MEDIA RELEASE words by Trystan Haynes | Multiple teams negotiated the canyoneering section within the Expedition Africa route, taking different approaches to collect the relevant checkpoints within the canyon.
According to the official Expedition Africa race booklet, teams were to enter the canyon at CP 37 via an abseil, remain within the canyon and proceed through to CP 38. Teams then were required to exit the canyon and report to the AfriAbseil marshal at CP 39, completing the via ferrata and abseil back into the canyon all the way through to the exit at CP 40.
This route as prescribed by the Expedition Africa race booklet, was not followed by all the teams taking part in this year’s 500km adventure race. Those teams that did not complete this section as prescribed benefited from their alternative route.
Due to the above, time adjustments for this section will be implemented for all teams that did not complete the canyoneering section as instructed.
Summary of the time adjustments:
- Teams that did not stay within the canyon from CP 37 to CP38 will receive no time adjustment.
- Teams that did not complete the via ferrata and abseil (CP 39) will receive a 1 hour time adjustment to their final race time.
- Teams that did not complete the canyon section from the top of the abseil (CP 39) continuing through the confines of the canyon towards the exit (CP 40), will receive a 6 hour time adjustment to their final race time.
- Teams that did not complete the canyon section from the bottom of the abseil (CP 39) through the confines of the canyon towards the exit; but re-entered the canyon to collect (CP 40) will receive a 4 hour time adjustment to their final race time.
Photo by Bruce Viaene