The Rogue Squad Tackle GeoQuest 2012

by Liam St Pierre on JUNE 15, 2012

The GeoQuest adventure race probably represents one of the greatest tests of an AR team’s skills and ability on the regular Australian calendar.  The location (on the NSW mid-coast), length (up to 50 hours) and incorporation of support crew (allowing a linear race format) give this race a real adventurous feel, and I look forward to it more than any other event each year.  In 2012 GeoQuest returned to Forster, the site of the 2009 race where we had a very successful weekend (read the report here).  Outwardly I was claiming that we wanted to improve on our 9th place overall from the previous two years, but secretly I was hoping we could crack a top 5 position.  A look at the line up suggested any number of teams that were capable of a strong result, and therefore we would need a smooth race to do well.

As if the logistics of getting down to GeoQuest weren’t already bad enough (including support crew, double kayaks, transportation, accommodation, etc), we decided to double the load and enter two teams: Rogue-Samurai and Rogue-Spin City Cycles, both in the all male division.  There had been a bit of pre-race banter between the teams as to who was the “sister team” which served to increase the rivalry a notch.  It was great, however, to have such an enthusiastic bunch of guys to prepare and train with in the lead up to the race, and to hang out with down at Forster.

Race weekend rolled around soon enough, and map handout revealed a course characterised by what appeared on paper to be a number of tough bike legs split by various intermediate trekking and relatively short kayaking legs.  With pre-marked maps and laminator at hand, map mark up was a leisurely affair and we were in bed some time after 9pm.

The 2012 GeoQuest course involved a clockwise loop starting and finishing in Forster, substituting the traditional first leg of ocean kayaking for an island-hoping tubing/running leg through Godwin and Big Islands and over Pipers Bay to Green Point.  After our disastrous start to GeoQuest last year, I was keen for a clean start this year, but this didn’t really happen.  A minute before the race started, Glenn decided to see if his flipper would fit over his shoes, busting the buckle in the process.  By the time we had it fixed we were at the back of the starting pack, and the leaders were already over the water and disappearing around the corner.  Then after we finished the first swim, Paul threw his tube onto an oyster where it promptly burst.  The look on his face was priceless, but his tube certainly wasn’t the only victim of an oyster’s sharp edge that day.  Meanwhile, the other Rogue-Spin City team were having a ripper of a start, finishing the leg in fourth place just behind the main leaders.  Obviously their tubing practice prior to the race had paid off, although I’m still not sure if flippers or a paddle was the best option for this leg.

The second stage involved a 14km kayak south down Wallis Lake to Elizabeth Beach.  After working our way back through the field and sharing a tube between Sloshy and myself, we hit the water within sight of the other Rogue team, about 8 minutes back.  Obviously our paddle combinations weren’t ideal as Paul and I were busting ourselves to stay with the other boat, and we weren’t able to make any time on the other team.  We rectified this in the later paddle legs, swapping Paul out for Glenn, and this seemed to work well.

Coming off the kayak leg we were in 7th place overall and 3rd in the mens.  We hammered the transition and left in 5th place, passing the other Rogue team, and quickly caught and passed the leading mens team, the Instant Humans, who had over taken us on double skis during the kayak leg.   The run took us through a section of forestry that the race passed through in the opposite direction in 2009.  On that occasion we were left running around a golf course late on the second night of the race for a very frustrating hour looking for a track that was incorrectly drawn on the map.  This section gave us no such trouble this year however.  Indeed, the crux of the leg appeared to be a single CP at the highest point of the northern end of Myall Lakes National Park.  Located in very thick costal scrub, we were surprised to find ourselves out on our own during this leg.  We chanced a couple of unmarked tracks that appeared to be moving in roughly the right direction, and after initial inspection of a false knoll, we nailed the CP before bashing our way out.  We were pleasantly surprised and pumped up to find that we had made up 41 minutes on team Mountain Designs on this leg, passing them somewhere in the scrub to move into third position.  Meanwhile the other Rogue team was moving with a large pack of racers about 20 minutes back.

