For this blog rather than provide a description of Geoquest from start to finish, I thought why not write about some of the challenges we faced along the way, as well as of the highs for an all-women’s team completing an adventure race in less than ideal conditions. As this blog is also our way of trying to inspire and encourage more women to get into this amazing sport, I will also provide a bit of an insight as to what worked and what did not during the event.
# Challenge - East
Coast Low approaches Sawtell what impact will this have on the event?
Teams were faced with the reality that the event could be
cancelled at any minute. At the event briefing the full course was modified,
which meant that two river paddles were cancelled along with the connecting MTB
leg due to potential flood risk. The event was going ahead, we were confident
we had the right gear and equipment and were very mindful of the fact that team
work will play a key role in this event!
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| In the garage packing our gear.....awaiting the final news on the paddle course. |
# Challenge - Despite
a massive swell building the full ocean paddle was still on the cards.
We had spent months and months preparing for an ocean paddle
and had purchased the perfect ski for this event – an EPIC V8 Double from Kayak Noosa, however we were certainly not
confident that we would handle the ‘alternate Leg 1 course’ which was a paddle
out through Coffs Harbour around Kortis Islet and back. Looking out at the
swell was petrifying, so we were honestly relieved that the course was
shortened to three laps around the harbour, and confident we could handle the
dumping beach break as long as we were patient and alert.
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| We are not sure that we are ready to paddle out of the harbour....it looks so scary out there! |
# High – Girls survive
the paddle!
Just as we were about to start the paddle we lost vision of
the yacht we were to paddle around, we thought the event was about to be
canned, but seconds later the rain eased, and we heard the countdown 10, 9, 8…….3,2,
1 and then the horn! Alina and I made it out straight away, Gina and Cass were
right behind us, but had to wait out a big set off high rollers, once out we
stuck together as a team and paddled the swells cautiously yet confidently.
Soon we were in a thunderstorm, we did not see lightning but heard the thunder,
but we made our three laps and were heading in. All our training in Noosa of
‘not catching waves’ on big easterly swells had paid off……we cruised into the
beach, without mishap to the delight of our nervous support crew Erica and Tom
who had been witnessing carnage in front of their eyes! For the record we
finished 3 laps of the paddle and are super stoked that we did, we also realise
that some teams who finished ahead of us did not complete 3 laps, however
understand and respect reasons for the decision to allow teams to continue on
the course without penalty.
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| Look at Erica in the middle....perfectly dressed for the occasion! Waterproof waders on and helped many teams get out! |
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| Kim & Alina on the left, Cass & Gina on the right finish 3 laps.....pretty perfect beach landing in these conditions! |
This coastal trek – Leg 2 had a few inlets to cross so we
linked arms and worked as a team during these crossings. However our biggest
challenge here was trying to get around the rocks at Korora Beach….we saw the
waves coming but made a run for it….Gina was leading….suddenly I was swept off
my feet and was being sucked out by the wave…..I had to dig my hands into the
sand to prevent being sucked out….phew….that was lucky!
Unfortunately we overestimated our time for this leg and as
a result it meant our crew had not arrived….no drama…..we just took shelter
behind the toilet block out of the wind and waited for the crew to arrive….
# High – Nailing the
Foot O Leg 4
We arrived at the TA pretty wet and soggy looking forward to
a run to warm up a bit. Our support crew had some really amazing hot soup for
us here and it was so so yummy. We had to mark up our maps so pretty glad we
had kept them dry to this point. Our plan to drop CP C & D worked well
opting for a longer run and less creek travel. Although some of the marked
trails did not exist and other unmarked trails did, team work and good
navigation choices helped.
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| Great set up in TA by the support crew.....loved the soup! |
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| The Trek Map marked up. |
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| Cass and Kim both on the maps the whole way! |
# Challenge –
locating CP8 on Bike Leg 5
We had made some use of the tow rope to keep the team
together on the previous bike leg, so the system worked well on this leg too.
We had a steep climb up past Bucca lookout on our way to CP8. We certain we had
taken the correct route down Schooner Road to find the track to CP8, but were a
bit confused when the track marked on the map did not seem to exist. We rode to
the next junction looking for an alternate track route, but it did not exist,
so headed to where we though the track should be and started a bush bash. But
wait…..this was stupid the description was track creek junction, so there must
be a track. So we were prepared to head back up past the highpoint and take
another route to the CP. Then we looked down a trail that we had previously
discounted as it was too high and thought we may as well give it a go! We did
and found the CP – this was definitely a low point as if we had just not been
navigators and not been looking at times / distances etc we may have just
turned anyway…..oh well time to move on now! It was getting dark so on go the
AY UP lights!
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| Ay UP Lights on and ready to roll! |
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| Our planned course to CP 8 |
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| Our movements looking for CP8 |
# High – Great
Support Crew
We arrived at Boambee (CP12 TA) to the sounds of
Mummy….Mummy…..is that you Mummy! It was pouring with rain, we were covered in
mud after a slip and slide down off Little Boambee but Alina was so excited to
see her two little boys (Archie & Jackson) out there on the course to
share the experience. We were treated to shelter, hot food, washed off shoes,
and dry socks….sometimes it’s the little things that count! Erica and Tom had
an awesome set up and we were so thankful for their support.
