Endorphinmag News
OUTBACK XPD BEGINS IN SOARING TEMPERATURES
Temperatures are predicted to reach 35 degrees in the Flinders Ranges today for the start of XPD, the Adventure Racing World Series Race in Outback South Australia. Thirty teams of four from around Australia and across the world will trek, mountain bike and paddle over 700 kms from Arkaroola to Port Augusta with 10 days to finish the course.
Teams were transported by bus to Arkaroola yesterday for a final bush BBQ dinner. Nervous excitement filled the camp as competitors discussed the daunting race ahead. Rohan from Team Outer Edge Racing admitted he was most nervous about the 38km trek across Lake Frome. Teams are expected to reach the dry salt lake trek late Wednesday or early Thursday morning as temperatures reach 35 degrees.
In Port Augusta on the Spencers Gulf, fly head nets and legionnaires-style hats have been hot property to protect against the droves of flies and unrelenting sun.
The three teams predicted to take podium places in XPD are Outer Limits, Mountain Designs and Bivouac Colts, a young, up and coming team from New Zealand. Though in such tough conditions, as many as half of the teams are expected to be unable to complete the course from trekking exhaustion or the climbing ascent and descent of the Great Wall cliff at Moonarie.
XPD begins Wednesday 0900 NLT and teams can be tracked live from the XPD website, live.xpd.com.au.
For more details and low res images visit www.live.xpd.com.au
XPD 2013 - As Much an Expedition as a Race
Endorphinmag
September 2013.
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