Excited by our position in the race despite such a sketchy start we headed out on what was a straight forward and flat ride through Myall National Park to the Bombah Point ferry terminal.  At some point towards the end of the ride while I slowed down to flip the map over on the map board, Mountain Designs came steaming past on the Pikey Road Train (they would go on to have the fastest split for this leg).  The ride finished at a ferry terminal, but catching a ferry would be too easy for a GeoQuest.  Instead, two team members from each team had to swim the 100m, run 500m up the road to collect tubes to construct a raft, then return to the rest of the team to float the bikes over.  Unfortunately, when Sloshy and I arrived at the transition area after the first swim we had beaten our support crew there.  However, Team Macpac, who were just about to hit the next kayak leg, were kind enough to lend us their tube raft, and we were able to borrow the remaining mandatory equipment from another team.  Two swims later, a quick hello to the Rogue-Spin City boys, a punctured tyre and we were all back over at the transition area, by which time our support crew had arrived.  We did this leg just prior to night fall, and we spared a thought for the teams that would follow in the dark when the temperature would plummet.

The ride was followed by a short, uneventful paddle where we caught Mountain Designs in the next transition (the Rogue-Spin City boys also worked their way up into 5th place overall by the end of this leg).  We spent the next 6 hours trekking a ridgeline over Nerong Mountain, swapping places and stories with Mountain Designs, running into the next TA (which was unsupported) together at around midnight.  The following stage was one of the defining legs of the race – a long mountain bike ride through Myall Lakes and Ghin-Doo-Ee National Parks made tougher by the big climbs and dark hours of the morning.  This leg is where we encountered the obligatory GeoQuest hike-a-bike.  After almost 8 hours of riding, we made the decent off the mountain just as the sun was starting to rise and into the welcoming arms of our support crew who we hadn’t seen for almost 14 hours.  The Rogue-Spin City boys were the last to make the full course cut off prior to this stage, ensuring them at least a top 10 position so long as they finished the race (a short course option was available on this leg which cut around 5 hours of riding).

From the bikes, it was back on foot again for a linear rogaine through Wang Wauk State Forest, collecting 4 out of 5 CPs.  The absence of a number of trails, which had long since over-grown, made for some tough scrub bashing to get into the controls on this leg.  On the third control, we again caught Mountain Designs, effectively closing a 38 minute gap after they had some navigational trouble on that control, but they quickly cleared off to put more time back into us.  On the final control for this leg, we met up with the BMX Bandits who had worked their way up into 5th spot overall, but still had to get one more CP on the rogaine.  They had obviously closed the gap on us a bit: enough to light a small fire under us and ensure that we pushed hard for the rest of the race.

The next bike leg allowed teams to split into pairs to get the next two CPs.  Glenn and I took the easier check point and, unsurprisingly, beat Sloshy and Paul to the meet up point.  After the other boys hadn’t turned up after half an hour however, we were starting to play through all the scenarios of what could have gone wrong: a broken bike, a broken body, or worse, they were lost!  Turns out that they had navigated fine to the CP circle, but upon not being able to find the flag spent a bit of time relocating and double checking their position.  After joining back up, we set off just on dark for what proved to be some of the most fun riding I’ve done in an AR – a ripping down hill followed by fast, graded 2WD country roads where we were able to work the pace line.

With fourth place (and first male team) virtually in the bag we were able to enjoy the final paddle and trek home without any pressure.  Pulling into the bank to collect the sole CP from a graveyard on the kayak leg we again caught Mountain Designs just leaving on their boats, having experienced trouble locating the correct grave stone with the punch.  The heavens started to
open up as we pulled into the final transition for the final trek, which was complete with a dodgy wooden log crossing over a creek (which Glenn and Paul did on their bums) and a soft sand run down the beach to Forster.  Pulling in to the finish line banner under the pouring rain at 1am after just on 41 hours of racing, there was not a single other human being to be seen – these race finishes are always a bit of an anti-climax.

