The Real Insurance XCM Series comes to a conclusion for 2012 with the running of the Highland Fling in a few weeks.  This video reviews the series so far and interviews the riders that stand to take out this years series. 

The series has attracted over 5,000 riders over six events, starting in April. It is not only the elite riders that are hell bent on winning the series, many of the category riders have made it their racing priority for the year.

iAdventure, along with sponsors Stevens Bikes, Shotz Sports Nutrition and The Sabah Adventure Challenge, are giving you the opportunity to win the Ultimate Adventure Giveaway, featuring:

• a brand new Stevens Bike with more than $2,500.
• a custom team kit from iAdventure.
• Team race nutrition to the value of $250 compliments of Shotz Nutrition.
• and the adventure racing experience of a lifetime with entry into the 2014 Sabah Adventure Challenge, which is into its 14th year as Malaysia's original Adventure Race in the heart of North Borneo.

All you need to do is register for any of iAdventure's Adventure Races before the 31st of July 2013. The more adventure races you enter, the more entries you will receive into the draw.

For full details of the giveaway, including terms & conditions, please visit the Ultimate Adventure Giveaway webpage.

Due to increasing and very popular demand, iAdventure have decided to add a Solo Category to a selection of their remaining 2012, and recently announced 2013 events.

The new Category will allow solo competitors to tackle the demands of Adventure Racing in the Australian bush all by their lonesome. Soloists will be required to supply their own kayaks, paddles and PFD's, allowing some of the more seasoned competitors the chance to make use of their full arsenal of adventure racing weaponry.

Entries to the Solo Category of the Canberra Adventure Race open on the 20th of September at 2pm. Other Adventure Races allowing a solo category will be announced in the near future. Stay tuned!

Sydney Adventure Race - 1st September 2012

 "Thanks so much to iAdventure for enabling us to share this wonderful sport with our children".

The day started very early loading the whole family into the car for the drive to Narrabeen for the race. The awesome golden pink sunrise a glimpse of the day that was to come. IAdventure were all set up at the Sydney Sports Academy on the shores of Narrabeen Lake. There was a bit of a breeze blowing and the early morning air was cool and crisp. This was a different race for me as I was about to take my eldest girl Rebecca out on her first AR race – aged only 9. Bec and I were both nervous for probably the same but slightly different reasons – this being a first for both of us. We wandered down to registration to collect our kit. The AR community is one of the best sporting communities I know – so happy to provide support and encouragement to everyone else, and this was no exception.

Bec and I studied the maps together; a kayak leg was first, so at least we could change into dry clothes when we got back to the TA. The start was a little frenetic, as they all are, with a dash to collect control cards and then down to the boats. Bec and I were in the water near last (part of our plan to avoid any early bumps and not slow up any other teams), but once on the water we held our own, even managing to pass a few teams on the way. The breeze was making the going a little tougher and certainly colder than we expected, but Bec managed to paddle most of the time and help out at each CP, finally we were off the kayak and changing for the first Rogaine, CPs around the academy. We walked for bit waiting for the legs to warm up and then we were into a jog, all CPs collected we were onto the bike – for what I knew would be the toughest leg, a climb up from the lake toward Cromer. I had decided not to tell Bec too much of what was to happen so we could face each challenge as it arose.

We started cycling up the hills and at one point Bec looked very upset (so I was very concerned that she was having a tough time of it). I enquired what the matter was and the response flawed me – “I just want to go faster dad!” We then hit the rough trails and had to hike a bike – Bec was determined to do it all herself, but I eventually persuaded her to let me help, which was easier done as other teams around us were also helping each other out. We passed thought the TA area and reached the top of the hill, Bec said to me “WOW dad look at that VIEW” – she was so excited. I said to her that is why I race to get to see views like that! We collected the next set of CPs and back to the TA for the Rogaine, and set off on foot. The day was a cracker – clear blue sky, endless views, the breeze was now a godsend keeping us cool.

The Rogaine was wonderful, a climb up to CP 18, we passed another team looking for the CP and I said to them that I thought the CP would be further on – which it was (phew). Bec had asked me earlier in the race had I ever been lost – to which I responded as most AR racers would – of course not (temporarily misplaced perhaps – but never lost). The other team suggested we go back the way we came as another team had advised that the direct track between 18 and 19 was a bit rough. A valuable lesson that the most direct route is not always the fastest. So we ran along the trail to CP 19 – the highlight of the day for Bec was climbing up in the small cave to clip our control card. Over 3 hours in and Bec was still going very well – thanks to a great deal of encouragement from other teams we passed (most of whom were already on the bonus leg). We collected CP 20 the last of the compulsory CPs and headed back to the TA. We discussed that we would not attempt any of the bonus leg and chose to finish the race having more than achieved our goal. 

We rode back down the course to the finish, and you could not wipe the smile from Bec’s face having completed her first AR. Thank you so much to the organisers and volunteers, and thank you so much to all the competitors who gave so much encouragement to my daughter. Along with Bec there were 3 other younger people in the race, an 11 year old boy racing with his mum and two teenage girls. Thanks so much to iAdventure for enabling us to share this wonderful sport with our children. And to other parents I would encourage you to get out there and take it on with your children, I cannot tell you how much it has deepened our family bond, and perhaps in the next couple of years our younger daughter will also start racing (she already wants to) and the whole family will be out there.

I must congratulate iAdventure for running one of the best Sprint AR events I have ever been to. It is fantastic to include the bonus legs that enable teams to keep racing for longer, and the food at the end was fantastic.

See you next time Paul G