THE Myall Coast region will play host to the 2015 Mountain Designs GeoQuest adventure race in June.
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Over 500 competitors, support crew and family members will attend the challenging 48 hour race, held from June 5 to 8.
Competitors will race non-stop in the major disciplines of trekking, mountain biking and kayaking. Disciplines for the 2015 race will also include rafting, coasteering and swimming.
Teams of four must navigate their way through an arduous 200+km course.
The Geo half adventure race will be run concurrently with the Mountain Designs GeoQuest. As the name suggests it covers half the distance however teams will have the full 48 hours to finish it.
Often it is an ideal event for fit athletes just starting out on the adventure racing scene. The legs are just as challenging as the full distance but with the additional time, half course teams have a greater chance of reaching the finish line.
According to race organiser Craig Bycroft, the Myall Coast was selected because of the twin towns of Tea Gardens and Hawks Nest and because there are some great wilderness areas.
“The Myall Lakes and the Myall River have exciting paddling opportunities. Also the Myall Lakes National Park offers lots of variety of terrain which translates into a very interesting course for our competitors,” explained Bycroft.
“On one section they could be riding bikes up steep mountains and on another leg of the race they could be paddling on a serene lake.”
The course is kept a secret from competitors until the day before the race which gives an equal advantage to all teams.
Organisers have designed a course that shows off many of the unique and diverse aspects that the area offers including some interesting cultural sites of the traditional owners, the Worimi people.
Great Lakes mayor Jan McWilliams said council is excited to welcome the Mountain Design GeoQuest Race to the region.
“It is expected that the event will bring in well over $500,000 to the local economy. Some competitors will come earlier and some will make a family holiday out of it.
“This way they get to relax afterwards and hopefully get a chance to also enjoy the wonderful activities and spectacular natural attractions that Tea Gardens, Hawks Nest and the Myall Coast have to offer.”
The event headquarters will be at the Hawks Nest Surf Life Saving Club.
Registrations are now open for mixed, male or female teams. Entries close on May 17.
For more information visit: www.geoquest.com.au