Despite having a great race, I would easily rate GeoQuest 2012 as the longest and hardest Geo of the five I’ve done.  This is evidenced by the Team Macpac’s winning time of 35 hours (compared to the typical 28 – 30 hour average winning time for a Geo), as well as the fact that only 6 of the original 27 starting teams collected all the CPs from the full course.  The Rogue-Spin City boys had a strong finish to cross the line in 7th place overall and second in the mens division in a time just over 46 hours, finishing in some pretty miserable weather.

Thanks must go to the support crew from both our teams: Mike, Jane, Deb and Woodsy.  I’ve always said racers make the best support crew and these guys were awesome.  Thanks also to our sponsors Samurai Sportswear and Spin City Cycles.  Also a final thanks to Geocentric Outdoors for having such an epic race as a mainstay on the adventure racing calendar.  I look forward to seeing what’s in store for next year.

Suckers for punishment - Rusty Ironman

BY BEN HARRIS 15 Jun, 2012 04:00 AM

ORIENTEERING

Call them crazy, call them adventurous, call them persistent, call them courageous. Whatever you call Adam Mort, John Harris, Garry Byrne and Phil van Gent, their achievement last weekend can only be described as incredible. The four Mudgee athletes took part in a 48-hour non-stop endurance race called GeoQuest.

They paddled, ran and cycled their way on water, through dense bush land and tough terrain, all with very little sleep. Bodies are battered, cut and bruised, bones are broken, while your brain is telling you to stop and rest.

It is arguably the ultimate physical and mental test for someone to go through. Adam Mort, who has done dozens of half-ironman and Ironman races, said the GeoQest 48-hour adventure race was by far the toughest and gruelling event he has done.

"It was unreal. It's not something I have done before but I thought I would give it a crack," Mort said.
"It was a great experience.
"In Ironman, it is full on for a short period of time. This [GeoQuest race] is more punishing on your body because you just keep going for 48 hours.

"You have to push your body and mind like never before and do it all with hardly any sleep."
Mort said no one in his team slept for more than two hours throughout the 48 hours. "Sleep deprivation was the big part for me," Mort said.

"You would have a sleep for 20 minutes then get up and go again.
"You had to keep talking to each other because you would doze off on the bike or on the run.
"It's all part of it."
Fittingly the Mudgee quartet named their team Rusty Ironmen.
They were 10th across the finish line but finished 15th overall because they received heavy time penalties for not passing certain checkpoints.
The checkpoints were hidden and teams had to navigate their way to each checkpoint.
They could decide to miss a checkpoint and keep going but they would receive penalties.
"There was an all-female team that we beat home but they finished higher than us overall because they went to all of their checkpoints," Mort said.
Fifty teams entered - 27 in the full 48-hour race and 23 in the 24-hour - but only 16 teams in the full finished and 13 in the half.
Byrne said competitors who have done the adventure race before said this year's version at Forster was the toughest yet.

Some of the disciplines competitors had to complete were trekking, mountain biking, sea kayaking and roping.
Teammates must stay together for the whole time and all four must cross the finish line to be get an official result.

Podium at Geoquest for Team Mountain Designs

Podium at Geoquest for Team Mountain Designs

The week before Geoquest:-

Kim and Superman (Luke Haines) are in Rotorua for the Australasian Multisport Championships, an event we both could not miss given the wonderful trails over there. Unfortunately for Superman, his bike front wheel collapses on him and he ends up knocked out and he is unable to race, and this puts him out for Geoquest too. Kim was feeling fantastic and was in a great position to finish in the top 5 women until she went the wrong way on the run.......but ends up finishing 3rd in her category.

Back home in Australia Gary (Monster) and Pikey (Princess) are in fine form and having better luck in Melbourne for the ARA Creswick Victoria, where they take line honours and win the all-male category. Wearing their Mountain Designs and Salomon race kit this was an outstanding performance against some of their Geoquest rivals from team Peak Adventure, Adventure Junkie and Macpac.

So the hunt is on for someone to fill Superman’s shoes????? With both our Godzone team mates Robbie & Sloshy being unavailable (Sloshy racing with ROGUE and Robbie still in Cairns recovering from Ironman Cairns) we delighted to find that Leo Theo......was prepared to step up to the plate and tackle his first ever overnight race! Our luck turned at this point as we then managed to get the support crew of the century Gary’s wife Kylie (and extended family) training buddy Ray (and family) and Brett (Gary’s original team MD’s racing partner)......We were now ready this year get Princess Pikey and Lucky Leo across the finish line at GEOQUEST.........no matter what!

