New Zealand's premier multisporters Steve Gurney, Kathy Lynch, Nathan Fa'avae and Jeff Mitchell crossed the finish line at 8:33am (11:33am PST) to win the Discovery Channel Adventure Race-a Southern Traverse Partnership.
Paddling into the bay below the Godley Hotel in Tekapo, the team received a rapturous welcome from their six support crew who were armed with bottles of champagne and offered plenty of hugs and kisses.
Taking just over 96 hours to complete the 364-km course, the team traversed three mountain ranges, cycled 120 kms, and kayaked three rivers and two lakes to the finish line.
Having only four hours sleep on the first night, one hour on the third and half an hour on the fourth night, the team looked in need of some quality sleep time and a bask in the sun after their mammoth effort.
However, the team took plenty of time to answer many questions at the finish line and swap a few stories. The trek from Fox Peak over to Lake Tekapo last night, they said, was the hardest part of the entire course. Team member Nathan Fa'avae added it was nice to finally not be in a hurry to go anywhere.
Steve Gurney said he was looking forward to a shower, a sleep and a shave and they all agreed there had been some great adventure moments along the way. All the team then piled into Gurney's Subaru and with Steve at the wheel headed off for some well-deserved R&R.
Team Nokia from Finland are in second place, having reached the head of Lake Tekapo just after 7:30am and are expected across the finish around 1:00 clock this afternoon. In third place is Team Science from USA and Australia.
– Southern Traverse Ltd
