The Legend Expedition Race heads to one of the last true wilderness regions on Earth

The Legend expedition adventure race was launched by Wild&Co in 2023 as part of the Adventure Racing World Series. In the first race teams crossed the Alpine mountains, forests and lakes of the Snowy Mountains of New South Wales. In the second edition teams took on the on the the rugged coastline and wild hinterland of the Great Ocean Road.

These spectacular journey’s undertaken on bikes, on foot and in kayaks were just the start of a much, much bigger journey, taking racers to the most scenic areas of every state in Australia.

Race Director Chris Dixon plans to hold The Legend annually, with each race moving to a new location, in a new state, travelling around Australia with the 2025 race will be based in Southern Tasmania.

Adventure racing teams will have the chance to circumnavigate Australia, as Dixon explains; “At the closing ceremony of the 2023 event we asked competing teams where they’d like to race next. There was such a diverse range of responses from the south western tip of Western Australia to the deserts of central Australia, from the island tropics of far North Queensland to the forests of Tasmania.

The ‘Wonky Donkeys’ take on the trails around Forest in 2024

“In order to deliver on our vision to establish The Legend Expedition Race as the quintessential Australian expedition race – one that sees teams competing in the toughest sport on the planet, in the most iconic locations in Australia, we realised we needed to do it all.

“’Doing a big lap’ of Australia is dream that many in Australia and around the world have, and the Legend Expedition Race will be a unique and exciting way to fulfil that dream.”

The 2025 race will take place from th to March 2nd, and entries are now open on the race website at: www.legendexpd.com.au

The next destination for The Legend offers the chance to race in area which has never been used for an expedition adventure race before.

Huonville is just 1hr from Hobart Airport

The race HQ will be in the town of Huonville, Tasmania, which is only 1 hour drive from Hobart airport, and is a popular step off point for those wanting to explore the wild south and south west regional of Tasmania.

The town is set at the edge of the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area, the town is an ideal base for exploring Tasmania's far south.

Huonville is the heart of Tasmania’s original apple-growing region, this bustling town is unsurprisingly a treat for those who enjoy fine produce. The surrounding area produces smoked and fresh salmon, honey, mushrooms, apples, stone fruit, pears, olives, saffron, wines and plenty of cider.

As race HQ the town will be the step off point for teams to a truely Tasmanian Wilderness experience. The Legend course will take on rivers, coastlines, lakes and mountain trails for an epic Tasmanian adventure taking teams into what has been described as “one of the last true wilderness regions on Earth encompassing a greater range of natural and cultural values than any other region on Earth”

Teams take on the epic Great Ocean Trail to finish Legend 2024

Dixon said, “Teams will travel truely wild coastal trails and climb alpine peaks. They will kayak wild lakes and rivers. Cycle through ancient forests and take on an epic remote trek that will be talked about for years to come. Teams will need to be prepared for remote travel in areas where they will not see signs of civilisation for days and we have an unforgettable mystery discipline organised by passionate local experts.”

Adventure Racing World Series CEO Heidi Muller commented, “The ARWS has had an Australian expedition race in the calendar almost every year and Chris is carrying forward that great tradition.  His vision to take The Legend to every Australian state is impressive and going from The Snowy Mountains to The Great Ocean Road and now to Tasmania is a wonderful start!  He is providing Australian racers with a unique opportunity to explore their country.”

The Legend format is a classic, non-stop 6 day adventure race involving trekking, mountain biking, kayaking and other adventure disciplines. The race is for teams of four and they must stay together and navigate their way unsupported through an epic 500+km course.

The Mountain Designs Wild Women, winners of the 2024 edition of Legend

For those wanting to test out expedition racing there will also be a half course option next year.  This will offer the same epic adventure and visit the most iconic locations, but teams will have the full 6 days to race half of the full course distance, allowing more inexperienced teams a greater chance of reaching the finish line.

Race Details

Date: 1 – 8 March 2025
Location: Tasmania, Australia
Duration: 6 days / 500km & 250km (full and half course)
Entries: Open Now, Early Bird Ends 31 July 2024
Team size: 4 person 

Historic Win for the Mountain Designs Wild Women Team at Legend Race in Australia

Their win was the first time in the history of the sport that an all women’s team has won a major international expedition adventure race.

When the Mountain Designs Wild Women team arrived at the finish line of the Legend Expedition Race at Apollo Bay on the Great Ocean Road in Australia it was a historic moment in the history of Adventure Racing. Their win was the first time in the history of the sport that an all women’s team has won a major international expedition adventure race.

The Legend race was the first Adventure Racing World Series Qualifier of the year and in the 23 years the global series has been running no women’s team has won an ARWS race, or any other major international race, such as Eco-Challenge or the Raid World Cup. Since the Raid Gauloises in 1989 in New Zealand, recognised as the first adventure race, the sport has prioritised mixed gender teams, there have been only a few competitive women’s teams and none has secured a win in the toughest of endurance sports, until now.

The Legend Race was a 450km non-stop race, with the course open for 6 days, including 13 endurance stages of mountain and coastal trekking, mountain biking, ocean, river and lake kayaking. Teams had to stay together at all times and collect all of the checkpoints on the route, navigating by map and compass, and only taking a few hours sleep during the whole race.

The Mountain Designs Wild Women team crossed the finish line after 73 hours and 9 minutes of racing led by team captain Kim Beckinsale. She was racing with Alina McMaster, Cass Kimlin and Del Lloyd and the team has a combined age of 197 years and between them, 78 years of adventure racing experience!