Forster and the Great lakes was home to Geoquest “Australia’s Premier Adventure Race” a fitting location for the 2012 event which proved to be the 3rd longest event on record.

Team Mountain Designs had their own little HQ at One Mile Beach, an absolutely stunning location where you could sit on the balcony and watch the dolphins playing all day......but not for the team and support crew......who were testing out tubing options, paddle portage strategies, and completing competency checks........Gary and Ray even found some time to team up with their young families in the Kids Adventure Race just prior to the course being revealed.

Strategy – Adventure racing is all about course planning, team work and good communication as well as being pretty hard-core...... so, not long after receiving our maps we were all back at the house working out our course, route selections, food and gear options for each leg of which there were eleven. Our whole team worked together like a well-oiled machine and I truly enjoyed the home cooked delights that were on offer, unlike the night before GODZONE where we had none. Looking at the course we worked out that we would be very lucky to be finished before daylight Sunday..............so we retired to our bunk beds for a good night’s sleep before race day.....poor Leo barely slept a wink.........he kept asking Brett...... “Hey Brett, sure you don’t want to race....come on Brett you know you want to......”

Geoquest – The Full Course – Trek/Tubing, Paddle, Trek, MTB/Tubing, Paddle, Trek, MTB, Trek, Paddle, Trek - Total Distance 245k.

Can you believe that along with Team Mountain Designs there were 50 other team of four were about to embark on a similar journey.....or well at least two thirds of it for those competing the Geo Half Total Distance 165k (they missed the middle paddle/Trek/Mtb).

So it was a cold wet start in the Tubing/Trek Leg, as we had to leap into the freezing cold water on the siren........lucky for us we had opted to take our paddles as well......so we had a rather cruisy ride on the tubes.......which saved us from getting totally wet and cold.......I was definitely glad I had long lightweight paddle pants on and my trusty Salomon Speed-Cross shoes as it protected me from the millions of oysters that lined the edges

of the tiny Islands that we were crossing......Gary punched CP1 and we were on our way to the TA, but were passed by the Peak Adventure Raft on the longer water crossings as their method (lying on tubes, paddling with pool swimming hand paddles) proved to be a few minutes faster than ours......and definitely faster than the poor teams that had to swim due to tube failure...... Mmmm oysters are like razorblades!

In and out of the TA at Wallis Lake in a flash......and soon we were paddling....again....but this time in more comfortable and much drier conditions ......thanks to & Julian from Paddle to Fitness and Tri Adventure for the Fenn XT’s. Only one CP to collect at Coomba Park and then across the beautiful lake heading towards Boomerang Beach.....we sight Peak Adventure far ahead in the distance. We feel like we are out there on this massive lake alone .......but before long Pikey and Leo were glad to get onto dry land....as paddling is not their forte! So we leave the TA in 2nd place...... we see no other teams ......only the very excited support crews anxiously awaiting the arrival of the other 48 or so teams!

The trek to Seal Rocks was a bit of a disaster for MD’s! We nailed the first 2 CP’s and then headed out to the beach and up the headland into what seemed like pretty nice trekking country.......but soon we came across many unmarked tracks.......and lots of features that looked like nothing we could see on the map.......we visited every high point in that forest I think except the one with the CP.....so we went back and retraced our steps......we had been passed by many teams......but soon found an elephant track right to the CP......but rather than dwell on our disaster...we just hightailed it out of there.....and to our surprise we made the TA in 4th place.......but we knew there was a herd of elephants coming ........so we were on the bikes in a flash.......and Princess Pikey was off.....and racing!!!! Can’t believe the tow rope didn’t

break, Pikey was absolutely motoring, and I was just hanging on, Leo was happily sitting on my wheel and Monster did a few turns too......we caught team Rogue by surprise and got to the Raft section in no time........soon Pikey and Monster were swimming across the creek, whilst Leo and I had a bit of a rest.......but we had to keep moving cause it was starting to get dark and cold. Boys forget lifejackets for us....so they have an extra run back to the TA, meanwhile ROGUE passes us, but our raft is faster so we get to the other side at the same time, and Gary is so nice he helps their team gets their bikes off their raft!

