XPD Whitsundays 2007

Posted on 30 Aug 2007 | 0 comments

We had been training and preparing all year and the big event finally arrived…XPD 2007, the Whitsundays!

Airlie Beach was a great venue for HQ, and it truly is the gateway to the Whitsundays. The race anticipation was already building, seeing other teams at the airport, preparing gear, buying food, etc.

packing up the bike box at home

loading the bike boxes into the truck at the airport

pre-race dinner

shopping for more than $1000 – mostly junk food

the stash

pre-race preparations at our accommodation

food packed in our crates

Race briefings were exactly that this year…brief. Due to an accidental death in the Geocentric staff prior to the race, things were a little behind schedule, and this necessitated forgoing the usual competency tests, which was great as it gave the teams more time in preparation for the race.

race briefing

The maps were handed out for the first third of the race (the remainder to be handed out during the race) which is interesting as you can only plan out this first third of the race. It meant we didn’t have to stay up all night before the race marking the maps for the entire course and thus getting a bit more sleep prior to the race start…

We were also given materials (plastic tarp and two broom handles) to build our own sails for the kayaks. This meant we had to scramble around town for other equipment to complete the sails eg rope, cable ties etc…It was fun seeing all the teams going to the same hardware stores, jostling for equipment and even groceries. Some items proved very popular and certain shelves (powdered energy drinks and chocolate bars) in the supermarket were left totally empty.

logistics

picking up our kayaks

building our sails

mixing with the other teams

preparing our bike boxes with our logo

snorkelling fins ready

dropping off the crates

It was interesting to note different teams food requirements for the race. As we were flying up and had weight restrictions on the plane, it meant we had to purchase the majority of our race food in Airlie Beach. Again, it’s all fun, particularly as you factor in a vegetarian’s dietary requirements amongst a team of carnivores.

Even though we were in bed early I don’t think anyone slept that well…the nerves were already starting to kick in.

So the big day finally arrived, it was Wednesday morning 22nd August 2007. We were packed and ready and got down to race headquarters for the 6.45am shuttle bus ride to Shute Harbour for the start of the race. It was very quiet again on the bus, nerves totally kicked in now…the quiet before the storm.

At Shute Harbour the teams inflated and launched their boats in preparation for the start of the race, along with a lot of nervous toilet stops throughout. The start line was several hundred metres out on the water, so as we paddled out the first thing we noticed that these damn boats (inflatable Sevylor kayaks) were not so easy to steer. They were barge-like and many teams had difficulty keeping them straight, not a great omen for the rest of the race.

at the start

It was around 8AM that the teams were lined up on the water, the siren sounded and there was a huge cheer as we started the 800km journey. It had finally started, what a relief.

xpd 2007 course overview

Leg 1 – Kayak with snorkel/trek (30-50km) Shute Harbour – Airlie Beach
This was certainly the highlight of the race, as we got to paddle and snorkel around the Islands of the Whitsundays in the beautiful aqua coloured water. It was absolutely magic! It was hot and sunny, great for paddling and snorkeling.

We also had to locate several checkpoints on the islands, and it was equally as nice on land running through the various resort islands, climbing the hills and checking out the various views across the Whitsundays. We were very lucky as we spotted a whale 80m away, before it dived right underneath our boat!

In this section you were given the option to collect which checkpoints you like and receive a time penalty later in the race for those that you did not collect. There was also a night cut off at 6.00pm to be off the water, so after much discussion we decided to miss checkpoint A (as most teams did), and we got back to Airlie Beach just in time before the 6.00pm night cut-off.

we’re off!

hiking on some of the islands to get CPs

one of the CPs on an island in the beautiful Whitsundays

snorkelling to one of the CPs – you can see the 2 fingers still taped together because of a broken index finger

continuing the paddle after a snorkelling section

TA at the end of the paddle

Leg 2 – Trek (30km) – Airlie Beach – Brandy Creek Road
After a relaxed transition we stopped at Subway to pick up some dinner before climbing out of Airlie Beach and onto the Great Whitsunday Walk.

picking up some dinner at Subways

Leg 3 – Mountain bike (47 km) – Brandy Creek Road – Dingo Beach
First mountain bike ride was fun descending along a dirt track. We arrived at the TA with a dark zone in place and set up a ‘room’ to sleep a few hours.

heading off on the bikes after a navigationally easy trek

next kayaking TA

leg 4 – Kayak (43km) – Dingo Beach – North Whitsundays – Bowen

Unfortunately they had given away our kayaks (each team had their own numbered kayaks) and so we had to wait 1.5hr for other kayaks. Not good as the wind would be picking up later in the day, making it harder to get to all the CPs on the kayak leg and making us work a lot harder than needed against the increasing wind and current. Again we stopped at islands to pick up CPs and did some more snorkelling in the beautiful waters of the Whitsundays, the walks being a welcome break from the paddling. A lot of teams struggled and were picked up by the support boats.

