MEDIA RELEASE: As the details of this year’s exciting Abu Dhabi Adventure Challenge resonate throughout adventure racing’s global community, a number of special schemes aimed at encouraging rookie teams inject youthful flair into an already outstanding international field.
Last year’s inaugural edition of The Abu Dhabi Adventure Challenge boasted a field of 27 co-ed teams hailing from 15 different nations. This year the numbers are already up and the competition, to be held from the 12th to the 17th December, is promising a bigger and wider-ranging selection as teams from around the world flock to this enthralling season closer. The ranks of the returning teams who, having once experienced the thrill of racing across some of the Emirates’ most stunning natural attractions are determined to make this innovative event a perennial fixture, have been swollen by a host of newcomers, lured by the mysterious beauty of the country and the prospect of measuring themselves against the world’s best.
Of the already eleven teams totally new to this event no doubt a significant number will be racing in the hope of cashing in, literally, on one of the innovative motivational concepts
implemented this year in an effort to promote the sport and encourage as many newcomers as possible to participate in this exciting season finale. The four top teams, one from each of the following four continental zones, Europe, North - South America, Asia - Oceania and The Middle East – Africa, racing for the first time in The Abu Dhabi Adventure Challenge, will each receive the sum of 2,500 USD on top of any other prize money they win. Belgians, Brazilians, Irish
and Andorrans are just a few among the hopeful.
Along these intrepid first timers, and in a line-up that includes such world-renowned inveterate victors like NIKE (USA), a close second in 2007, and third place WILSA SPORT-HELLY HANSEN from France, will be five rookie teams qualified through an award process devised by the Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority (ADTA). The awards are designed to promote the sport by helping teams with a proven track record in local races to pursue their racing career internationally. The basis on which the award is allocated is simple and the same for all events: - the award is given to the best ‘local’ (defined according to each event) team in the overall ranking that has never raced before outside the country or region. The award includes the entry fee of 3,500 Euros and 4 return tickets to Abu Dhabi.
These measures will not only add excitement and intrigue to this year’s race but
will also go some way to ensuring a prosperous and illustrious future for the sport.
Live race coverage and information at www.abudhabi-adventure.com
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Monday, October 6, 2008
First meeting and paddle
We had our first paddle session at Homestead, on Sunday morning. Conditions were perfect, sun was shining and the water was flat. I paddled with Christiaan; Lauren was in a double with Christiaan's friend, Riechert.
I haven't been in a K2 for ages; and the good news is that we didn't swim - in fact, we didn't even wobble once!
This was the first time that Lauren and I met Christiaan - and my instincts were right. He's a super guy and we're all going to have so much fun in Abu Dhabi.
The first time we'll all be together - with Garth - will be over the first weekend in November for the Foot and Mountain Bike Rogaine events.
I haven't been in a K2 for ages; and the good news is that we didn't swim - in fact, we didn't even wobble once!
This was the first time that Lauren and I met Christiaan - and my instincts were right. He's a super guy and we're all going to have so much fun in Abu Dhabi.
The first time we'll all be together - with Garth - will be over the first weekend in November for the Foot and Mountain Bike Rogaine events.
Lisa, Christiaan and Lauren
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
Team www.AR.co.za to take on Adu Dhabi Adventure Challenge
Johannesburg - Through a unique selection process, a team has been chosen to represent South Africa’s adventure racing website, www.ar.co.za, at the Abu Dhabi Adventure Challenge in December. The team’s entry and flights are sponsored by the Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority through their generous “ADTA Awards” initiative that gives participants from around the World, who have never raced overseas, the opportunity to compete in an international event. Lauren Greeff (30, Johannesburg), Garth Pienke (29, East London) and Christiaan Greyling (23, Pretoria) will race with www.ar.co.za’s owner and editor, Lisa de Speville (32, Johannesburg), in Abu Dhabi.
De Speville is better known for her online reporting of adventure races, than for competing abroad. Since 2004 she has attended many of the major adventure races in a media role, writing for SleepMonsters.com and Checkpointzero.com. “Adventure racing’s sidelines have their perks but it’s tough watching everyone else taking part in ‘my’ sport, while I just write about it,” says de Speville. “I’ve competed in staged ultras and 50-milers overseas, but I’ve never taken part in a foreign adventure race. This is a dream opportunity – to compete and take other racers with me.”