In the TA at we have a great hot meal of “Lamb Shanks” which was a great thing to have when we were a bit cold and about to paddle as it would fuel us for the next two hours. So onto Leg 5 and about 11hrs into the race........the Nav on this section was bit tricky as it was now dark .......we were looking for the second creek as we crossed the Bombah Broadwater........we luckily managed to find the right one and before long we were paddling Nerong Creek up to the township of Nerong........Team ROGUE were privileged to have us as an escort service on that paddle as those AYUP lights shine very brightly! In transition I can’t believe the food I am getting......but this time it’s Cauliflower Soup......I drink the whole lot......and so does the rest of the team......actually we were lucky to have Ray and Brett at this TA as they

accidently went to the next Bike TA instead.....but we would never have known.......they were so efficient ......everything was still there laid out in a little spot for each of us.....like it was at every TA. The night trek through Myall Lakes National Park, looked pretty straight forward, a few route options and a few very steep climbs ahead of us......after the first climb and descent back to the track for a bit of a run we found ourselves spending most of the trek along the ridge from CP13-14 with ROGUE.......yes we are now beginning to think we are the only two teams in the race. It is tough nav up there trying to stay on a ridge and find a saddle in the dark......but we get there and find our way to the bike Drop TA.

I notice that my bag is missing stuff (the support crew took out anything that they thought I would not need....sunglasses, arm warmers, windproof gloves, waterproof pants) so.......maybe I like to just be on the safe side.....as Gary says....I didn’t need it and we made it through the rather cool night on the MTB. We all had a bit of an attack of the sleepmonsters on this leg between 3 & 7am, the trails were heavy and it felt like we were climbing for 20k...... the sun starts to rise, we see Team ROGUE on the out and back section, and then to our surprise we finished the leg with an awesome fast downhill single-track.....which even got a bit too steep for Leo......so after convincing himself that he could easily end up with a broken collarbone....he had to dismount and run the really, really steep sections!

We arrive at the TA Brett and Ray had a raging fire going for us just in case we needed warming up before heading onto the TREK Rogaine. More totally amazing home cooked food – “Butter Chicken” this time...and coffee......Leo and Pikey are still is still talking about Ray’s coffee! Now Leo is just starting to get the hang of all this overnight stuff......he made it through the night and he is absolutely on fire......he is so excited that he is still going......Pikey can’t wait to get back on the bike again......but we have a big trek ahead.....Gary has his head on the maps.......few of the marked trails exist.....so, bush bashing, here we go......into and out of creeks ....in search of those hidden CP’s.....we nailed our first 2 quite well.....moving nicely along! But then lost quite a bit of time due to a “schoolboy nav error”, that’s exactly what Gary called it! So we then took the safe route to the CP which possibly added almost an extra hour to our time.......and if not we would not have seen this rather large Black Snake sitting right in the middle of the grassy track .....We saw it on our return....it

was obviously not scared of us at all. One more CP to go before the long run back to the TA where we were greeted by our whole entire support crew (yes about 10 of them) chanting Pinky, Pinky come on Pinky!.....( well the kids were) next Gary yells out..... “Come one Princess they are calling your name”! Gourmet TA this time includes some yummy toasted ham and cheese sandwiches and all our gear ready to go......

The final MTB leg we prepare ourselves for 50k like the last one.......but this time we have a split....me and Pikey get CPY and Gary and Leo go for CP Z.....Pikey and I get the cruisy route....so pikey gets a few minutes to rest his tired legs......We met up at CP 19 and set off again.......this MTB leg is awesome, fast flowing fire trails and some really great more technical 4WD trails....we are so happy as 30k is gone in no time...... and the

end bit looks not too bad....... we do get one small “hike a bike”...... but nothing too savage.... so in less than 3 1⁄2 hrs are ready to Kayak the Wallamba River. Now just in case you think I have had to starve myself throughout the past 35 hrs of racing, we are greeted by our support crew who gather us into a nice cosy hall and pull a massive serve of Fish & Chips straight out of the oven...... my new nickname is little Miss Piggy! Mmmm....... I wonder why?

