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An Overview
On November 22, 52 teams from 21 countries began the brutal 450 kilometer Southern Traverse race in Nelson, New Zealand. For a maximum five days, racers will be forced to navigate icy waters, muddy trails, and rugged hills over a course kept shrouded in mystery until the eve of the event. This ninth annual race promises to be one of the great challenges in adventure racing.
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Spring in New Zealand can mean abrupt changes in weather, which can affect both organizers and competitors. In 1992, a sudden snowstorm hit the area sending organizers scrambling to make last minute changes to the course. And in 1997, Team West Coast was forced to withdraw after being caught in snow and high winds, with members suffering from hypothermia.
The outline and extreme terrain of the course are also great challenges to teams. Oftentimes competitors trudge through an icy river at sunrise, cross arid regions during the day, and navigate through snowy mountains at night. These challenges though are what define this adventure race and bring about a competition teams will not soon forget.
The Race
The five-day, non-stop race will consist of three mountaineering sections, two paddling sections – sea kayaking and rafting, four mountain biking sections, a rope skills course, and caving. (Caving is subject to approval by New Zealand's Department of Conservation based on the conditions at the start of the race.)
The mountaineering section requires teams to navigate through bush and along high ridge tops, using only a map, compass and altimeter. This section both physically and psychologically drains athletes due to the night navigation involved and the extreme terrain they encounter.
In the sea kayak portion, each team is mandated to use at least one sea kayak to cross over the Sounds, Tasman or Golden Bay coastal area where the waters will vary from calm ocean waters to waves reaching four meters. The rafting discipline will combine guided and unguided sections, navigating down small and large volume rivers.
The terrain in the mountain biking sections will be raced over varying terrain, including: steep hills, farmer's tracks, forestry and unpaved roads, requiring hike-a-bike techniques and quick navigation. The rope skill section will be a combination of abseiling and traversing rock bluffs and slopes.
Through all of this, teams will have to navigate unmarked trails, and manage their sleep patterns and food intake. Though races vary, the top teams usually finish within three-and-a-half days.
The 2000 race will begin on November 11th, taking place in Canterbury, New Zealand. Registration for the race begins on February 1, 2000. For further information, see southerntraverse.com.
— Susan Overton, MountainZone.com Staff