They’re off … GODZONE is underway with route revealed

One New Zealand GODZONE got underway today, organisers unveiling a breathtaking adventure course.

One hundred and twenty four adventure racers headed out of the Grove Arm in the Queen Charlotte Sound this afternoon as the largest expedition race in the world got underway for its twelfth chapter.

In a dramatic start to the eight-day event, race organisers were forced to re-route the original start line location of Picton across to Ngākuta Bay in the Inner Sounds after gale force winds were forecast for the Cook Straight and Picton Harbour areas.

“We were well prepared to make the starting route change due to the forecast. The amendment shortens the 31km Stage One kayak leg by about half an hour,” says race director Adam Fairmaid.

Thirty one adventure racing teams started at the line. They kayaked from Ngākuta Bay  across the Grove Arm to the Outward-Bound centre at Anakiwa. There, they swapped kayaks for packrafts, before trekking to Double Bay in the Pelorus Sound. From Double Bay, teams packraft into Havelock to complete stage one of the nine-stage race.

“There are nine significant stages in this race, with some taking teams anywhere from 24-36 hours to complete. It’s going to be demanding both physically and mentally, with a diverse mix of Marlborough terrain to get through,” says Fairmaid.

The full-length GODZONE Pure is 613km, and GODZONE Pursuit is 524km. Teams are expected to take between five and eight days to complete the course.

“Tonight, the teams transition to mountain bikes at Havelock. Stage 2 is an 82km ride through the Waikakaho Cullen area to privately owned Avon Station in the Waihopai Valley,” he says.

“Teams ascend the peaks of Ferny Gair and Barometer peaks before heading down towards the rather splendid Lake Alexander. Stage 3 covers 50km with spectacular views, ample route options, and could take some teams up to 36 hours to finish.”

From there, teams head into stage four: a 144km mountain bike over the 1566m Acheron Saddle on Marlborough’s Muller Station. They bike down into Wairau Valley to finish at St Ronan’s Well on the St Arnaud Range. Here, teams complete stage 5, a two hour guided canyoning experience. They then packraft down the Wairau River and trek packraft through the Richmond Ranges and Pelorus River on the 129km stage 6 of the race.

“The rivers are dark zoned from 8.45pm to 5.45am. This will be a critical point where leading teams may split the field if they can get down the river with enough daylight,”says Fairmaid.

Stage 7 is an 80km mountain bike ride through the Nydia Track to Elaine Bay. Teams then start the long journey home with a 69km packraft and trek through the Outer Sounds. The final leg is from Kenepuru Head, via Te Mahia Bay, to the finish at Shelly Beach Reserve in Picton.

Teams are carrying a GPS tracking unit with them, with live tracking available on www.godzoneadventure.com