Well just two legs to go.....a CP in a graveyard and a run along the beach....... 5hrs to midnight...... how hard can it be???? Well......we had a bit of trouble finding the graveyard......a local gives us poor advice and send us further up the river...... it turns.... not good says Gary and back we go about 1k......Pikey and Leo are not loving this bit......think they really would rather be asleep......me too! But we paddle back take a punt on where to exit and finally locate the graveyard......we race around madly.....but do you think we can find the grave we are looking for???? I thought I had memorised the picture....but......obviously not.......so freezing cold and wet.......we try to get our course notes out of the dry bag......then Gary yells....I found it....we can’t see him......he is up a little track that lead straight to the grave......freaky stuff! Gary

says “I hear Liam......let’s get out of here”.......but as we got back to our boats....we could see the lights of ROGUE approaching.....so were tried to make a quick getaway.......no time to sleep now......and there was a thunderstorm approaching....so we wanted to just get off the water fast! We thought we were near the finish, we could see flashing lights......it was our support crew......we hoped, but as we got closer we thought no it’s just a channel marker.....we thought the sleep monsters were coming back.......but as we got closer and closer it was Brett and Ray on the bank. It is now raining rather heavily, the exit is steep and rocky.....but we are out of those ski’s in a flash. No food at this TA just a coke and a few takeaway snacks!

The Final TREK – nothing can stop us now.......can it! Well there was this very tricky creek crossing.......it may have been OK in the day....but trust me at night it was slippery and scary. Leo and Gary crossed the old bridge remnants like trapeze artists.....me well......I baulked at it many

times......and ended up straddling the thing and using my arms and legs to get me to the other side.....it was dark and murky a long way below......I did not want to fall in......now Princess Pikey opted to use my technique too.....better to be safe than sorry I say....hey Pikey! Now we were looking for a trail to the beach....... A little vague at times but it lead us to the CP......now just two to go.......following a trek up the beach and a short jog out to the rock walls that protect Forster & Tuncurry at the river mouth. Leo couldn’t believe we had to run “all that way around to the other side over the bridge”......I said you can swim if you like........but no one took that option......(not meant to anyway) but it was a very long way around but did provide us some time to reflect on what we had just achieved.

We crossed the finish line at Forster Main Beach at 12.15am Monday 11th June in 3rd Place behind winners Macpac (who we did not sight once on the course) and Peak Adventure (who we only really saw on leg 1) .......40hrs and 15 minutes worth of Geocentric Adventure....and a fantastic result for Team Mountain Designs.

Thanks to our Sponsors Mountain Designs

Salomon
Hammer Nutrition

Tri Adventure

Finally thanks to our crew! Thanks Ray & Sherryn, Brett, Kylie, Diggy, Dersley and all the kids..... We could not do what we do without you......thanks for being a part of the team!

Support – Events like Geoquest were you have a support crew are such fantastic events as not only do the racers and volunteers get to be a part of the event, family and friends can get out and about, go to spectacular locations and find out why we adventure racers get such a buzz out of doing what we do! I also reflected on the quality of the food that we could consume to keep our bodies going. I think it really makes a difference to have such good healthy fresh food as it helps us to perform well and recover so much better that in unsupported events.

peak adventure junkieracing geoquest 2012

48 hours adventure race- what a challenge!

REPOST: https://adventurejunkie.com.au/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=186&Itemid=186

Geocentric always run great events. After Thredbo XPD 2008 and World Championships in Tasmania could we stay aside when opportunity to get some fun is so close?? Just a bit over a thousand kilometers and a bit over thousand and half AUD. Of course, not, especially when the team to race with consists of Jarad Kohlar the best Australian adventure racer and James Pretto who is ‘Damn good’ and certainly plans to challenge Kohlar in upcoming years.

