Expedition Africa 200km/120km/60km Hermanus
The World is watching South Africa ahead of AR World Champs
Press Release / 13.04.2023
At the end of March, the organisers of Expedition Africa presented their last 40-hour event of the year as their attention must now focus on final plans for their expedition-length event. With South Africa as the host location for this year’s AR World Championships, followers from around the world had eyes on this event.
This event, held in the Stanford-Hermanus area of the Western Cape province, was a ‘homecoming’ of sorts for race organisers Heidi and Stephan Muller from Kinetic Events. Their journey of organising an annual expedition-length event began in Hermanus in 2011 with their first 600-kilometre Expedition Africa event. Now, 12-years later, the event that started with representation from two countries has grown into a multinational celebration of expedition-length racing and the host of the 2023 Adventure Racing World Championships.
This event held three course distances to accommodate teams starting out in the sport as well as those preparing for AR World Champs in October. Online tracking makes the following events accessible to anyone with an internet connection. Stats showed an increased number of visitors watching this event from outside South Africa.
Teams taking on the longest 24-40hr course set off on the Friday evening, completing the first paddle and village run in good conditions. By morning, the driving wind had turned what would have been a tame paddle into an adventure. Online tracking showed the 6-12hr and 12-24hr course teams clinging to the banks and even wading through reeds to complete the leg.
Stand-out sections included the long beach stretch from Hermanus to Gansbaai and the long cycle leg, which teams battled through under incredibly windy conditions. The cycle route had short-cut options, which several teams further back opted to take.
“This was a good reality check for the teams that are preparing for World Champs,” says Heidi Muller.
“They will need to put in the hours on their feet and bikes over the next few months. This Expedition Africa Hermanus event has set the landscape, flavour and tone in the lead up to the ARWC in Cape St Francis in October this year.”
The race attracted a good number of new teams in the paired and four-person categories across the course distances. There were also all-female pairs and teams sporting two or more women, a divergence from the ‘standard’ three-men, one-woman team format. The many teams with young racers and students promise a strong foundation in the development of skills and experience in this next generation of competitive teams.
Taking part in the 24-40hr event in Team Mountain Mammoth AR was David Palmer, director of Merrell South Africa.
“From the event organisation to the volunteers, transitions and beyond, every athlete was all smiles and friendliness, amidst the exertion-induced small grimace every now and again,” David said after the race.
“Adventure took centre stage at Expedition Africa Hermanus given the raw and rugged beauty of the coastline, the serenity of the lagoon, the rocky mountain terrain, and the openness of the endlessly long farm roads.
“From paddle to trek to cycle, exhilaration was at the fore, which answered the call of sharing the simple power of being outside with everyone. For all athletes, this was a journey of self-discovery and freedom with trusted team-mates and friends. The Expedition Africa community is all about the forging of ties and connections, and the appreciation of the great outdoors.
“EA Hermanus delivered on its every promise, setting the stage for what is destined to be one incredible journey to the carnival of adventure and togetherness at the AR World Championships in Cape St Francis.”
At the prizegiving on Sunday morning, all teams were present. Prizes were given to podium winners, teams entered for AR World Champs, all-female teams and young participants. Shoes and clothing vouchers from Merrell, AR Mini Gaiters, RadBag Adventure Bivy, Forever Fresh dehydrated meals and Squirt Cycling Products gift packs were appreciated and will be used by prize winners in coming events.
With the third event of the ARWS Africa Regional Circuit coming up soon, it is time for teams to gear up for the next adventure: the Mammoth Woodridge AR in Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape from 21-24 April 2023.
RESULTS
24-40hr Course Overall
- Namaqua
- Parallel (38h00)
- Rustproof
12-24hr Course Overall
- Scruffy and Fluffy (pair)
- Wonderlikkewane
- Drink Tee & Beplan Adventure
6-12hr Course Overall
- Weekend Warriors (pair)
- Maus & Co
- Vasbyt Vlegsels (pair)
SleepMonsters