The Wild Women had a difficult start to the race when McMaster and Beckinsale were ill and the team had to rest for an hour, but after this they had an intense competition with ‘Team MMI-The Band’, swapping the lead almost stage by stage. The penultimate stage was to prove decisive when there was an unexpected change to the course.

This was a kayak stage in an estuarine river and lake system, with teams collecting 4 checkpoints in the order of their choosing. However, what was planned as a paddling stage turned into an epic mud-wade when an excavator dredged the mouth of the Aire River just before the teams arrived! Water levels fell and in the adjoining Lake Costin and Lake Craven there was almost no water, only a lake of mud teams would have to cross to reach two checkpoints!

Over 4 hours the Mountain Designs Wild Women team succeeded in reaching all checkpoints, but Team MMI-The Band failed to reach two, becoming stranded in the mud and losing shoes in the process. They turned back and the race was effectively decided as, although they crossed the line first, they were penalised 4 hours for missing the checkpoints.

Beckinsale said, “We were expecting a beautiful estuarine paddle before it got dark, then ran out of water and ran into stinking mud flats. We were above our knees in mud and reeds were over our heads, but we were determined to keep moving. Kim smashed through the reeds and Cas urged us to keep paddling.

“They were bold and tenacious and we had the experience to know you just have to keep on going, no matter how slowly. We paddled and pushed and levered ourselves out of the mud, and were so glad we took the kayak straps! We thought no one else would do it and I took photos to show we were at the checkpoints and had been there with the kayaks.”

Lloyd added, “We were fast, smart and used all our skills and experience, supported each other, carried each other’s gear and our navigation was accurate. We have masses of experience and heaps of bloody-mindedness, which meant we were damn well going to get through that mud, but we were strong for the whole race and worked hard for each other and for the win.”

McMaster raced at international events from the early days of adventure racing in the 1990’s and returned to the sport after a break for childcare. “I love expedition races,” she said, “they are hands-down the best kind of racing. They are always an amazing experience. You are on a journey, out in the bush with your mates and with no tech do distract you. It’s the sport and the community which makes you want to do it.

“For these races you need a team with no ego, and bucket loads of humility, who have a shared goal, that is put ahead of everyone else’s needs to look good. You have to give your whole self to the team, put everyone’s energy into one bucket and share it out. That team work is really special and keeps me coming back.”

Kimlin only joined the team for this race 6 weeks ago and said, “There’s a strong bond in the team and you see everyone at their best and worst. With adventure racing it’s important you don’t let the “I can’t” mentality in or be afraid to give it a try just because it’s hard.”
Beckinsale, who organises a women’s only race with her company Tri-Adventure, added, “We want other women to have the opportunity to do this sport and change lives, to know they are more amazing than they thought they could be! It’s a sport where you can sign-up and have a go.”

There was a strong women’s representation in the race, in which all of the starting teams reached the finish line. The final team over the line was another all-female team, the Vortex Divas, who reached the finish after 120 hours of racing, and the highest ranked mixed gender team were Team Blunder Bus, comprised of 2 men and 2 women.

This team were delighted to win the prize of a place at the Adventure Racing World Championship, which will be staged by the Huairasinchi race in Ecuador in November and the prizes were presented by ARWS CEO, Heidi Muller, who was a surprise visitor to Apollo Bay for the finish of the race.

The Blunder Bus team of Rowan Brookes, Lisa Dominguez, Steve Owens and Simon Vandestaedt finished the course in just over 98 hours and for Domingues and Brookes it was their first expedition race. Dominguez said, “The Great Ocean Road region really showcased what expedition racing can offer and there was a strong sense of community during and after the race, when we heard the stories of other racers. We went into the race with the goals of completing it as a team and experiencing the beauty of the course, so the opportunity to race in Ecuador is an unexpected bonus!"

Beckinsale voiced the same feelings about the second Legend course; “Thanks to Chris Dixon and his team from Wild&Co for once again piecing together a spectacular but extremely challenging course for us crazy Wild Women to test ourselves on. The course had everything; ocean paddling, awesome mountain bike trails, stunning views and so much more!”

Dixon said, “The Great Ocean Road has been a fantastic location and so were the Snowy Mountains last year. The vision for Legend XPD is to take the race to the most iconic locations in every state and we can’t wait to take the race to Tasmania next year for the next chapter of the Legend!”

Heidi Muller added, “It’s such an exciting prospect for The Legend to take the Adventure Racing World Series back to Tasmania in 2025. The Adventure Racing World Championship was held there in 2011 and was an incredibly successful race with 90 teams taking part. Tasmania is a perfect location for the next Legend.”

For more information about the Legend XPD race visit https://www.legendexpd.com.au/
You can see the full programme of Wldnco races at https://www.wldnco.com/

The Legend XPD Race on Australia’s Great Ocean Road is the first AR World Series Qualifier of 2024

The Legend XPD race in Australia starts the 2024 Adventure Racing World Series as the first Qualifier of the year, with the winners claiming a place on the start line of the Adventure Racing World Championships in Ecuador in November.

As teams prepare for the race, which starts Sunday February 25th, Ecuador will be far from their thoughts, and all of their focus will be on the 450km course set for them by Chris Dixon of Wild and Co, following the route of The Great Ocean Road.

The race is the second Legend XPD, and following the inaugural race in the Snowy Mountains of New South Wales, the race moves to Victoria and one of Australia’s most iconic and varied coastlines.  After the first race Dixon said, “We asked the teams where they would like to go with Legend and I realised they wanted to go to all of the best locations in Australia!  So, we decided to take on a circumnavigation of all of the states and Victoria is leg 2!”

