Mark Webber Pure Tasmania Challenge 2007
Elina and I have just returned from a week’s racing as Team Schweppes in Tasmania where we were part of the Mark Webber Pure Tasmania Challenge. The event was a mixture of elite athletes from many different sports, celebrities and corporate competitors all racing to raise money for the Leukaemia Foundation and the Save the Tasmanian Devil Trust.
The journey started near Cradle Mountain in Tasmania where we were issued with gear and instructions before the first of many spectacular dinners was set upon by all present.
PROLOGUE
This warm up stage was designed as a bit of a blow out and also to seed teams for the first real day‘s racing. A quick MTB along the road with some short rises and some screaming down hills took us to a short run and then onto Lake Barrington for a quick splash down to the finish and our camp for the next 4 nights. With everyone starting in groups at minute intervals Elina and I were on the chase from the outset and it wasn’t until the kayak when we finally glimpsed the front of the field. We passed Mark Webber and guest racer Greg Rust from Channel 10 along the way. Greg wasn’t looking as comfortable on the bike as on screen but Mark was giving him a good push on the bike and they got through in good time. We slipped by into the lead with a bit of help from the front team All Aerobics who were having some troubles working out how to put the rudder down and probably paddled an extra 500m. Once finished we spent a stunning afternoon of swimming and socialising at the lake and were treated to the site of Olympic Swimmer Michael Klim cruising around in the water.
DAY 1
Starting on Dove Lake at the bottom of Cradle Mountain we set off in 3 waves, 15mins apart on a short kayak orienteering challenge before returning to tackle the climb up the Mountain. Olympic Pole Vaulter Tatiana Grigorieva and top Australian Adventure racer Jarad Kohlar were first back to land before the final wave had even got under way. Once we’d whipped around the lake we also set off up the long climb. Someone had told Elina (unbeknown to me) a body had been pulled from the rough ground near the top and was somewhat tentative on the maze of twisted and broken rocks with huge gaping holes between them. Once around the summit cairn we raced back towards the transition via a different ridge. We struck some confusion about the same time as we caught up to Mark and his new guest Olympic rower James Tomkins when a track we’d been directed towards didn’t seem to exist and other tracks weren’t marked as passing the lake we were heading for. Cross country seemed like the only option and without too much of a delay we found the lake and headed on. Teams all took vastly different routes with some finding tracks and others missing it all together. Back to the TA and a short untimed section through to the start of the MTB proper turned out to be a precursor of things to come with the whole thing a slog uphill. After using 55 minutes of our untimed hour it was quickly underway with a lengthy off road section which included a ride across some kind of moss which necessitated the use of granny gear on the flat and sucked the energy from the legs faster than an Aussie with a 4 X. Back onto the road and we sped down a massive downhill trying to enjoy it but knowing all well that that we had to climb back out of it. Once back to the top and another huge downhill with a police escort to make it even more fun. At this stage we’d been running second but minutes after starting the final 10km climb we flew past team All Aerobics who’d been flying all day but had hit the wall less than 10km from home. It was a great day, an honest 7 hours racing and especially hard for those teams which were out for close to 12 hours. Many of the participants smashed their own personal boundaries to finish the day and with 5 days to go there was plenty of trepidation of the following day.
DAY 2
With the realisation that the course was probably going to crack many of the competitors the decision was made by the organisers to take out the first ride for the day and modify the course for more enjoyment – now there’s a novel idea race directors, some fun too! The resulting day was a huge hit with all the participants. We started on foot with a large ascent towards the top of Mount Roland before trekking and running through a popular running event taking in 3 peaks. It was a long 19 km and Jared who was now racing with Australian Rogaining Champion Rob took off at warp speed to wrap up the day. It took us a long time to finally catch some of the teams and when we finally caught up to Mark Webber and James Tomkins they stuck close to us for the remainder of the day. Elina and I reached the MTB stage in sight of second on the course. The following MTB was a blast and almost everyone commented they would have like it to be longer, maybe it was because it was 90% downhill and the uphill was almost flat. The last section was a short kayak back to the camp ground and we again ended the day relaxing and partaking in a few local brews. Just before dusk Jared decided he wanted to see how cold it was in the middle of the lake, but he himself wasn’t keen to find out. After a bit of banter Captain Jeremy Ross from the Tassie Hawks team and I decided to give it a bash. Originally Jeremy had raised the dare from $5 to $50 and then somehow it ended up at $100 before the dare got too good to him refuse and off we went. We can both confirm it is bloody cold out there and it took us the rest of the evening to warm up after 20 minutes in the water and seeing as Jeremy had taken the dare himself we were back down to Jared $5 each which he came through with and we donated to the Charities.
DAY 3
Apparently the easiest day but someone forgot to tell the competitors. With the day looking like a 3 hour sprint the pace was on from the start. Leading 4 person corporate team Telstra, ourselves and Jared’s Tassal team along with a selection of others started in our familiar position at the back of the pack. Elina did the honours surging to the front and splitting up the pack before we made a break with Tassal and proceeded to cane each other for the remainder of the ride. The CP’s became a tactical affair with the first team having the luxury of not having to play catch up trying to get back on the first teams wheel. Mark Webber avoided having to cough up $200 to his new team mate, Jason Richardson. The bet was if Jason could stay ahead of our team Schweppes and John Jacoby and Victoria Chesser from Next G who were starting in the last stagger. The money was safe with a few km’s still remaining after both mixed teams caught and passed them close to the TA. After some different selections in streets in the urban run in to the TA we took a couple of slower options and ended up a minute back heading out on the ropes section. After a quick run to the first Tyrolean traverse we hauled ourselves across before a steep climb out to the next rope traverse, which took us back to the original side of the river. The next line zipped us at high speed back across the river and then a quick run back to the final TA where the timing stopped for the day. Our last section for the day was untimed raft down a dam release rapid and as we waited the water turned a creek into a surging rapid and the walkway across the stream was gradually engulfed by the river. Teaming up in the rafts we headed off with guides who enjoyed trying to put the fear of god into anyone who’d listen about the rapids. By the end it was obvious the claims we unfounded and even those who managed to fall out enjoyed the short ride down. A fantastic lunch at a local restaurant and it was off towards the Freycinet National park for the final few days of competition.