I and Serge did not feel very well after running Lysterfield adventure race. Each race you organise takes a bit of your fitness, you don’t sleep enough, and you do not eat enough (which is probably not bad for me, but not good for Serge) and obviously do not train enough, which is bad for your team mates. However, we’re not those who miss the opportunities and we jumped on board of the team Peak Adventure Junkie replacing Deanna Blegg and Darren Clarke who eventually became our absolutely amazing support crew.

As always the most challenging part of the race was to get to the start place, arrange gear, food and prepare maps. Even if it seems to be enough time- three of us arrived to the start one day before the registration, it’s not enough, last night we had not much sleep, sorting out food and other stuff. Luckily, this was a race with support crew and our support crew was the best, we knew about that, so I would say honestly did not sort all our gear very well, just put everything into the boxes and left to Deanna and Darren.

The most remarkable race preparations had James, arriving at the accommodation 10 hours before the start after his Uni exams and then departing to exams after the race straight after. That’s why this guy called Damn good.. and moving ahead, he passed all his exams and he finished second in Geo.

The first stage was tubing, we had a lot of discussions about the best way to do it and a lot of preparations done mostly by Serge who had to removed all truck tubes out of tires in truck tire center somewhere in a middle of the way between Sydney and Forster. At the start there was a bit of a show. Some teams ‘paddled’ sitting on tube each person separately some made kind of raft, some teams swam using fins lying partly on tubes. Our strategy was to lay on tubes as a raft and swim using hand paddles. James as a fastest swimmer with massive triathlon background supposed to be separately for the first bit but then we engaged all together and it worked really well. The result was terrific, we put about five minutes on Mountain Design (who used strategy to sit on tubes and paddle with actual kayaking paddles) and even more on Macpac with their strategy to swim with fins. The first stage was about 8 kilometers with serious amount of swimming/tubing.

Without many things to do in transition area we jumped into our surf skis and literally flew away. The fastest boats, fastest paddlers, the fastest support crew is easiest way to describe our team at that stage. There were no chances even to eat something more than one or two gels during each kayaking stage –very fast and short for us.

Quick change in TA and the first challenge- to find CP somewhere on ‘high point’ on a map with very bad printed contour lines. A bit of running though the stunning shoreline and we’re in thick bush, that’s where race begins. Only guessing where we were somehow we managed to get that CP and arrived to next TA still leading the race, again quick TA and we’re on bikes. That where we used fair bit of our luck. In my opinion every team has about the same amount of good luck and bad luck for the each race.

Met Macpac at the officials tents, we’re checking out they are checking in. Then too much excitement went into the scene and after 500 meters we realized that we left trekker in TA. That could be fatal error if we did not notice that in time, which could cost up to 4 hours of penalty in Geocentric races. We know that after this World Champs when Seagate leading the race also forgot their trekker in PFD and was penalized by serious time and lost their chance to win. Even though we did not lose our chance to win, our lead was now under the big question. Now bad luck came into force. Seemed being very smart route choice turned into few kilometers hike with bike though the bog. That proved the theory of trying to be the smartest you increase chance to become the biggest loser. Anyway by the end of the stage we still were first and came to the lake crossing couple of minutes ahead of Macpac. Jarad and James swam into the other side- to build up raft and bring it to this side for transporting bikes and poor shivering Serge and Maria to the other side. At the same time Damon and Rob also swam and performed the same exercise. Our teammates were a little bit more energetic and came first, with crocodile’s tears we dropped our bikes one on other one and got to another side.

Again led by our incredible support crew Deanna and Darren very fast transition and we’re on water on our flying Carbonology and V10. Fabulous sunset , gorgeous views, less then hour of paddling and we’re in mastering hands of our support crew who always in time despite of our fears that they will not.

Daytime is over and nightmare began. In our opinion obvious route choice along the spur line was not it. Rob and Kathryn proved to be outstanding navigators picked up better choice as well as better pace. Also lack of vision came into play, we’ve done a bit of mistake half an hour cost and Macpac took the lead after this trek. Would not say that was unexpected. However, being naturally utopian optimist, I did believe we could win.