Teams will meet in the beautiful coastal town of Apollo Bay, where the race HQ will be at the Mechanics Institute Hall, known as the “The Mech”.  There they will prepare to race a course open for 6 days of non-stop trekking, off-road riding, paddling and navigating.  Teams won’t know the course details until just before the start but are prepared for a bold and dramatic opening stage – a sea kayak on the waters of the infamous Bass Strait!

The race features 13 stages in all, and Dixon said, “As always it’s been a real privilege to explore the region and to put the course together – the region really is one of the great wonders of the Australian landscape.

“We’ve worked hard to make sure that each leg plays an important part in the journey, highlighting something unique about the area and we’ve included the biggest highlights and experiences of the region.

“There’s an epic ocean paddle leg to start the event with a sheltered launch and a fun beach landing along one of Australia’s most iconic shorelines. This will be followed by a series of breathtaking trek and cycling legs taking in waterfalls and the wild coastline that the region is so famous for. And while teams will be tempted to stop in the tourist towns for coffee or a pub meal, an epic journey along some of the best gravel roads and mountain bike tracks in the country await teams as they head into the Otways.”

The first Legend XPD delivered an epic course and stunning scenery, and expectations are high for the route along The Great Ocean Road! 

The teams on the start include a mixture of experienced racers and those new to expedition racing.  Both Wild Yaks and Kang Racing are well known teams and will use their experience to aim for a full course finish, with Kang Racing keen to make up for a DNF after injuries last year.

Happy Wanderers are a defence forces team taking on their first expedition race.  There's a renewed interest in adventure racing in the defence forces in Australia and this team is taking on the biggest race in Australia. 

Team MMI "The Band" are long time AR supporters and with team captain Morgan Coull leading they are in good hands.  He's raced XPDs, Eco-Challenge Fiji and almost every AR in Australia. He's also just launched the Total Recon race in South Australia, which will feature in the ARWS Oceania Series this year.

Two of the strongest teams will be the two all-female line-ups, Mountain Design’s Wild Women led by Kim Beckinsale and Vortex Diva’s lead by Liz Woodgate.  Both teams include Legendary Australian racers and took part in the first Legend as well, with Wild Women taking second place.

The race is sponsored by Mountain Designs, Trail Brew and Wild Magazine and will have live satellite tracking on live.trackmelive.com.au/legend24 provided by Track Me Live. 

There will be regular reporting and photography on the Wild&Co Facebook page – @wldnco – and news on the social media pages for the Adventure Racing World Series (@arworldseries) and ARWSOceania (@arwsoceania).

For full information on the Legend Expedition Race see – https://www.legendexpd.com.au/

The Legend Adventure Race Takes to the Great Ocean Road for 2024

The Great Ocean Road Coastline will feature in The Legend 2024 / Photo by Connor Home on Unsplash

The Legend expedition adventure race was launched by Wild&Co in February this year as part of the Adventure Racing World Series. In the first race teams crossed the Alpine mountains, forests and lakes of the Snowy Mountains of New South Wales. 

It was a spectacular 500km route undertaken on bikes, on foot and in kayaks and reaching the finish line was a huge achievement. However, it could be the start of a much, much bigger journey, taking racers to the most scenic areas of every state in Australia.

Race Director Chris Dixon plans to hold The Legend annually, with each race moving to a new location, in a new state, and the 2024 race will follow The Great Ocean Road in Victoria!

Adventure racing teams will have the chance to circumnavigate Australia, as Dixon explains; “At the closing ceremony of the 2023 event we asked competing teams where they’d like to race next. There was such a diverse range of responses from the south western tip of Western Australia to the deserts of central Australia, from the island tropics of far North Queensland to the forests of Tasmania.

Legend 2023 – teams cross the high plains in the Snowy mountains. Photo: Murilo Mattos

“In order to deliver on our vision to establish The Legend Expedition Race as the quintessential Australian expedition race – one that sees teams competing in the toughest sport on the planet, in the most iconic locations in Australia, we realised we needed to do it all.

“’Doing a big lap’ of Australia is dream that many in Australia and around the world have, and the Legend Expedition Race will be a unique and exciting way to fulfil that dream.”

Photo by Slava Abramovitch on Unsplash

The 2024 race will take place from Feb. 24th to March 2nd, and entries are now open on the race website at: www.legendexpd.com.au

The next destination for The Legend offers the chance to race in area which has never been used for an expedition adventure race before.

The race HQ will be in the town of Apollo Bay, which is only a 2 hour 40 minute drive from Melbourne, and is a popular stop for those following The Great Ocean Road.  The town is renowned for its coastal location, magnificent beaches, tasty seafood and wildlife tours, and is the start of the 104km Great Ocean Trail.

The Legend will take a longer route, following the course of The Great Ocean Road, but going off-road, and exploring the National Parks, rivers, lakes, cliffs and beaches of the world renowned coastline.   

Dixon said, “Teams will trek wild coastal trails and visit the iconic sights and cliffs near the 12 Apostles and Loch Ard Gorge.  They will explore the Great Otway National Park, paddle remote inland waterways and rivers, and discover little known waterfalls.  Depending on the conditions they should be prepared for an epic ocean paddle stage with a beach landing. They will mountain bike through ancient temperate rainforest along gravel roads, fire trails and ride some of Australia’s best mountain bike trails.”

