Media release: The race takes shape

December 11th, 2008: With only hours to go before the start of the 2008 Abu Dhabi Adventure Challenge from the Corniche Beach in Abu Dhabi, the 36 teams discovered, for the first time, the course details after receiving their maps and road books.

At 10:00 this morning, the first of the 36 teams from 20 different nations started the round of compulsory clothing and gear checks set up beneath the soaring arch that serves as one of the entrances to the Armed Forces Officers Club here in Abu Dhabi. By 14:00, all the teams had past muster, though some were experiencing minor issues. Some new faces were in evidence like the young physical training instructors from the Royal Air Force, racing under the aegis of TOWERGATE WILSON, eagerly looking forward to measuring their training techniques against the “Top Guns” of AR from around the world. The Americans of DART NUUN could hardly believe their luck when they were chosen as the North American continent’s ADTA award winners: “This one comes about a month after the end of the season so it’s a welcome bonus for us, especially as we have been invited by the ADTA, ” they beamed in unison. Another team new to the ADAC, SINGAPORE TEC, were already encountering a steep learning curve: "We have done a lot of stage races in Singapore but the desert is totally new for us…" they confided as they discussed possible problems with the sand.

Earlier in the day they had their first real look at the course in detail. A spectacular start awaits them in Abu Dhabi city, with a 40km triathlon involving MTB, sea kayaking and trail running on a looping circuit beginning and ending on Corniche Beach. The teams will first head west on the Corniche road, exceptionally closed for the duration of the race, for an initial 17km MTB leg, sprinting past the sumptuous Emirates Palace in one direction, looping around the headland and then back along the corniche, with a u-turn east of the beach bringing them back to the kayaks. Next they take to the seas for the opening 12.5km kayaking section out to and around Lulu Island. Once on the island, they will complete a very fast 10.5km trail run, leap back into the kayaks for the 500m dash back to the beach and the finish.

The next phase of the competition will introduce them to one of the world’s most remarkable ecological success stories. Sir Bani Yas, Island is located just off the coast of Jebel Dhanna, about 170km west of the city of Abu Dhabi. It is home to over three million trees and thousands of animals, including twenty-three rare species of birds and wild animals, so the teams will have to pay particular attention as they speed along the small dirt roads and tracks that criss-cross this sublime destination. With the 45.5km MTB stage over by 09:00 for the fastest, the teams will take to their kayaks for a mass start on what promises to be a long and arduous 2 days on the water. The first 33km section starts from the Eastern Beach on Sir Bani Yas at 11:30 and, after traversing 10km of mangroves abounding in exotic seabirds, takes the teams out to Kurkum Island, another enchanting desert island destination with a beautiful lagoon at its centre. Here they will spend an unforgettable night with before setting off again for the 82km main kayaking section East towards Mirfa.

After transferring to Moreeb Dune for the night at the bivouac, the teams will finally confront the desert with a 2-day, 107km desert trek across the appropriately named “Empty Quarter” starting at 07:00. Navigation on this stage will be crucial and it is essential that the teams make the right choices if they still want to be in contention when they reach the stage finish in Hassab. The last teams are expected by 13:00 on the 16th after which the caravan leaves for the garden city of Al Ain and the race’s grand finale. In the shadow of the jagged peaks of Jebel Hafit, the teams will enjoy the lush and verdant Green Mubazzarah camp in preparation for a fast and furious face-off. The morning starts at 06:00 with a 12km MTB ride up the mountain road to the summit, followed by an immediate departure on foot, trekking across the mountain to a spectacular and challenging rope works, eventually returning to Green Mubazzarah 14.6km later. All geared up for the final sprint into the finish at Jahili Fort, the teams will cover the last 27km on their bikes for a sensational end to this entertaining and demanding event.

Live race coverage and information at www.abudhabi-adventure.com

Kit check passed

We started the kit check at 11h30 and only finished at 14h15. There were a whole bunch of different stations Where view checked paddle, ropes, first aid kit etc. We also got our bikes, which are really nice Cannondales - an upgrade on my usual steed back home :-D

We are now at a restaurant in the hotel for lunch - burgers all round.

We are not entirely clued about the navigation situation for the race. A GPS is compulsory kit and we have a sheet with coordinates. We'll finish loading them after lunch. And then we also get maps each day. I think the GPS will be handy for the desert trekking and paddling.

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Briefing

We have just had race briefing. Same kinda thing as usual - no rocket science. Nice to see all the teams in one room. Andre Gie is here. He flew in this morning. He will be racing with Team Sole. Chad Ulansky is in the same team.

The weather is mild, cooler than Joburg has been. Humidity is not that bad either so I think we are in for fine conditions. It will be about 5C warmer in the desert.

We are going for a kit check at 11h30 and them at 5 there is a formal opening function with VIPs and country ambassadors. We hope to meet our SA ambassador.

Breakfast tomorrow morning starts at 4am. We are then bussed to the main beach front for the prologue, which is a 40km sprint. We bike along the esplanade and then sea kayak across to Lulu Island and then clockwise around it. Then we run around on the island, pretty much
clockwise too.

Chat later.
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Doing nothing much prerace

We all slept very well last might. Even Garth, a farmer, woke up long after sunrise. We took the shuttle into the city again, trying out a different mall. Not great - the Marina Mall is definitely the place to go.

We did meet other teams on the bus and the hotel is rocking. From this morning there have been teams all over the place. The hotel is very chaotic though and because view had to wait for guests to check out, rooms were only assigned late afternoon. So teams were on every available chair and couch. We had to check out of our rooms when we got back from the mall at lunch time and them had to wait around. We got our room after 5!

We have just been preparing our compulsory kit. At 8h30 in the morning we have a team meeting. We are down for our technical check and gear thing at 11h30.

This is when we get our bikes and boats and other bits from the race organisation.

At the moment we are having a picnic in our room. It looks like a tornado has passed through. We are looking forward to another good sleep. Night everyone.

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A day in Abu Dhabi

So what do you do when you have a day in Abu Dhabi and no car? You take the hotel shuttle to the mall. Then you head for a supermarket to buy food, gaping at all the exotic goods and spotting familiar ones, like Ouma rusks. Then you go outside to loiter on the lawn with a view of the city, eating sandwiches and dozing in the shade of a tree.

We had dinner at the mall and caught the shuttle back.

We have just come back from playing tenpin bowling and walking around inside this massive snorts complex. Seeing is believing. Is is the most massive building we have ever seen and there is every conceivable sports facility too.

We just saw Team Nike in the lobby. Most teams will arrive tomorrow.

Time to sleep now. Till morning...

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We have arrived

Flight went well. Christiaan slept the whole flight; we got in a movie or two and them slept. Our crates and paddles made it through. We are just missing the one bag, which has our casual clothing, toiletries and Garth's food. We should get it in the morning.

We got two taxis to the hotel. Nice BMW station wagons; our crates fitted. Driver drove at 140 the whole way. Big open roads and tons of palm trees. But a bit like a ghost town on the outskirts. We will go into the city shortly.

We have checked into the hotel where we will be hosted by the event tomorrow night too. It is 5 Star and costs a small fortune; in Rand. R1500 per person - excluding breakfast! Place is huge, rooms are not; quite ordinary. I dont know where the people are because we haven't seen a soul.

We will spend the day in Abu Dhabi and have dinner there. We will catch the hotel shuttle. Have just ordered toothbrushes from housekeeping. Mmmm. . .

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At the airport

All checked in with a total of 108kg luggage. Three 160l craters, a tog bag and paddles. Everyone is well. Thank you for all your good luck messages.

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