Chasing blue and green
There are those who live among us — by day they might be your landscaper, your massage therapist or your architect, but after hours they become someone else. Forgoing sleep; they travel enormous distances in a short time, traversing rivers, canyons and mountains to achieve their goals. They are tireless, determined and fierce in their commitment to their team. Janet Middleton shares some insight on this intrepid breed of athlete, the adventure racer.
WHAT IS ADVENTURE RACING?
Adventure racing combines cool stamina, spectacular surroundings, taxing routes and teamwork into a challenge that can last anything from two hours to two weeks.
Opinions differ about when it began, but reference brings to mind the global explorers of old setting off into an unknown land with map and compass. Simply put, teams navigate an unmarked wilderness course in a continuous, timed race. Multiple disciplines are used and usually includes trekking, mountain biking and paddling; however, can include anything from canyoning and horseriding to paragliding and sailing.
It’s a mixed bag, depending on the location, which only adds to the attraction. Racers receive a topographical map marked with checkpoints to be visited, usually in a specific order — and transitions where they switch disciplines and pick up supplies.
It’s a human versus nature thing; it’s also a human versus human nature thing as racers battle both the elements and their own fatigue.
The wilder the location, the happier the athletes are. Mountains, beaches, desert, forest and river are all challenges just waiting to be tackled. Racers tirelessly move forward: cycling, paddling, trekking and navigating while working to keep each other positive and motivated.
The non-stop clock is kryptonite to many new adventure racers: to sleep or not to sleep, that is the question. As the clock ticks, racers need to decide whether to rest and race refreshed (while losing time) or to push through and risk making a navigation error due to exhaustion. Each team has a strategy but it’s a seesaw: too much sleep and you’ll fall behind; too little sleep and you’ll slow down and lose time anyway.
For many racers, the most rewarding aspect is the teamwork required to finish a gruelling challenge. Team members see each other at their absolute worst and best: dirty, exhausted, exhilarated and, finally, triumphant as they cross the finish line together. They rally around each other: encouraging, distracting and, in tough times, even towing each other along! They are in it together, through thick and thin.
PLETT ADVENTURE RACING TEAM & EXPEDITION AFRICA
Plett Tourism has supported the Plett Adventure Racing Team (Team Plett AR) since 2016 when the Adventure Racing World Series event, Expedition Africa, was held in Knysna and Plett. Expedition Africa, organised by Kinetic Events Africa, introduced expedition racing to the Garden Route with the bang of a starter’s gun.
Live tracking on all teams means the public is never out of touch with their favourite team. That year, every screen in town was periodically refreshed to see how far the team had moved and if they were on-track. These remote supporters are called dot-watchers, and they tune in from across the globe to follow their teams.
In their first year and their first race together, the Team Plett AR finished an impressive 13th out of 50+ teams. In 2017, the Baviaanskloof and Kouga called and the team answered for their second Expedition Africa, this time finishing in 10th place out of 39 teams. The team completed their 3rd Expedition Africa in 2018, in the desolate Namaqualand, coming in 24th in the field.
2019 sees team veterans Drew Scott, Petrus Maree joined by new members Jeannette Walder and Steph le Roux jetting off to Rodrigues Island to represent Plett in a 300+km race that will include caving, stand-up paddling, sailing and swimming between islands, in addition to the usual disciplines.
Why adventure racing? Our team say that they enjoy the combination of disciplines, which vary from race to race, and the dynamics of working in a team with different personalities. Ego has no place in adventure racing and perseverance is a must. The team would love to see more weekend races in the Plett area, allowing more like-minded individuals to get out and give it a try.
These are some of the most cheerful and fearless people you will ever meet! While they have been training and packing for their expedition in Rodrigues, we have been setting up a comfortable spot to journey live and enjoy their adventure live and join them in spirit from half a world away.
IT’S IN OUR NATURE
Plett is in a unique position when it comes to training grounds: rivers that have cut deep canyons into the countryside, a dramatic coastline, vast forests, lakes, lagoons and mountains forming an incredible location alongside the Indian Ocean. The community of adventure racers is growing in Plett, as more sportspeople take up the mantle of the expedition.
Their training grounds are our oceans, forest hikes and mountain-bike trails. The Garden Route offers some of the most spectacular scenery in the country, and trails both long and short enough for fitness fanatics and nature-lovers to explore something new every week.
For mountain-bikers, Plett has hundreds of kilometres of scenic trails ranging from easy to double black diamond. Trail runners can explore the Nature’s Valley network and Harkerville coastal trails, while paddlers will find both our rivers and our bay a delight of fresh sea air and marine sightings.
With easy access to Knysna to the west and Tsitsikamma to the east, Plett is a paradise for adventure racers-in-training. Need to practice rope work? We have canyons. Need to work on your paddling? The bay is ready for you. Need to up your endurance? We have kilometres of beaches to test you. Plett has trail options from forest to fynbos, from rocky coastline to sandy beach.
Once the workday or workweek is over, Plett’s adventurers ‘suit up’ to immerse themselves in our marvellous outdoor universe.