Legend 2024 will feature epic coastal and hinterland mountain bike trails. Photo: Murilo Mattos

The only adventure race to visit the area before was a stage race (with teams stopping each night).  The Race Director was John Jacoby, perhaps the greatest Legend of Australian adventure racing and he said, “We're excited to see what Wild&Co will do – it’s such an amazing region!”

“We're excited to see what Wild&Co will do – it’s such an amazing region!”

Adventure Racing World Series CEO Heidi Muller commented, “The ARWS has had an Australian expedition race in the calendar almost every year and Chris is carrying forward that great tradition.  His vision to take The Legend to every Australian state is impressive and going from The Snowy Mountains to The Great Ocean Road is a wonderful start!  He is providing Australian racers with a unique opportunity to explore their country.”

The Legend format is a classic, non-stop 6 day adventure race involving trekking, mountain biking, kayaking and other adventure disciplines. The race is for teams of four and they must stay together and navigate their way unsupported through an epic 500+km course.

For those wanting to test out expedition racing there will also be a half course option next year.  This will offer the same epic adventure and visit the most iconic locations, but teams will have the full 6 days to race half of the full course distance, allowing more inexperienced teams a greater chance of reaching the finish line.

Race Details

Date: 24 Feb – 3 March 2024
Location: Victoria, Australia
Duration: 6 days / 500km & 250km (full and half course)
Entries: Open Now! Early bird discounted entry ends August 30th.
Team size: 4 person 

Photo by Our Life in Pixels on Unsplash – Lorne, Victoria

The 2023 Adventure Racing World Series Starts in Australia and Brazil

High in the Snowy Mountains on the Legend Expedition Race

The 2023 Adventure Racing World Series had got off to a spectacular start with two new races in Australia and Brazil in a year when race destinations also include the USA, Croatia, Canada, Colombia, Ecuador, the Faroe Islands, Paraguay, Poland, Mexico and South Africa.

Australia and Brazil have both featured strongly in the 22 year history of the ARWS, and both have staged two

World Championships in the past. There have been no World Series expedition races there in the past few years and ARWS CEO Heidi Muller said, “It’s fantastic to have both Brazil and Australia back in the Series as they are countries with strong adventure racing communities which offer incredible landscapes and venues for expedition adventure racing.”

The new ARWS race in Australia took teams into the high country of the Snowy Mountains for the inaugural edition of The Legend Expedition Race.

The race was organised by Wild & Co. with Chris Dixon as the Race Director. Dixon has organised many races in the ARWS Oceania regional series, including last year’s first Oceania Championship race on the Gold Coast. For his first expedition race he left the coast and set a 500km course in the Snowy Mountains, which was all above 1000m and included a trek taking teams over 2000m and close to the summit of Mt. Kosciuszko, the highest peak in Australia.

Race HQ was in the alpine village of Jindabyne and the race had an action packed start including climbing and abseiling high above the Snowy River, followed by a canyon descent as teams made their way along the river. The following trekking and biking stages took teams into the open, rolling hills and high pastures, with the added spice of the navigational challenge to find the checkpoints.

Some of these were placed around and inside the spectacular Yarrangobilly Caves and for races who wanted a muscle relieving dip there was a ’thermal pool’ to relax in. There were kayak crossings of two high alpine lakes too, the second across Talbingo Reservoir requiring teams to tow their bikes in additional kayaks for 22km.

The day before the race the water had been whipped up by fierce and cold winds, but competitors were exceptionally lucky with the weather this year. The sun shone most of the time, the water was not too cold and the views were unforgettable!

The race winners, by a comfortable margin, were Team 3 Points of Contact, by far the most experienced expedition race team in the field. The team of Russell Stringer, Gary Sutherland, David Schloss and Alison McLachlan finished in 4 days 17 hours and 40 minutes as the first Legend winners and claimed a free place at the 2023 Adventure Racing World Championships in South Africa in October.

Finishing teams included many first time racers, but it was another very experienced, all-female team who took second place, the Mountain Designs Wild Women.

Kim Beckinsale from that team summed up the racer’s experience; “Thanks to Chris Dixon from Wild and Co. and his team of volunteers for having the guts to go ahead with an ambitious course in such a spectacular part of the world, because wow, it was such a great race and I’m sure that in future many Legends will follow.”

Canyon descent during the Malacara Race

As the Legend finished, the Malacara Race in Brazil began from the the ‘Magic Island’ of Florianopolis, famed internationally for its beaches, lifestyle and cuisine.

The race had taken place previously, but this year increased in distance to over 500km and joined the AR World Series as a Demonstration Race. The two Race Directors, Benito Brocca and

Léo Nardi Borba, had dreamed for years of organising a race in the World Series, and became some of its youngest race Directors with this year’s race.

They are also owners of a packraft factory (Malacara Packrafts) and fulfilled their dream at the spectacular start to the race, when 65 identical orange rafts paddled out to sea beneath the main bridge to the island. Léo promised it would be “the most beautiful adventure race ever in Brazil.” With previous World Championship races held in the globally important wetlands of Pantanal and from Jericoacoara beach, it was a bold claim and one the race lived up to.

The packrafts were packed and carried cross-country through hilly terrain and dense vegetation before a second paddle stage on a lagoon and a long trek down the coast, crossing beaches and rocky headlands.

One of the international teams expected to do well was Masanga Racing from Denmark, but they were lost in the forest on the first trek and near the back of the field. It was a hard mistake to come back from, but by the time the lead teams reached the mainland to start the first big cycle stage, the young Danish team had fought their way back into contention.

