GODZone Adventure Racing

It's the World's biggest expedition adventure race hosted in New Zealand, and we are so fortunate that one of its stages goes right through our wee town.
GODZone Adventure is New Zealand’s only multi-day, non-stop, expedition-style adventure race. This annual event, run in March, hosts domestic and international teams from around the world.

Sixty one mixed teams of four travel day and night with decisions to rest and sleep left solely to the discretion of the teams themselves. Teams navigate, trek, mountain bike, kayak over a vast array of different landscapes that test the mental and physical skills of participants to the ultimate limit.

The route is kept secret from teams until the day before the race. There are multiple route options for teams, meaning strategic decisions will be very important. Competitors change from one mode of transportation to another at designated transition areas. The route traverses a distance of approximately 500km the fastest team will normally reach the finish line in about 4 days. Other teams will be allowed as many as 7 days to reach the finish

In the spirit of a true expedition teams do not get the assistance of a support crew. Teams are expected to meticulously plan what gear and supplies they need and then pack them into gear boxes which will be strategically located on the course. At designated transition areas, teams will have the chance to change clothes, restock food and drink and perhaps even grab an hour or two of sleep.

The first two teams arrived in Murchison today, and I was lucky enough to see the second team (Swordfox) at transition, just before they headed off again for the next stage.  It is expected that these 4 athletes will keep going through the night.  When they left this transition, they headed to a local café, where they stocked up on food - enough to get them through the next stage.

If you are interested in finding out more about this race, have a look at this link. This river is goes down our valley.  To check out the website, click here.

Interestingly, retired All Black captain Richie McCaw is part of the Cure Kids Team, currently in 23rd place.  Not bad out of 61 teams that started.  I take my hat off to all the participants who have entered - they have one huge stamina to compete in this sort of competition!