FEATURE STORY
STATE OF ORIGIN :
NEW RIVALRIES AT AUGUSTA ADVENTURE FEST
In 2016 an all-new State of Origin Teams trophy was introduced . Excitement grew in the lead up to Augusta as three representative ALL-STAR teams were locked in from Queensland , Victoria and Western Australia . The dream of Rapid Ascent owners John Jacoby and Sam Maffett to build interstate rivalry , bring out stellar performances and create new benchmarks , was quickly coming into focus .
While hundreds of competitors were busy with their own races , a battle of another kind was unfolding ; a battle that started with ferocity in Hardy Inlet , see-sawed , then continued neck and neck between Teams QLD and VIC , but ended minutes apart .
No stranger to adventure racing , Rapid Ascent event regular Jarad Kohlar was already entered in the World Adventure Racing champs ( the week following Augusta Adventure Fest ), so wasn ’ t keen on racing solo at Augusta . But when the State of Origin Teams trophy was announced , Kohlar thought it would be perfect to do just the one leg and get some of his non-adventure racing mates involved in the sport of adventure racing from a team perspective . He wasted no time putting Team Victoria together .
Jarad Kohlar – Team VIC captain – Race Report
Heading into Augusta there was lots of banter within the team ; myself , Matt Gray , Matt Murphy and Alex Polizzi who replaced Luke Bell following an accident on his bike the week of the race , ruling him out of the competition . We hoped to turn some heads . I had the paddle leg – the first leg of the race . Race morning , I was thinking I better not lose more than seven minutes to the lead paddler , and I was hoping to finally out-paddle old sea dog Dean Gardner .
It was super close racing in the paddle leg with so many kayaks out on the water , all starting at the same time . For the rest of the team it was a matter of catch up to the other State of Origin teams .
The highlight for me was making the top turn on Dean Gardner ’ s wash then watching him somehow paddle away from me on the 7km downwind section back to the transition area . Next year Dean !
The course wasn ’ t super tough ; achievable by all athletes , but the speed and pace was crazy fast at the front of the field - very different from the World Adventure Racing Champs I just finished last week in a time of just over 115 hours .
While we were a little disappointed with our end result , we were super impressed with Team Shotz ( WA ) and the other State of Origin teams of WA and QLD . As a team we really enjoyed the road trip , the competition and the local Colonial Brewing Co . Adventure racing just keeps me coming back for more – it ’ s the adventure and the unknown . If my schedule allows I ’ ll definitely return to Augusta next year for another crack at the trophy , lock me in now .
With many hours in and out of the water , as well as adventure racing between them , Team Queensland was forged from a strong set of pro lifeguards hailing from the Gold Coast ; Nick Moore , Luke Ingwersen , Rob Pomie and Brett Stevens .
Team captain Nick Moore had always wanted to race Augusta Adventure Fest , and in 2016 with the invitation to represent the Sunshine State in the inaugural State of Origin at the Augusta Adventure Fest , the opportunity was ripe .
Nick Moore - Team QLD captain – Race Report
Augusta Adventure Fest is a legendary race in the multi sports world and to represent Queensland was an amazing opportunity . We ’ re all mates who try to stay fit so to do a race together was pretty cool . We all copped our fair share of banter .
“ No one wanted to be the weak link so we all suffered harder than we would racing individually . It ' s a long trip back to Queensland !”
I thought we had put together a strong team and was confident in getting a top three finish .
On race morning we were actually still trying to work out the order of each leg and who would be passing the timing chip and jersey on to which teammate !
We led going into T1 , then things got really close for a while there . It was intense when the boys hit the water together . And I knew I was going to have to push hard on the run either way . It felt like I was catching WA , and on the technical sections of the run I had them in sight but on the velvet fire roads he was too quick . The technical run out across the coastal boulders and soft sand was definitely the highlight of the race for me .
Adventure racing is definitely all about racing in the elements Mother Nature can throw at you . The same course on another day is incomparable . Augusta is such a beautiful place . It was my first time over to WA and it is the perfect location for an adventure race . If the opportunity exists I will definitely get back to Augusta . I think we can improve and bring the State of Origin trophy back to Sunny Queensland .
The inaugural State of Origin Teams Trophy stayed in the West after Team WA ( Smartstyle ) stormed over the line in three hours , 36 minutes and one second . Team QLD was two minutes , 14 seconds off the pace ( 3:38:14 ) and the boys from Victoria hit the line in 3:41:45 .
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