The weather on the long mountain bike stage was to define the race for many teams. Unlike the sunny Snowy Mountains, the hills and forests of Eastern Brazil were hit with rain storms which turned the trails and dirt roads to dense mud, and progress was slow. Even the fastest teams took much longer than expected (and ran out of food), and for slower teams the ride was a test of resolve and endurance they had to survive to finish the race under their own power.

From this point in the race the international team, AKSA Brazil, took the lead. The team was one of the most experienced in the race, with racers from France, Paraguay and Brazil who have many World Series finishes and podium places between them.

Fernando Perez arrived from a recent win in the ARWS South America Championship in Paraguay, Romy Viale has raced for many years with former world #1, 400team of France, and Mariana Pontes and Guillaume Habouzit are among Brazil’s most experienced and successful racers.

There was still a long way to go at the end of the big ride, with stages including a jungle trek and canyon descent, and more tough trek and cycle stages before the final packraft to the finish. AKSA Brazil were not to be challenged however, and the longer the race continued the bigger their lead became. They crossed the line as winners of the first Malacara Expedition race in 4 days 20 hours and 47 minutes.

The current #1 team in Brazil, Lagartixa, took second place and it was the young Danish team, Masanga Racing, who maintained their spirited fight back and completed the podium places.

ARWS CEO Heidi Muller and Arnando Maciel, President of the Confederação Brasileira de Corrida de Aventura, greeted the teams finishing the course and helped present the prizes. Muller said, “The spirit and enthusiasm for adventure racing I’ve seen here in Brazil has been incredible, which is why it is so important to have the Malacara Race in the AR World Series. We can’t wait for the next race, when they will be a full World Series Qualifier.”

The dates for the next Malacara Race have already been announced for April 19th-27th 2024 and you can find out more at www.malacararace.com.br

The date and location for the next Legend Expedition race will be announced soon, and you can keep up with the race news at https://www.legendexpd.com.au/

For all information on the Adventure Racing World Series see www.arworldseries.com

The next race in the ARWS is another brand new event, Expedition Ozark, taking place from April 3-8th in Arkansas, USA.

Team AKSA Sport – winners of the Malacara Race

Circumnavigate Australia with Legend Expedition Race

High in the Snowy Mountains on the Legend Expedition Race 2023

After a truely legendary inaugural event in the Australian alpine region Wild&Co are excited to launch Legend Expedition Race for 2024 with a 7 year vision to circumnavigate Australia. The 2024 event will be held in the Australian state of Victoria before continuing each year around Australia to Tasmania, South Australia, Western Australia, the Northern Territory, Queensland and finishing in the Australian Capital Territory.

“At the closing ceremony of the 2023 event we asked competing teams where they’d like to race next. There was such a diverse range of responses from the south western tip of Western Australia to the deserts of central of Australia, from the island tropics of far North Queensland to the forests of Tasmania.

“In order to deliver on our vision to establish Legend Expedition Race as the quintessential Australian expedition race – one that sees teams competing in the toughest sport on the planet, in the most iconic locations in Australia, we realised we needed to do it all.

‘Doing a big lap’ of Australia is dream that many in Australia and around the world have, and Legend Expedition Race will be a unique and exciting way to fulfil that dream.”
Chris Dixon, Race Director

Circumnavigate Australia with Legend Expedition Race

The 2024 event will take place from February 24 to March 2 2024 in Victoria in a soon to be announced, iconic Victorian location.

“Organising a race non-stop for 6 days in a new location each year is a real challenge and a privilege. I’ve had the opportunity to explore so many amazing areas in Australia love sharing this experience with teams. Each race is a unique experience and I want the competitors to have the journey of a life time.

“For 2024 we’re going to cover some amazing ground with real highlights – from big views to remote gorges, cliff edges, pristine waterways, ancient forests and iconic coastlines. The course highlight will be travelling through one of Australia’s most iconic scenes. The course will cover 500+kms and teams have 6 days to complete the route, with the leaders likely to finish on day 3.”

Legend Expedition Race is organised by Wild&Co, and is the first event on the 2024 calendar in Oceania. The Race Director is Chris Dixon and Legend Expedition Race is the second expedition length race he has planned after working in the events industry since 2007 and adventure racing since 2016. To date he has organised 22 adventure races and Chris and his team are looking to build on the success of recent years to create another legendary experience.

The event will be part of the Adventure Race World Series (ARWS) with the winning team receiving entry into the 2024 World Championships.

For full information on Legend Expedition Race see - https://www.legendexpd.com.au/

For information about the ARWS see - https://www.https://arworldseries.com/

Is adventure racing worth studying? Research suggests it is.

Teams trek across the Australia Alpine country in the Legend Expedition Race 2023

Adventure racing is a multi-discipline endurance sport that involves navigating through challenging terrain and completing a series of outdoor activities such as running, cycling, kayaking, and climbing.

This sport has gained popularity worldwide and has become a subject of academic research over the years. In this literature review, we will explore some of the academic articles on adventure racing and highlight their key findings.

Adventure racing: a thematic analysis of competitors’ experiences (2016) by F. P. Reavy, K. L. Burch, and A. L. Gass.

This study used thematic analysis to explore the experiences of adventure racing competitors. The authors found that adventure racing is a unique and challenging sport that requires participants to adapt to unexpected situations and work together as a team. The study also found that adventure racing has a positive impact on participants' mental and physical health, as well as their sense of personal growth and achievement.