DAY 4
Our only day of rain but that couldn’t dampen the spirits as everyone set off. After several course changes due to wind and then back again when it suddenly abated we set off in our groups in the kayaks. Elina and I were having a good tussle again with Jared and Rob at the front, surfing off the wake of a large support boat. As the wake built up the boats began to broach and we got a jump on the others as they’d left their spray skirts off and filled with water as the waves washed over them. As we neared the shore we could see the first waves of competitors already on the beach run and soon we were off in hot pursuit. The run took as across to a stunning beach called Wine glass bay and after an out and back to collect a CP it was a short sharp climb and onto the MTB’s. The rain was still falling and the slippery road caused a few casualties with Tiffany Cherry from Tassie Hawks needing some stitches and Michael Klim also coming to grief. Mark Webber also had bike issues and finished on a spare bike. The remainder of the ride was on fast sandy trails and after a bit of a grind it was just a case of hang on and let it go down the final descent into the finish. That night we had a dinner fit for a king with the chefs doing an incredible job in the make shift kitchen and many of the event sponsors made the trip up for the evening.
DAY 5
This day was similar to Day 4 but in reverse with some added adventures in there. Again we started with a kayak but headed the opposite way. We were quickly through the paddle onto the ride where we made our way to the top of the previous days climb. Another flying downhill to let the legs recover before a short beach run and back to the bikes. A few people were starting to feel the pace of the previous few days and there were also a few fresh legs in there as others joined the race for the final couple of days. The ride took us back out to the coast where we hit an untimed rope section. On the maps it looked simple enough but the short trek to the rope section was hot and with plenty of climbing hard even at an easy pace. The top was stunning though and the 120+ metre abseil was a highlight for the day. Once down we scrambled back around to the bikes for a short blast to the final Coasteering section. Mark Webber with another new team mate, Bernie Shrosbree had shown a clean pair of heels most of the day and finished within sight of the lead. We’d been insight of the leaders heading into the final 4km’s and were giving David Moffatt & former Olympic rower Mike McKay from Telstra a run for their money when Elina went crashing down on the abrasive rocks and cut herself up pretty good. We nursed it home the final few km’s with Elina pretty sore and rather upset at the fall although probably more upset at finishing one place back! After a bit of relaxation and first aid on the leg she perked up and we enjoyed a relaxing evening on the beach with the other competitors.
DAY 6
Final day and it started with an early morning drive to the top of Mount Wellington in Hobart for the start. It was fairly windy and cold at the top and without undue delay we were off on mass down the hill toward the finish. Mark and Bernie jumped us all at the start and held the lead for a good 200m before Jared and Rob went flying past and the usual contenders blasted their way down the 11km twisty and rocky track that lead us to the local brewery where we jumped on the bikes for an urban blast through countless traffic lights – I think we almost hit every red light sequence on our way through and end up chasing Jared and Rob again, this time with a bit of local help in the form of the All Aerobic guys who were sounding a bit anaerobic by this stage. Into the kayaks and we slogged it out into the head wind and waves before racing up to the top of a water front hotel and abseiling off the side. Got great views of the picturesque harbour in Hobart and of many of the teams making their way across the bay towards us. Back at sea level and we set off for the final run to the finish and a couple of orienteering CP’s to collect along the way. We got a few strange looks as we raced through the midday lunch crowds and then we were there. 6 days of racing across some spectacular areas and in great company we had made it. The atmosphere at the end was one of great camaraderie and satisfaction. Many people extended their personal boundaries over the week and had a great time doing it.
THE AFTERMATH
The function that night was another culinary delight and finished with an incredible acoustic performance form Aussie superstar singer Diesel which left everyone buzzing. Overall the event was a huge success with a great balance between challenge and enjoyment. Although the event was almost a pro am style event it highlighted that Adventure races can still be challenging and fun at the same time without the usual brutal mind numbing tactics of many race directors these days. Everyone was able to finish the course each day and the usual traits of successful teams were evident within their team work and encouragement of each other and those around them. Getting to rub shoulders with the likes of Mark Webber and Michael Klim was a fantastic opportunity. Seeing them out there giving it a great shot in a sport far removed from their usual one gave everyone a lot of inspiration. Likewise it was just as inspiring to see the teams such as Tassal Salamanca, Virgin Blue and Giant Lygon Cycles busting down personal barriers and never giving up. They all seemed to finish each day with a smile and like everyone raced the race with a great attitude. A special thanks also to Schweppes for sponsoring our team and making it possible for us to compete.
The event is also well on the way to raising a substantial amount of money for the 2 charities, the Leukaemia Foundation and the Save the Tasmanian Devils trust.
To make a donation to the charities and for more info on the event including results more stories and photos see www.markwebberchallenge.com