A little bit slowed down in TA but still full of energy we started MTB stage in the middle of the night. That was highlight of the course- muddy and steep uphills, some technical downhils. We did quite well up to the last CP when we again decided to be smartest and picked up not the best route choice of the trek which eventually completely disappeared. A bit of discussion whether we should bushbash to somewhere though the blackberry and other nice spicy plants or turn back and look for better option. Hundred meters back and tiny trek though the bush appeared exactly to the direction where we supposed more or less existed trail should be. Ended up at the farm where ‘road’ was more in our imagination then in reality, eventually we got to the start of normal roads and arrived to TA. Despite all these adventures we’re 2 minutes faster than Macpac during that stage.

Here was sunrise and start of the stage when we finally lost our chances to catch up with Macpac. The stage was rogaine where you can skip one CP. Taking into account distance more than vegetation we picked up not the fastest option and completely established on 2nd place.

Three more stages to go, now MTB where you can split into pairs to take two CPs at the same time. James got flat tire and their pair went a bit slower than me and Serge (also their distance was slightly bigger). Second part of the stage when we joint again was nice and fast and we hit TA by the start of civil twilight which was great and gave us a chance to finish by the late dinner.

The last but one stage – kayaking to the final trek with one CP in graveyard when you need to find photo CP. Not an easy tasks apparently, first step to find graveyard and second –to find actual grave. First part was masterly made by Serge and the second by Jarad while me and James just accompanied them in their job. Actually, James was looking after the control card- the biggest responsibility. Everyone was already a bit tired and ready to finish but still one lap to go.

Trekking with feeling of accomplishment - 10 km along the beach and we’re there, at the finish line of Geoquest on the second position.

For James that was first long Geoquest now he proved himself to be also an endurance machine, for Jarad it was forth or whatever Geoquest he again had a great race and made one more step to win (after last year 3d place), Serge had great performance with minimum navigational mistakes and again proved himself as a consistent and very fit navigator. Maria had a great time feeling nicely and comfortably with very strong, helpful and outstanding in all aspects team. For our support crew it was really hard times to help not the very well organised bunch of racers and we very much appreciate your help, guys! 100% we could never do it without you.

Special thanks to Shotz nutrition and Moxie gaiters- we choose them for the exceptional quality and recommend to all adventure racers!

Overall experience was fantastic, a bit of challenge, a lots of fun, great team and excellent course. Geocentric again organised terrific event and we’re looking forward to new adventures!

Team ozwinereview at Geoquest - the results

After what was one of the toughest races in recent years, I'm happy to report that over the Queens Birthday long weekend Team ozwinereview.com officially finished the 2012 Geoquest adventure race in 49 hours and 3 minutes, crossing the line in 14th place after time penalties were allocated (we missed a few checkpoints), in front of two other teams and leaving 10 other teams (almost half the field!) that failed to finish.

Given the brutal nature of this years course, and with the last 7 hours of the race taking place in pouring rain whilst the whole team struggled with sleep deprivation (I personally slept just 2 minutes over the 49 hours), it was a plain delight just to finish.

I'd like to thank everyone who sent messages of support before and during the race for we loved receiving them. Massive hugs. The biggest hugs though are reserved for our unwavering support crew who followed us around for the 49 hours literally picking us up and keeping us going. Couldn't of done it without you.

With the race now done for another year the last remaining thing to do is for the sponsor (me) to deliver on the promised sponsorship goodies (ie free wine). Yes, the team didn't let me forget...

ABOUT THE AUTHOR - ANDREW GRAHAM

2009/10 WCA Wine Journalism 'Young Gun; Wine Judge; Gourmet Traveller WINE and Breathe Hunter Valley magazine contributor; LattéLife & The Retiree columnist; National Liquor News tasting panellist and Chablis lover who fell into the liquor industry chiefly to buy

cheap beer.

Nearing 15 years later and I'm still here, now finishing off a Masters of Wine Technology and Viticulture, and still spending all my money on beer and wine...

Video highlights by team BMX Bandits

Video highlights by team JPRCA

Video by Rob Marlow

Video highlights by team MSSS