Nutrition in adventure racing: An update (2021) by M. L. Burke, J. R. Hawley, and G. S. Shaw.

This article reviews the current research on nutrition in adventure racing. The authors found that adequate nutrition is critical for adventure racers to perform at their best and avoid fatigue and injury. The study also found that a balanced diet, proper hydration, and strategic use of supplements can help adventure racers to maintain their energy levels and enhance their endurance.

The psychological factors affecting adventure racing performance (2017) by S. S. Drew, L. Vella, and J. P. Leicht.

This study explored the psychological factors that affect adventure racing performance. The authors found that motivation, self-confidence, and mental toughness are critical for success in adventure racing. They also found that effective goal-setting, visualization, and relaxation techniques can help adventure racers to manage stress and perform at their best.

Physiological demands of adventure racing: A systematic review (2018) by K. L. Burch, F. P. Reavy, and A. L. Gass.

This systematic review explored the physiological demands of adventure racing. The authors found that adventure racing is a highly demanding sport that requires participants to have excellent cardiovascular fitness, muscular strength, and endurance. The study also found that the physical demands of adventure racing vary depending on the terrain, climate, and duration of the race.

Adventure racing: a tool for teaching life skills (2019) by J. A. Flaschner, J. C. Haney, and L. G. Smith.

This study examined the potential of adventure racing as a tool for teaching life skills. The authors found that adventure racing can help participants to develop teamwork, communication, problem-solving, and decision-making skills. The study also found that adventure racing can improve participants' self-esteem, self-efficacy, and leadership skills.

In conclusion, adventure racing is a unique and challenging sport that has gained popularity worldwide. The academic research on adventure racing has focused on exploring the experiences of competitors, the physiological demands of the sport, the psychological factors affecting performance, and the potential of adventure racing as a tool for teaching life skills. These studies have highlighted the positive impact of adventure racing on participants' physical and mental health, personal growth, and development of important life skills.

The Legend Expedition Race in Australia Starts the 2023 Adventure Racing World Series

This year’s Adventure Racing World Series spans 10 countries and the new Legend XPD race in Australia is the first, taking place from February 25th to March 4th.

The expedition adventure race is based in Jindabyne, a popular alpine town that sits on the shores of the picturesque Lake Jindabyne at the edge of the Snowy Mountains.

Teams will begin arriving for registration on Saturday at the Conference Centre at the Adventist Alpine Village, which has the perfect facilities for a race HQ. After competency checks and a race briefing they will prepare for Sunday’s 09.30 race start. They won’t know the details of the course until 2 hours before the start when they receive the race maps and can plan their route for the next 6 days of adventure.

The race is organised by Wild&Co, and is the first of 6 races planned for this year in Australia and New Zealand, the last of which will be the Adventure Racing World Series Oceania Championship in November.

The Race Director is Chris Dixon and The Legend is the first expedition length race he has planned after working in the events industry since 2007 and adventure racing since 2016. To date he has organised 20 adventure races and now it’s time for Chris and his team to deliver the ultimate outdoor challenge, a 6 day non-stop expedition race.

“Every adventure race is part of the learning curve for a Race Director,” he said, “and over the years I’ve coped with all sorts of challenges from extreme weather to Covid restrictions. You never know quite what will happen and have to prepare for the expected and be ready to cope with the unexpected!

“Organising a race non-stop for 6 days in the mountains and wilderness is a real challenge and a privilege. I’ve had the opportunity to explore this amazing area while setting the course and now get to share it and send teams on the journey of a lifetime. The race will be a unique experience and I want the competitors to enjoy every moment.

“We’re going to cover some amazing ground with real highlights in each leg – from big views to remote gorges, cliff edges, alpine waterways and rolling high country plains. The highlight will be summiting Australia’s highest peak, Mount Kosciuszko.”

The course covers 507km with over 10,000m of climbing, and teams have 6 days to complete the route, with the leaders likely to finish on day 3. There are 13 stages in all, including 6 foot stages (orienteering, trekking and gorge walking), two kayak stages and 5 navigational MTB rides, including what may be the toughest stage of all, 143km ride with an elevation gain of 4250m.

The route will take teams into a uniquely Australian landscape with rolling farm land, pristine alpine environments, huge alpine lakes, the snowy river and some spectacular rock formations. Teams will experience high mountains, big skies and wide open plains.

The race guide warns teams to prepare for extremes of weather, reminding them that reports from other races in the area say teams have ‘never been hotter and never been colder’, all in the space of a day. Teams are warned the mandatory race gear is a minimum and to consider packing extra warm gear. The paddling stages on two big Alpine lakes will be cold, especially at night and if the wind picks up. On the second of these teams will need to tow extra kayaks with their bikes in to reach a remote transition point.

Ten teams will be on the start line next Sunday, some with considerable expedition race experience and pedigree, and others taking on a new level of challenge. The teams of 4 will be aiming to complete the full course and every member of the team must cross the finish line together to achieve that. The premier category is for mixed teams and the most experienced teams in this category are ‘3 Points of Contact’, ‘Capital AR’ and team ‘E Dog and the JJ’s’.

There are two equally experienced all female teams as well. ‘Vortex Diva’s’ and ‘Mountain Designs Wild Women’ regularly race against each other in Wild&Co races and their strategic race planning and team work will be even more important over an expedition length course.

Dixon said, “We owe a huge thank you to everyone that has entered. This is an exciting stage in our journey and we’ve been dreaming of this event for a long time. And while we’re 100% focused on delivering this event, we are hoping very much this is just the start for the Legend!

