,” so this fully edited video production is certainly one to look out for.  {Click here for more details.}

Victorian Paddle Sessions

 We've found a plethora of paddling options for you to help you through the winter months and improve your technique out of sight. Local surf-ironman guru (and more recently adventure racing convert) Bruce Dunlop runs kayak training workshops, group sessions & private tuition out of Torquay, while current Australian Sprint Adventure Racing champion Jarad Kohlar does likewise in Melbourne.

To top it off, the mother of all paddling workshops will be taking place in a couple of months time when Bruce teams up with 9 time Molokai ski-race champion Dean Gardiner to run a total immersion paddling weekend.  This is not to be missed by anyone serious about making a quantum leap in their paddling abilities. {Click here for more details.}

She’s a super-freak !!

Anaconda’s adventurous and oh-so-lovely barnstorming golden girl Christie Sym on wrestling crocodiles in the Amazon, Harry Potter and making boys cry. Bless her socks ...

Is this the perfect women? Gentlemen, bow-down and prepare to be schooled ...

RA: What’s more fun – beating girls or beating boys ?
CS: Oh definitely boys, especially when they look like they could cry !

RA: Have you noticed more attention from men since you cracked the Anaconda big-time ?
CS: I had to get a bigger letter box ...  {Click here for full story.}

Otway Odyssey Entries Opening Monday August 27th

It's official. Otway Odyssey Mountain Bike Marathon entries open first thing on Monday August 27th. Get in quickly to make sure you book a berth for the big Kahuna of mountain bike marathons and avoid disappointment. This year's race sold out before close of entries so don't miss out this time around.

For those of you who did the race in 2007, the major changes between it and the next installment include additional single track in the first half (and less in the 2nd half) of the course, a new start avoiding the dreaded Tiger Lane and a new family friendly event - the Otway Pioneer - starting and finishing at Forrest.

Check out the revised website for more information.

Athlete Profile: Keen Junior Survivor - Rhys Wasson

One of our 2006 Junior Survivor Champions, Rhys Wasson, 10, took time out of his busy sporting schedule to have a chat with us this week.

Rhys runs with his dad and recently completed the Gold Coast half marathon – “I think I was the youngest competitor there” Rhys said. There certainly can’t be many youngsters who complete a tough 21km run at the tender age of 10. Rhys is quite rightly setting his sporting sights high and would love to be a long distance runner at the Olympics one day.

Little sister Maggie Wasson, 8, has also got the bug and is looking forward to her first Keen Junior Survivor race ... {Click here for full story.}

Sorrento Challenge

The perfect lead-up event to the Anaconda Adventure Race Geographe Bay, the Sorrento Challenge is on for the first time in September 2007.

WA's only metropolitan adventure race takes place at beautiful Sorrento Beach and comprises a 1.2km ocean swim, 7km ocean paddle and a 7.5km coastal run - the race is open to teams and individuals.

So as you prepare for your Anaconda assault, use the Sorrento Challenge to fine tune your training in a race format suitable for all abilities.

View the flyer, or visit the website www.sorrentochallenge.com.au for more details.

Athlete Profile: Keen Junior Survivor - Laila Eve Smith

Laila Eve Smith shares her unique (and explosive) Keen Junior Survivor race tactic ...

Nine year old Laila Eve Smith from Palm Beach has everything in place to make sure she has a great time at this year’s Keen Junior Survivor on 4th August - including a great sense of humour. Laila’s friend Melanie took part last year and encouraged her to join her in the fun this time. The energetic pair will be tackling lots of new obstacles like the Wombat Ramble and the Tarantula Trap together.

Laila kindly shared her training and nutrition tactics with us this week ahead of the big day. “I'm, running with my pet dog, Ripley and I'm not sure who's running who, but he's making me run faster than I normally would.”  {Click here for full story.}

Anaconda Forster Training Part II - Time to get social

Now that you should be starting to feel confident as to what level you are at in your discipline it is time to really incorporate some fun and social interaction into your training regime.

The Forster/Tuncurry community and locals from all over the area have an incredible network of like-minded people who are keen to get out and train in groups. This is a fantastic way to meet new people, enjoy a bit of friendly competition and to take your mind off your racing heart beat. Training in groups is also a proven method for improving your fitness and skill levels. The key is to ... {Click here for full story.}

Athlete Profile: Keen Junior Survivor - Summer Little

Junior Survivor ‘veteran’ Summer Little, 8, enjoyed the swinging bridge, hopscotch logs, and running through the Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary so much last year, she’s coming back again to tackle new exciting challenges at the super improved course!

We asked Summer if she could offer any advice to first time survivors now that she knows what to expect. “…it’s fun…” she told us and suggested that other youngsters get ready for the race by “going round the block a few times”.

Summer is happy to come and compete in the race on her own because she says “last year I made friends at the starting line”   {Click here for full story.}

Mentor Surf skis

Oceanpaddler are pleased to announce the arrival of the new “Mentor” surf skis. These boats are the perfect ocean racer/surf ski hybrid. Coming in at only 16kg and 5.5 meters long they fit easily into the standard garage and - for the lighter paddlers among us - light enough to get on and off the roof. The “Mentor” is faster than the lifesaving skis but with a stable higher seating position than the ocean racing skis. If you are keen to get serious about Adventure Racing and Multisport events then these are the perfect boat to get you started.

Athlete Profile: Anaconda Gold Coast - Shane Dalziel

Shane (Daly) Dalziel of Twin Waters on the Sunshine Coast, a dual winner of the single ski event in the Australian Surf Lifesaving Championships, is the latest in a long list of strong paddlers to cross over to Adventure Racing  ... After doing the recent familiarisation day, Daly was quoted as saying “it is the most bizarre race”, he has never done anything like it before and is looking forward to putting all his training into good use.   {Click here for full story.}