Terra Nova 24
Through Fire, Flood and Pandemic – The Terra Nova 24 is on this Weekend
Rob Howard / 26.03.2021
Over the last week the organisers of the Terra Nova 24 hour race have been nervously watching the weather reports and the state of the extreme rain and flooding which has hit Australia’s East Coast.
Last year the course area in the Shoalhaven region was affected by the devastating bush fires, and because the forests are still recovering that has limited the area for the course this year. And in the year in-between we’ve had the Covid pandemic which has shut down so much outdoor sport.
Somehow the Terra Nova has just escaped the worst of the weather and the restrictions. It took place last year following the fires and this weekend’s race, which is based in the small coastal village of Callala Bay, has a record entry and could be the biggest 24 hour race ever held in Australia.
There are some minor Covid restrictions to registration, and no supply of food and water on the course, so teams will have to do a little more planning. There are areas of National Park and forest which can’t be used after the bush fires so the total race area is a little more limited than it might have been. This has meant the course has more of a clover leaf design this year, so teams will see each other more. And now the rains have subsided it’s going to be muddy! Adventure Racing can be very adaptable when it needs to be.
The race has 24 and 12 hour categories and this year the full course features approximately 70 kms on the bike, 30 kms on foot and 20 kms on the water, plus there is a surprise discipline late in the race. The 12 hour race is just over half those distances and in total there are 83 teams and 234 people due to race.
The event is the first race this year in the ARWS Oceania Series, and the big entry shows teams can’t wait to start racing again. Last year the winners were Thunderbolt AR, who lead from the front all race ahead of Alpine Avengers, and those two will be favourites again this year. Race Director Chris Dixon is hoping that a few of the youth teams like, "E Dog and the JJs”, will give the front runners a challenge.
There will be a live news/tracking page for race followers and dot watchers to see how it all unfolds and you cans see the full team list there too of course.
FULL Course- https://live.trackmelive.com.au/terranova-21/
HALF Course - http://live.trackmelive.com.au/terranova-21half/
SleepMonsters