“Special thanks must go to our sponsors Mountain Designs, Trail Brew, TrackMe NZ and to Snowy Mountains Tourism for their support – it’s very much appreciated. And of course to the logistics and volunteer team that will make the race happen. We couldn’t do it without them!”

The race will have live satellite tracking on https://www.followmychallenge.com/.../legend-expedition.../ and there will be regular reporting and photography on the Wild&Co Facebook page - Wild&Co

There will also be news on the social media pages for the Adventure Racing World Series (@arworldseries) and ARWSOceania pages (@arwsoceania).

For full information on the Legend Expedition Race see - https://www.legendexpd.com.au/

Legend Expedition Race Update

It’s been an amazing experience exploring the high country plains, peaks, waterways and small towns along the Legend Expedition course.

When designing a course in the area there are some absolute must-include experiences – epic single track MTB trails, hiking over Mt Kosciuszko and stopping in at back-country huts. But perhaps even more beautiful than these headline experiences is travelling over the high country plains through the snow gums and then above the treeline.

Although XPD has a long history in Australia, and certainly this race has been designed to continue the legacy of a uniquely Australian owned and designed Expedition Race. The Legend Expedition Race is a new event and as we grow, will develop its own unique legacy, especially as we introduce a new generation of racers to the sport.

For those who have raced recent GeoQuest, Hells Bells and Terra Nova events, the Legend will be familiar in the way it is delivered. As an expedition race there will be a few additions such as mandatory gear and competency checks as part of race registration and a more formal course reveal and presentation dinner. We will also use the more extensive mandatory gear list as part of Adventure Racing World Series Qualifier rounds with a few additions.

This email highlights a few important points in support of the information on the Legend website.

Event Information Kit and event documents

One to two weeks before the event we will send out the event information kit via email, it will also be posted to the website and on social media. This contains all the essential information teams need to know ahead of the event including the event logistics plan so teams can prepare their gear appropriately.

On the day before race start – Saturday 25 February – registration is open from 9am to 5pm, and will include registration, competency and gear checks and briefings. These will be conducted team by team on a schedule that will be included in the information kit. On the day of the race, teams will deliver their gear to race HQ and then enter team “Lock Down” for the course map handout. The race will start at 10:30.

Race HQ and Accomodation

Race HQ as well as the start and finish of the race will be at the Adventist Alpine Centre in the town of Jindabyne. There is dormitory accomodation available at the centre that can be booked directly by contacting the team at www.alpinevillage.com.au.

There are plenty of options for accomodation and things to do in town – as always check out the local tourism website snowymountains.com.au.

Comments on the Course

The Snowy Mountains course will feature ‘about’ 10 legs covering a total distance of ‘about’ 500kms including trekking 100km, mountain biking 280km and kayaking 90km as well as other adventure disciplines. Of course teams need to be prepared for anything on the day and there is often a bit of give and take with these distances as we build the course around the local landscape. In terms of navigation, the course is a linear course where teams will need to collect check points (CPs) in order to complete each leg. There will be a couple of rogaine style legs as well with multiple route choices available.

In terms of ‘other adventure disciplines’ we are hoping very much to include a ropes based activity and an off trail gorge and river trek which will include some challenging terrain to cover.

The course will feature a very wide range of terrain including alpine lakes, high country plains, some big climbs, on and off-trail travel, single track, fire trails, country back roads, rock-scrambling and of course a climb over some of the highest points in Australia.

Kayaking – all kayaking legs on the course will be conducted on flat water using the Wild & Co Mission Surge double kayaks. They are very stable and feature attachment points for the standard kayak seats available at Anaconda: www.anacondastores.com. At this stage there are no planned portages. It is highly likely that teams will be paddling at night at some stage during the event and should be prepared for cold conditions. Paddle and PFD hire is available with details to be included in the information kit.

Alpine Trek – depending on the weather conditions on the day, teams will travel into an alpine area. The gear on the mandatory gear list is sufficient to ensure your safety in this area, but should be considered a minimum requirement. It is worth planning ahead to ensure you have a few extra layers as it will be exposed can get quite cold and windy. There is often snow in the area in late February / March. There will be a couple of strict conditions regarding travel in the area in particular around human waste – this will included in the information pack. It is recommended teams familiarise themselves with ‘leave no trace’ principles and some the issues regarding human waste: themountainjournal.com/2016/06/05/lets-talk-about-poo/

Gorge and River Trek – for many this will be a unique experience. The river trek involves following a free-flowing river along the bank, through a gorge, past and over small waterfalls, rapids, boulders and whatever else arises from nature. In order to do this you'll be walking, scrambling, jumping, sliding, wading, swimming, floating and quite possibly swearing. One thing's for certain – you're going to get wet! If you feel the cold, it’s worth packing a wetsuit or wetsuit top and pants or extra thermal top, fleece and shell layer for this leg. Water levels will be assessed the day before the event and advice will be given whether a PFD and bike helmet will be mandatory for this leg.

Logistics

Legend Expedition Race is an un-supported event (no support crew) – as such teams will need 4 x 100 litre gear boxes clearly marked with a team name. The logistics plan included in the Information Kit will tell you where these will be placed around the course. Teams will also need a Bike Boxs and Paddle Bags clearly labeled with team name. Dimensions of the bike box and paddle bag are available on the website at https://www.legendexpd.com.au/mandatory-gear-and-logistics

Mandatory Gear

Legend Expedition Race competitors are required carry mandatory items to maximise their safety during the event and need to be familiar with the event logistics for AR races.