Although this trek did not have the some of the Geoquest
classic legs features of bush bashing along steep ridgelines or clambering
along wet slippery creek beds, it did have the classic ‘tracks marked’ may not
be as they appear! We had moved extremely well to CP 13, 14, 15 and also
located CP 16 after a bit of persistence paid off hiking up a creek line for
what seemed much longer than what showed on the map, great stuff Alina! On the
way to 17 the marked track was quite indistinct and soon we were climbing….not
right! So we headed straight back and found our trail. It was bucketing down
with rain so we were running to keep warm. We all managed to cross the skill
tester plank bridge without falling – yay – and then ended up on a big trail.
It seemed strange but correct bearing so we continued. We were headed for CP17
Bridge – all seemed good until we crossed the creek before the ‘marked bridge’
and started climbing! This was not meant to happen….we were somewhat bamboozled
and tried to make sense of it. For some reason because we had been running we
thought we must be somewhere else – and thought oh, maybe it was back at the
skill tester bridge, so we ran back (about 1.5k) and had a
look….nothing.....gave another team some help re CP 16 and confirmed we were
where we thought! So once again we headed along the trail to 17 as before but
much more slowly checking every twist / turn / contour and ended up at the same
creek, and the same trail that went up a hill not to a bridge…..so we had a
scout around in the creek, Alina found a waterfall but no bridge. We had to
keep moving at this point and finding this CP was our trail home, so we just
had to think laterally and go well this track might just be wrong but take us
where we want…..and it did! We soon found the bridge and the CP…..why did we
not think that earlier???? The descent off this range was challenging too and
Cass helped Gina with her footing while I relaxed my thinking on following the
trail as it was not as it appeared but was generally headed in the right
direction so pretty stoked when we hit the bitumen heading to CP18/TA.
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| This is what we did from CP 16 to 17 |
A bit of fun trying to hold a bow straight when you are
shivering….but we all had a go and after missing the board many times we
eventually got the hang of it! Don’t pull back too far, and aim for the ground –
bullseye!
# Challenge – Crossing
the raging Bonnyville Creek to reach the Finish.
We opted to run the Bundegaree Coastal walk track all the
way to Bundagen Headland and then hit the beach, Gina was amazing walking at a
rate that we had to run to keep up, so we ran walked all the way to the
crossing! Wow the map was right…there seemed to be dangerous currents and the
water was rushing out…..this crossing looked pretty scary! But when you get
there in a race and you know others ahead must have done it, I suppose it does
give you some confidence. We could see people on the other side, so headed to
the sandbar, linged arms and waded in. Soon we lost footing and wer all
swimming, trying to stick together….we stood up a bit and then we were swimming
again…..liked drowned rats we emerged onto the bank pretty excited to see Tom
and the kids!
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| Mountain Designs Wild Women approach the final creek crossing. |
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| The team links up and stays together for as long as we can. |
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| Time to start swimming! |
# High – Getting to
the Line of Geoquest AR
The finish was now a reality for team Mountain Designs Wild
Women…..so joined by Alina’s family for the final jog up to the Sawtell Surf
Club we were greeted by our other amazing support crew Erica and our Tri
Adventure friends - the Cowgirls and Cowboys and their crew!
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| Mountain Designs Wild Women at the Finish Line |
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| Mountain Designs Wild Women - 12th Overall - 1st Women's Team - Full Course |
If you are reading this please check out the latest Mountain
Designs blog and where possible try to support Mountain Designs when
considering equipment and gear for your next adventure.
I would also personally like to thank Andrew from AYUP
lighting systems for his continued support. The product is amazing and the fact
that we can keep going all through the night in the pouring rain whether it be
riding, hiking or paddling is something that the average person would not
believe even possible! Ay Up lighting systems have supported me since 2007 when
I was lucky to be a part of the winning Geoquest Team, and always look after my
team mates as well as well as the Tri Adventure group! If you are looking for a
good set of lights for your next adventure – you should definitely check these
out. https://ayup-lights.com/
So for all the girls
out there, who might be considering Geoquest here are a few tips:-
1.
Start with the GEO HALF and try to develop your
skills across all disciplines.
2.
Get some skills instruction in the disciplines
you are least experienced, if possible in an all-women’s environment. Tri
Adventure have some upcoming ‘Wild Women Skills Clinics’ – 16th
July, 12th August, 2nd September. Contact us at Tri Adventure for
more information about these upcoming clinics.
3. Enter some smaller events first, such as the
Wild Women Adventure Race where you get to test out your skills in an
all-women’s environment over a course created by women for women. Alternatively there are smaller upcoming events such as the Northern Rivers Raid and the MOJO Raid, so check out the Qld Rogaine Association for more details. Then there is also the iconic Hells Bells and Fairy Bells Adventure Race located in the Sunshine Coast Area.
Why not also have a go at some single discipline
events in your local area, such as foot rogaines, orienteering, trail running, mountain
biking and paddling as these provide you with some great training and preparation for adventure racing as well.
4. Remember that for most of us Adventure Racing is
a lifestyle sport where we test ourselves physically and mentally against what
nature and ‘man’ aka race director throws at us. So always expect the
unexpected – maps that are not perfect, conditions that are not perfect, and
situations that are not perfect and just deal with it…..trust me, this will
help you cope in other situations in your life that you are faced with and is
better than what any doctor or therapist can prescribe! It is not a sport about
doing what the masses do, it is about doing something that you think makes you a healthy, fit, strong and happy!
5.
Most of all, if you want to get into
Adventure Racing and Geoquest in particular you want to be out there doing
these adventures with like-minded people that you know, trust and like to be around, and everything
will just seem easy………maybe not at the time …….but after you finish you will reap the rewards of adventure racing!
Written by Kim Beckinsale June 2017
