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The race covers 500km and will take the 31 competing teams anything between three and seven days to complete. The defending champions, who have won the race two years in a row, are Merrell's Adventure Addicts, managed by Graham Bird.
Adventure racing is a multi-discipline endurance sport where competitors compete in teams, using maps and landmarks to navigate from control point to control point in harsh remote environments and all weather conditions. Disciplines may include mountain-biking, trekking, kayaking, swimming, ropework and orienteering, over a distance of 500km.
"Teams travel day and night and they can decide if and when and where to rest," explains Bird, who will unfortunately have to sit out this year due to an injury.
"Instead he is helping out our two teams, which we all really appreciate because we need all the know-how and support we can get!"
smiles Schutte. Over the Easter weekend, Team Hakuna Matata and Team Merrell's Adventure Addicts completed a very tough training camp put together by Bird, one of Knysna's best known adventure racers. The training camp was based in the Transkei at Kei river mouth. From there the route took them through the beautiful unspoiled surrounds of the Wild Coast all the way to Mezappa Bay and back again. The route covered roughly 150km, unaided and unsupported. This included 20km kayaking, 50km trekking as well as 80km mountain-biking.
Team leader Nikki Smith said: "We are very pleased with our team dynamics which play a vital role in this type of event. We had rain for the majority of the time and this put ourselves and our equipment to the ultimate test."
Team Hakuna Matata arrived back, dirty, wet and exhausted, in a total time of 34 hours. Defending champs, Merrell's Adventure Addicts, completed their much tougher route in 36 hours. Team Merrell aims to win and qualify for the Adventure Racing World Series (ARWS).
Expedition Africa, which is now in its third year and forms part of ARWS, sees teams lining up for a non-stop 500km adventure through the spectacular Drakensberg region of South Africa. Team Merrell has established itself as one of the top adventure racing units in South Africa. The team's success and strength have been based on the solid dynamic that exists among the core group of the team. Bird, Tatum Prins and Hanno Smit have been racing together for over five years with Donovan Sims having joined the outfit some three years ago.
"We just enjoy the time we spend together, whether it is racing or training," says Bird, who, having been ruled out of competing due to a torn tendon, will be replaced by Craig Carter-Brown, as with Expedition Africa 2012.
Prins, who became a mother earlier in the year, will also be replaced by SanMari Woithe, a fellow Merrell athlete. "This was an eye-opener and harsh welcome to the scene of adventure racing," says Schutte, assistant navigator of Team Makuna Matata. "I am used to the luxuries of mountain-bike stage racing, where a hot shower and warm bed is only a couple of hours away. I had to make a real mind shift to sleeping in the middle of nowhere, not knowing when you will see civilisation again."
The two teams look forward to embarking on their incredible journey on Wednesday, May 3.
"Team Hakuna Mutata wishes to thank Ultimate Cycling, Enuren Inov-8 and Nike Vision SA for their support. Also, Graham Bird of www.mountianrunner.co.za for organising such an extreme training camp, and the Merrell's Adventure Addicts for their inspiration!" an excited Schutte beamed.
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Drenched and dreaming of a hot shower and a bed are Team Makuna Matata members after a gruelling training camp in Transkei during the Easter weekend. From the left are Marko Coetzee, Ico Schutte, Janine Linder and Nikki Smit. "We made it!"
