Monday sees the start of South Africa’s first expedition-length adventure race for almost three years. 21 teams from across the country and one international team, from the United Kingdom, will descend on the picturesque Western Cape coastal town of Hermanus for the non-stop, 500km race, Expedition Africa. The MERRELL Adventure Addicts, one of South Africa’s top adventure racing units will be one of the teams lining up at sunrise on Monday morning hoping to come away with the race honours.
Adventure racing is a multi-discipline endurance sport where competitors compete in four-person mixed-gender teams, navigating with map, compass and landmarks from control point to control point in a number of disciplines, which can include mountain biking, trekking, kayaking, swimming, rope work and orienteering. Teams travel non-stop through the 500km course, deciding if and when to rest, with the first team to complete all the race legs and visiting all the checkpoints being declared the winner.
The MERRELL Adventure Addicts have had a successful period over the past few years, competing in numerous Adventure Racing World Series races in Brazil, Spain and Australia. This vast international racing experience will stand the team in good stead in the Expedition Africa. The MERRELL Adventure Addicts will also be using this race as a build up for the Adventure Racing World Championships, which will be staged in Tasmania, Australia later this year.
The MERRELL Adventure Addicts have been competing together over the past four years and in a sport where teamwork and team dynamics are essential, the foursome have developed a detailed understanding of one another and knitted together to form a powerful combination. The team is led by captain and navigator Graham Bird.
For Graham this race will all be about focusing the team at the right moment. Stalwart Hanno Smit, one of the original war horses, will be at his side, adding quiet determination and experience to the mix. Tatum Prins, the ‘lady’ of the team, brings true grit, dedication, commitment and motivation to the team. Completing the foursome is Donovan Sims, an adventure racer at the top of his game and who is ready to lay down life and limb to help the team make it to the finish.
The MERRELL Adventure Addicts have had a focused build up to this event, with the individual members all coming off strong performances at the 260km GARMIN Wartrail in late March, where Graham Bird was victorious in the three-day multi-discipline event. Hanno and Donovan finished third and fourth respectively.
With the 500km Expedition Africa being one of the team’s primary goals for the year, they feels they are in a great position to challenge for win.
“We, as a team, have come together with more focus and determination than ever before. We have developed a deep understanding of our strengths and weaknesses, forming an immense bond that will allow us to compete well above our capabilities”, says Graham. “We are all looking forward to racing on home soil and experience the wonderful countryside that our beautiful country offers.”
Their sponsorship deal with MERRELL, an internationally acknowledged leader in the footwear and outdoor apparel industry, has enabled the team to focus their energy on racing rather than procuring sponsorship. With MERRELL’s tag line ‘Let’s Get Outside’, the partnership with the Adventure Addicts is a match made in heaven with the team focusing their lives on the outdoors. Other team sponsors include PVM Nutritional Science, Giant Bicycles, Island Tribe Sunscreen, Squirt Bicycle Lube, Glider Eyewear and Black Diamond head torches.
For an introduction to the Merrell Adventure Addicts check out the following video -: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_jFBtYjuWF0
For more information on Team Merrell Adventure Addicts, their sponsors and upcoming races, check out the following web sites -:
Team Information – www.advaddicts.co.za
Main Sponsor – www.merrell.com
Expedition Africa – http://www.kineticgear.co.za/tabid/15885/Default.aspx