FEATURE STORY
“ Modern day triathlon courses totally bemuse me that people are happy to pay money to flog themselves around a flat boring course that do multiple laps . I just don ’ t get it !
“ If you are going to push yourself , I figure you might as well do it in a beautiful , scenic and spectacular environment .”
Now with 11 massive years of history behind it and no signs of slowing up , the Augusta Adventure Fest is regarded as the ultimate race experience .
Rapid Ascent co-owner Sam Maffett , also an avid journeyman and adventure racer ( recently returning from the XPD world championships in Ulladulla ) says the new mass paddle start for the Augusta Adventure Race long course race was one of his most memorable experiences .
“ To see over 500 paddlers starting off together , in a mad flurry of paddles , boats , water and sunshine on Hardy Inlet was an incredible moment and one I think any athlete would want to be part of .
“ Race experiences are created through a range of factors that add together to create something memorable . Factors like the landscape you race through , the atmosphere amongst the competitors , the size of the challenge ahead of you and the utter satisfaction you get when you cross that finish line .
“ The places adventure races take you are ones that you would not often visit yourself so a good race course will broaden your horizon to give you experiences you ’ ll not easily forget .”
It ’ s the oversupply of such factors and many more at the Augusta Adventure Fest according to Maffett , which makes it the ultimate race experience for so many participants who come back to tackle it year on year .
When a race director pauses amid the busy schedule of events , to look back at that first sell-out event , is it even possible to imagine it was the beginning of something so much bigger ? An event now home to 11 massive years of history ?
“ It never even really crossed my mind ,” Jacoby says , “ but I feel content that the Augusta Adventure Race has helped introduce so many people to the great outdoors and enriched their lives . “ Now those same people are passing on that feeling to their kids .”
A father himself , Jacoby says one of the highlights of Augusta is seeing the kids participate and watching them take on bigger chunks of the event each year .
“ Kids are tough , determined and resilient but these days we tend to wrap them in cotton wool so it is great to let them out of their comfy cocoon every so often and see them thrive and prosper . Some fail or fall short occasionally but that is what sport is all about and they will hopefully grow stronger and more resilient and learn from the experience .”
AUGUSTA QUICK FACTS
Attendance : 10,000 + Competitors : 3,500 Courses : 3 Total overall human kilometres raced : 40,000km + Workforce : 12 staff / 100 + volunteers Approval permits required : 14 Crowd-control barriers : 1 kilometre
Fruit consumed : ¾ ton Biggest mass paddle start in Australian history : 400 + boats
Message : Act-Belong-Commit – encouraging individuals to take action to protect and promote their own mental wellbeing .
Sponsors : Act-Belong-Commit , Healthway , Tourism WA , WA Government and Royalties for Regions , Cyclecover , Shire of Augusta Margaret River , Winners Sports Nutrition , Triathlon and Multisport Magazine , Outdoria , Bike Exchange , Brooks , Funky Trunks , The Running Centre , Robie Robes , AdventureRace . com . au .
History : 11 years
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