Insider's View
Day 1 - Cradle Mountain Stage
Kayak - Dove Lake = 4.8km
Walk/Run - Cradle Mountain = 12km
MTB - 43km
Driving competitors to the start line of the first day of racing and everyone was pretty nervous. The bus was quiet as teams sensed the beginning of a tough (but amazing) five days.
Pulling into Dove Lake car park, the Hosts unloaded their vans of competitor transition bags (a transition bag is what each competitor kept everything they needed for the day - change of shoes, socks, helmet, energy bars etc - vital components of the race). Each competitor had a race number and transition bags were generally layed out on the ground in a numbered sequence to ensure competitors could easily find their bags when coming into transition. This was one of our most important roles as a Host (get it wrong and you can have some angry athletes!)
Each day, competitors started in waves, based on their previous days results (slower teams were first to depart). As this was Day 1, organisers 'guessed' the speed of the teams based on previous years results (as many teams had returned year after year), but the day ahead would tell for sure.
The Mark Webber Challenge 2008 began with a kayak leg around Dove Lake. Collecting 10 checkpoints out on the water, competitors were back pretty quickly. As a Host, we also doubled as witches hats, crowd control, information centers, food gatherers, cheer squads (just to name a few). As athletes ran up the path, they needed to 'punch in' at the checkpoint and after a quick change of clothes, they were off running (nb: the extreme adventures didn't even stop when coming into transition).
Even though the run leg, distance wise, was only 12km, it included going up and down the summit of Cradle Mountain (which had some large snow patches, even though it was mid November). Once all competitors had come through transition after kayaking, the role of a Host becomes pretty simple - rearrange transition bags, eat, sit around, immerse yourself in the scenery whilst waiting for competitors to return. As we sat at the base of Dove Lake for a few hours, tourists arrived wondering what was going on. When we explained that there was an adventure race on, and that they were running up and down Cradle Mountain, then off for a 40km bike ride, we had many bedazzled looks! To pass the time, we started betting on who would be the first team back into transition. I lost.
Host duties called as I drove back to the Chateau to help out with the next transition. Just as I arrived, the rain started and riders went off for a 30km mountain bike through the now muddy terrain. I often felt really lazy as competitors were huffing and puffing and we sat there, at the chateau, with our lattes, warm jackets, just waiting for people to come past. I sat there thinking the life of a Host during the race wasn't as involved as I had originally thought.
As competitors returned, complete with mud in their ears and eyes, the injuries also appeared. As Cascade Green returned, my 'lazy' perception of a host soon disappeared. Swollen ankle, grazed leg and bleeding chin, David Crawshay had taken a fall and wasn't in the best shape. Using the best first aid I had, I was relieved when Medics were soon on scene. Keeping him warm, offering my beanie and dry socks was all part of being a Host!
The remaining competitors trickled in throughout the afternoon and as it was getting dark, we drove back to Camp Barrington for a well deserved feast.
Highlights of Climbing into this Adventure:
Day 1 - Cradle Mountain Stage
Kayak - Dove Lake = 4.8km
Walk/Run - Cradle Mountain = 12km
MTB - 43km
Driving competitors to the start line of the first day of racing and everyone was pretty nervous. The bus was quiet as teams sensed the beginning of a tough (but amazing) five days.
Pulling into Dove Lake car park, the Hosts unloaded their vans of competitor transition bags (a transition bag is what each competitor kept everything they needed for the day - change of shoes, socks, helmet, energy bars etc - vital components of the race). Each competitor had a race number and transition bags were generally layed out on the ground in a numbered sequence to ensure competitors could easily find their bags when coming into transition. This was one of our most important roles as a Host (get it wrong and you can have some angry athletes!)Each day, competitors started in waves, based on their previous days results (slower teams were first to depart). As this was Day 1, organisers 'guessed' the speed of the teams based on previous years results (as many teams had returned year after year), but the day ahead would tell for sure.
The Mark Webber Challenge 2008 began with a kayak leg around Dove Lake. Collecting 10 checkpoints out on the water, competitors were back pretty quickly. As a Host, we also doubled as witches hats, crowd control, information centers, food gatherers, cheer squads (just to name a few). As athletes ran up the path, they needed to 'punch in' at the checkpoint and after a quick change of clothes, they were off running (nb: the extreme adventures didn't even stop when coming into transition).
Even though the run leg, distance wise, was only 12km, it included going up and down the summit of Cradle Mountain (which had some large snow patches, even though it was mid November). Once all competitors had come through transition after kayaking, the role of a Host becomes pretty simple - rearrange transition bags, eat, sit around, immerse yourself in the scenery whilst waiting for competitors to return. As we sat at the base of Dove Lake for a few hours, tourists arrived wondering what was going on. When we explained that there was an adventure race on, and that they were running up and down Cradle Mountain, then off for a 40km bike ride, we had many bedazzled looks! To pass the time, we started betting on who would be the first team back into transition. I lost.
Host duties called as I drove back to the Chateau to help out with the next transition. Just as I arrived, the rain started and riders went off for a 30km mountain bike through the now muddy terrain. I often felt really lazy as competitors were huffing and puffing and we sat there, at the chateau, with our lattes, warm jackets, just waiting for people to come past. I sat there thinking the life of a Host during the race wasn't as involved as I had originally thought.As competitors returned, complete with mud in their ears and eyes, the injuries also appeared. As Cascade Green returned, my 'lazy' perception of a host soon disappeared. Swollen ankle, grazed leg and bleeding chin, David Crawshay had taken a fall and wasn't in the best shape. Using the best first aid I had, I was relieved when Medics were soon on scene. Keeping him warm, offering my beanie and dry socks was all part of being a Host!
The remaining competitors trickled in throughout the afternoon and as it was getting dark, we drove back to Camp Barrington for a well deserved feast.
Highlights of Climbing into this Adventure:
- staring at Cradle Mountain for 4 hours
- warm lattes at the Chateau
- Devil's Corner Pinot