In mid-June de Speville, announced her non-traditional team selection process. South Africa’s adventure racing community was invited to complete and submit a questionnaire, which was made available on the website. The questionnaire asked a variety of questions related to the applicant’s experiences, preferences and aspirations. “The answers indicated personality, compatibility and suitability,” de Speville explains.
Thirty-six applications were received, including nine from women. Ages ranged from seventeen to forty-six and de Speville knew most, but not all, applicants. It was only while reviewing the applications and interesting responses that de Speville clarified what she was looking for from this team.
“Racing in Abu Dhabi is an unbelievable opportunity,” says de Speville. “And it isn’t just about attending an international event, seeing the sights and coming home with great memories and photographs. The team members are all tasked with sharing what they learn abroad to guide novice racers, build and lead their own teams, improve their personal and team performances and, in time, to look at competing in international events. These are people who contribute to the sport of adventure racing and the community around them.”
De Speville bounced her top choices off experienced adventure racer and friend Nicholas Mulder, who assisted in trimming de Speville’s list of suitable candidates.
Although the classic mixed gender team format is one woman and three men, and de Speville fulfils the team’s female quota, she didn’t immediately exclude female applicants. “I wouldn’t want to be excluded without consideration in the same situation just because of my gender.”
The first applicant notified was Lauren Greeff, captain of the all-girls team Dew Point, which took part in the South African Adventure Racing World Series event, Bull of Africa, in mid-August. The team brought up the rear of the field, pushing through to finish the short-course as prize giving began, almost nine hours after race cut-off.
“When Lauren answered the phone and I asked her whether she would like to race in Abu Dhabi she replied, ‘Are you serious?’” Lauren had thought it unlikely that de Speville would choose another girl for the team, but decided to apply anyway. “I could hear her jumping on the other end of the line,” says de Speville.
De Speville has watched Greeff develop as an adventure racer and team captain over the years. “She took a leap this year in recruiting team mates and guiding the formation and development of her own all-girls team. She also stepped into the role of navigator, spending time at orienteering to improve her skills.”
De Speville had Greeff’s application in her top selection, but she waited until after Bull before making her final decision. “Lauren’s team may have been at the back, but everything else around what she did for the team won me over,” says de Speville.
Garth Peinke received the second call. He raced with de Speville at a 200-kilometer event in 2005. “Garth is the best paddling team mate I’ve ever had,” de Speville explains. “He’s got a lot of local racing experience and a few years of successful racing behind him. I see a really great future of international racing for Garth.” Living in East London, on the coast, he brings much needed paddling experience to the team. “It’s daunting enough going into a foreign race with totally new and untested team mates so it’s nice to have someone familiar, who I’ve raced with before, on the team,” she adds.
The fourth team member was the hardest to decide. “There were easily another five people that I would have liked to recruit,” says de Speville. “I started thinking about ages and moved the younger applicants up my list, looking at them as the ‘next’ generation in competitive South African racing. These applicants, in their early and mid-twenties, have two decades of racing in them.”
As de Speville did not personally know the candidates, she phoned their teammates and then called them personally. “They’re great guys with loads of potential for great racing futures. Nicholas didn’t know them either so he told me to follow my instincts and to choose one.” She decided on Christiaan Greyling, who accepted her invitation without hesitation.
“Christiaan sounds like a really good guy and he meets my criteria in terms of sharing his enjoyment of the sport and his experiences to benefit other racers and to grow and develop the sport,” de Speville says. “Since Swazi Xtreme, in May, he has recruited friends to race, has been involved with finding sponsors, organising his own team… Best of all, according to a team mate, Christiaan is addicted to adventure racing. That’s language I understand.” Greyling and de Speville will meet in person, for the first time, within the next few days.
With the team now selected their preparations begin. Abu Dhabi Adventure Challenge is a staged adventure race with six days of competition in the disciplines of sea kayaking, mountain biking, desert hiking, orienteering and rope activities. The event takes place in December from the 12th to the 17th.
For more information on the Abu Dhabi Adventure Challenge, please visit www.abudhabi-adventure.com. South Africa’s adventure racing website and news of Team www.ar.co.za, is available at www.ar.co.za.
De Speville is better known for her online reporting of adventure races, than for competing abroad. Since 2004 she has attended many of the major adventure races in a media role, writing for SleepMonsters.com and Checkpointzero.com. “Adventure racing’s sidelines have their perks but it’s tough watching everyone else taking part in ‘my’ sport, while I just write about it,” says de Speville. “I’ve competed in staged ultras and 50-milers overseas, but I’ve never taken part in a foreign adventure race. This is a dream opportunity – to compete and take other racers with me.”