Legend Expedition Race is an ARWS Qualifier and has adopted the Mandatory Gear Lists promulgated by the Adventure Racing World Series. The ‘Qualifier’ list found at http://arworldseries.com/resources/

On top of the ARWS list it is highly recommended teams come prepared for both heat and cold – it is very likely to be up to warm during the day and then drop below zero overnight during the race. If conditions are also wet, it could become challenging.

Adventure Racing World Series Oceania Champs Set for the Gold Coast and Alpine Quest Join the Series

The venue for the Oceania Championship final of the Adventure Racing World Series has been announced today as the Gold Coast, and the race will now be part of a 5 race series, following the news that Alpine Quest has joined the premier adventure racing series in the region.

The ARWS Oceania Championship final will take place in the Gold Coast from 21-23rdOctober, when adventure racing teams will mountain bike, paddle, trek and navigate their way around 180km (full) or 100km (half), non-stop courses.  

The ARWS Championship category is open to teams of 4 which must be mixed sex, and the elite teams will be chasing the Oceania title, ARWS ranking points, and the ultimate prize of a paid-for place in the 2023 Adventure Racing World Championships.  There is also a cash prize pool of AUD$10,000.

The race isn’t just for the elite teams, however. The course will be designed to be achievable and accessible to all abilities, remaining open for 36 hours, and allowing teams some choices to provide short-cuts should they need them.  (2 person teams and all-male and all-female teams can also enter, but won’t be included in the ARWS championship category.)  The sport of Adventure Racing is unique in allowing the world’s best and novice teams to compete together on the same terms. 

The weekend of racing also includes the shorter (half) course, which has less distance and a shorter time limit, but many of the same amazing challenges and locations.

The event will be staged by specialist race Management Company Wild&Co and Event Director Chris Dixon is excited about the partnership with the Gold Coast and the opportunities it offers to racers. 

“With its majestic sub-tropical rainforest, spectacular waterfalls and cascades, pristine beaches and iconic skyline, the Gold Coast is the perfect backdrop for the inaugural ARWS Oceania Championship,” he said.  

He added. “The Gold Coast also offers visiting teams an abundance of accommodation and services for a great trip and is very accessible, by road from many population centres, or via the international airport.  It’s a great location for our Championship race.”

Gold Coast Mayor, Tom Tate, commented.  “Diversifying our city’s major events calendar is critical as we navigate our way out of the global health pandemic and this high-energy, international, event fits that bill perfectly. 

“The Gold Coast's varied natural landscape is the perfect location to host this tough competition and will provide the ultimate challenge for Oceania's top adventure racers. Securing this pinnacle international event reinforces our reputation as an appealing sports and events destination.”

Alpine Quest Strengthens the ARWS Oceania Series

The 2022 ARWS Oceania Series has now expanded, with the inclusion of the Alpine Quest race, which offers teams a very different location and challenge in the wilderness Alpine terrain of Victoria.  

The inclusion of the race also brings into the series the experience and expertise of Serge Kurov and Maria Plyashechko, who have organised over 30 adventure and outdoor events over the last decade.  The pair have a passion for adventure racing, and they have competed internationally all over the world; including in Patagonia, Abu Dhabi and China.

Maria commented. “We feel that the ARWS is the right community of experienced Race Directors in which we can run high quality races for our participants to enjoy. We will be a part of an established and transparent structure, with a clear vision and goals on all levels. The advantages the ARWS provides to Race Directors are well-defined and for the participants of the Alpine Quest the ARWS referee will offer an additional point of communication. 

“Participants will also have a chance to gain Oceania points to participate in the ARWS regional series ranking, and to compete for the chance to be ARWS Oceania Champions in 2023.”

She added, “It’s been tough couple of years due to Covid restrictions, but we are looking forward to a new chapter with the ARWS community of Race Directors and racers.”

Alpine Quest will take place on Nov. 11-12th and you can find full details at https://alpinequest.com.au

The ARWS Oceania Calendar

The first race in the 2022 Oceania ARWS Series will be the Terra Nova Adventure Race on April 2/3rd in Shoalhaven, NSW, with 120 and 70km courses, and a maximum 24 hour time limit for the full course.

This will be followed by the Mountain Designs Geoquest, which is the oldest 48 hour race in Australia (going back to 2002), and where the list of winning teams is a who’s who of world class of Australian adventure racers.  The venue will be Shoal Bay, NSW, and the course distances 220 and 120km.

The action then moves to S.E. Queensland, where the 24 hour Hells Bells Adventure Racewill take place over the weekend of August 6/7th. 

Entries are now open for all 2022 events in the ARWS Oceania Series, and you can find out more information about the races and the Adventure Racing World Series at; https://arworldseries.com/oceania. 

Interviews with the Race Directors and participating teams, plus details of media opportunities and participation, are available on request from Chris Dixon @arws address?.  

Photos with captions – available from arworldseriesoceania.com

About The Adventure Racing World Series

The Adventure Racing World Series is an association of 48 races across 5 continents and 23 countries. The series supports world-class, international, expedition races, which are the pinnacle of the world’s toughest sport, and the development of professionally organised racing at a national level through the ARWS Regional series. 

Each Regional Series has its own ranking and championship final, and the ranking points feed through into the global ARWS ranking.  The winners of the annual Regional Championship receive a paid-for place at the next Adventure Racing World Championships.