ADVENTURE RACING

Action on and off the water at GODZone Adventure

By GODZone Adventure

It’s been an exciting day of river and coasteering action for the lead teams in the 2015 GODZone in Lake Wanaka.

All the action has been on the fast moving water of the Matukituki River in the Mt Aspiring National Park with team Seagate pushing their lead-time ahead only to slow down at the coasteering  section due to a slight leg injury.

“ It was a bit of a shock to see them move so slowly after their storming start in the race yesterday but from what we can gather Chris Forne had a fall on the Albert Burn trek overnight and so he’s hobbling slightly.

The next bike leg is 137km long so that will keep him off it but the question remains will they be able to keep the snapping teams behind them at bay,” says Race Director Warren Bates.

Making quick times on the canoe and in second place, team Swordfox led by Nick Ross, came into the coasteering section in West Wanaka just 40 minutes behind Seagate.

“ Swordfox are having an excellent race and have the bit between their teeth to try and take this years race. They have placed in the top 10 in the last two events and are looking strong  at this stage for a podium finish.”

The coasteering stage on Lake Wanaka has been a highlight so far for the teams says Bates being slightly unusual on a lake. “ Its full of rocky bluffs and cliffs that finishes with a 50m swim across to Glendu Bay so pretty spectacular,” says Bates.

Currently in third place and looking dangerous are world ranked number one team Vidaraid who completed the river section 40 minutes after Swordfox.

“ I think Vidaraid have managed to manoeuvre themselves into the exact position they want heading into this massive bike ride tonight. Their navigation overnight was excellent bar one tricky spot and that's what has got them into the top three. It's a watch this space situation with Vidaraid.”

Six  teams had made it through to Macpherson Creek transition area off the Albert Burn by late this afternoon with the remaining 46 teams working their way along the trek that passes the Whare Kea hut checkpoint.

“ We have had one team pull out and that's  Blenheim team, Absolute Wilderness, who used their GPS yellow brick unit to report one of the team has a knee problem. It will be very disappointing for them as they were real contenders.”



Chris Forne in the Matukituki Valley



Team Seagate Stu Lynch, Nathan Faavae, Sophie Hart, Chris Forne



Seagate getting on the Matukituki River


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GODZone Fact Box
When: February 28 to March 7, 2015
Where: Lake Wanaka
What: The worlds largest adventure race running non stop, 24/ 7 over 7 days
Affiliated: GODZone is an official member of the AR World Series and a qualifier for the AR World Championships.
Charity: Cure Kids has been chosen as the recipient charity of GODZone 2015
Text to Donate: Text GODZONE to 933 to donate $3 to Cure Kids (data charges apply)
http://www.curekids.org.nz
Coverage: Watch all the action with live GPS tracking, video, photos & news at http://www.godzoneadventure.com