In mid-June de Speville, announced her non-traditional team selection process. South Africa’s adventure racing community was invited to complete and submit a questionnaire, which was made available on the website. The questionnaire asked a variety of questions related to the applicant’s experiences, preferences and aspirations. “The answers indicated personality, compatibility and suitability,” de Speville explains.
Thirty-six applications were received, including nine from women. Ages ranged from seventeen to forty-six and de Speville knew most, but not all, applicants. It was only while reviewing the applications and interesting responses that de Speville clarified what she was looking for from this team.
“Racing in Abu Dhabi is an unbelievable opportunity,” says de Speville. “And it isn’t just about attending an international event, seeing the sights and coming home with great memories and photographs. The team members are all tasked with sharing what they learn abroad to guide novice racers, build and lead their own teams, improve their personal and team performances and, in time, to look at competing in international events. These are people who contribute to the sport of adventure racing and the community around them.”
De Speville bounced her top choices off experienced adventure racer and friend Nicholas Mulder, who assisted in trimming de Speville’s list of suitable candidates.
Although the classic mixed gender team format is one woman and three men, and de Speville fulfils the team’s female quota, she didn’t immediately exclude female applicants. “I wouldn’t want to be excluded without consideration in the same situation just because of my gender.”
The first applicant notified was Lauren Greeff, captain of the all-girls team Dew Point, which took part in the South African Adventure Racing World Series event, Bull of Africa, in mid-August. The team brought up the rear of the field, pushing through to finish the short-course as prize giving began, almost nine hours after race cut-off.
“When Lauren answered the phone and I asked her whether she would like to race in Abu Dhabi she replied, ‘Are you serious?’” Lauren had thought it unlikely that de Speville would choose another girl for the team, but decided to apply anyway. “I could hear her jumping on the other end of the line,” says de Speville.
De Speville has watched Greeff develop as an adventure racer and team captain over the years. “She took a leap this year in recruiting team mates and guiding the formation and development of her own all-girls team. She also stepped into the role of navigator, spending time at orienteering to improve her skills.”
De Speville had Greeff’s application in her top selection, but she waited until after Bull before making her final decision. “Lauren’s team may have been at the back, but everything else around what she did for the team won me over,” says de Speville.
Garth Peinke received the second call. He raced with de Speville at a 200-kilometer event in 2005. “Garth is the best paddling team mate I’ve ever had,” de Speville explains. “He’s got a lot of local racing experience and a few years of successful racing behind him. I see a really great future of international racing for Garth.” Living in East London, on the coast, he brings much needed paddling experience to the team. “It’s daunting enough going into a foreign race with totally new and untested team mates so it’s nice to have someone familiar, who I’ve raced with before, on the team,” she adds.
The fourth team member was the hardest to decide. “There were easily another five people that I would have liked to recruit,” says de Speville. “I started thinking about ages and moved the younger applicants up my list, looking at them as the ‘next’ generation in competitive South African racing. These applicants, in their early and mid-twenties, have two decades of racing in them.”
As de Speville did not personally know the candidates, she phoned their teammates and then called them personally. “They’re great guys with loads of potential for great racing futures. Nicholas didn’t know them either so he told me to follow my instincts and to choose one.” She decided on Christiaan Greyling, who accepted her invitation without hesitation.
“Christiaan sounds like a really good guy and he meets my criteria in terms of sharing his enjoyment of the sport and his experiences to benefit other racers and to grow and develop the sport,” de Speville says. “Since Swazi Xtreme, in May, he has recruited friends to race, has been involved with finding sponsors, organising his own team… Best of all, according to a team mate, Christiaan is addicted to adventure racing. That’s language I understand.” Greyling and de Speville will meet in person, for the first time, within the next few days.
With the team now selected their preparations begin. Abu Dhabi Adventure Challenge is a staged adventure race with six days of competition in the disciplines of sea kayaking, mountain biking, desert hiking, orienteering and rope activities. The event takes place in December from the 12th to the 17th.
For more information on the Abu Dhabi Adventure Challenge, please visit www.abudhabi-adventure.com. South Africa’s adventure racing website and news of Team www.ar.co.za, is available at www.ar.co.za.
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