paddling into the wind

coming in from the next paddle

very happy to finish as it was very windy out there

preparing our bikes for the next mtb leg

no time to look at the beautiful views

Leg 5 – Mountain bike (105km) – Bowen – Sonoma

It was another hot day, and water was scarce, and we were pleased to find to find a farm house who were happy to fill up our bladders. We were lucky riding with tubeless tyres and stanz as we saw many teams fixing punctures along the way. This was a long bike section, and we seemed to follow some power lines forever, which seemed to mainly go up hill. But at the end we had an amazing downhill section into Sonoma that made it worth the effort getting up all those hills. Jude even learnt how to ‘fly’ on the downhill.

luckily we find a helpful farmer who tops up our water bladders

a lot of steep sections we walk

sweaty during an uphill section

big smiles after learning how to ‘fly’ on the awesome downhill into Sonoma

riding into Sonoma, the start of the very long rogaine

Leg 6 – Rogaine (35km) – Sonoma
This was one of the toughest parts of the race, having to collect 11 out of 13 possible checkpoints with difficult navigation over tough terrain in extremely hot weather and no water on the course.

It was not a great start, as we walked up the wrong hill. After many hours in the heat of the day we were running very low on water and were considering going back to the start to refuel. Luckily we found a small stream (mud puddle) to replenish our water allowing us to continue without hiking all the way back to the TA. It was truly hot out there! There was one amazing granite rock canyon that we hiked through, which was truly awesome, and a highlight of the race.

We all agreed that that was the most difficult rogaine we have done, being out there for over 24 hours in some really rough terrain.

planning for the rogaine

shade is precious

hiking up the wrong hill

yes, we collect our first CP on the rogaine

Muz having s snooze

luckily we find a mud puddle with a tiny flow of water where we can fill up our bladders (slowly)

Muz takes the opportunity to sleep again 🙂

we all have a sleep on the rogaine

the next day we are treated to a beautiful gorge where we need to pick up another CP

stunning place

with some water so we can fill up again!

amazing scenery

picking up another CP on the rogaine

views!!

back at the TA in Sonoma after a long rogaine

finding the tiny bits of shade to prepare for the next mtb leg

Leg 7 – Mountain bike (145km) – Sonoma – Eungella (Midcamp)
This was to be the longest ride and after the monster rogaine, we headed straight into the town of Collinsville where we had heard there was a pasta shop! We took a break and had a fantastic dinner before heading out on the bikes to start the long ride.

We rode along the Bowen river, a straight red dirt road for approx 100 km in the middle of the outback. We rode a long time together with Clayton’s team before they decided to have a rest and we continued alone. The ride just went on and on, with lots more climbing before a final descent to arrive at mid-camp.

but first we take advantage of the pasta shop that is open for a great meal

and then we start the long mtb for real

we team up with Clayton’s team

always eating 🙂

Clayton’s team decides to have a break so we continue alone again

stunning sunset

Midcamp Eungella

We made it to mid-camp where we had a hot meal and we were given a bucket of hot water (one for the boys and one for the girls – lucky me!) so we could wash ourselves before having a few hours sleep in one of the tents that were provided.

Leg 8 – Trek (43km) – Eugella – Crediton
The Makay Highlands Great Walk was a Rainforest trail that followed the Broken river. Very easy navigation for this leg before finishing at a rough old shed.

quite an easy trek to get us started again after midcamp

Leg 9 – Mountain bike (76km) – Crediton – Mia Mia
The course notes indicated that this next ride had a long down hill. However we soon realised that ‘To go downhill you have to go uphill first’. After many hours riding up hill we were rewarded with lots of fast downhill, some proving quite treacherous as it was on rocky terrain. We all took it in turns to have a stack. First it was Mikey’s turn, then Jude managed to tear her labrum in her right hip with her stack. At the time it wasn’t painful and after re-attaching the light we were on our way again until Muz stacked it a bit later.

The last part of the ride was tough as we had a strong headwind, riding through the Queensland sugar cane fields.

it continues to be very hot out there

Jude has her stack at night on the long downhill

Leg 10 – Kayak (22km) – Mia Mia – Marian
We were now on the river, so some nice flat water. We started the paddle in the night after Muz had a quick snooze whilst we prepared the kayaks. After a few hours paddling we decided to have a few hours sleep on the river in the boats before continuing the next morning. This river had a few portages around weirs and we did them during daylight and enjoyed the small rapids. We had to carry the kayaks up the river bank and across the road to the TA at the hall. Last paddle now finished.

preparing for the paddle

Muz has a snooze whilst we prepare the kayaks

and we set off in the dark

sunrise after a few hours sleeping on the river

getting changed into gear for another hot day after a freezing cold night

paddling a calm river

portage around the weir

the weir we are portaging around

another TA, looking after our feet whilst eating lots

Leg 11 – Mountain bike (91km) – Marian – Cathu

Another long ride, a lot through the sugar cane fields where we had some fun eating the sugar cane and climbing on top of the train carriages to take some photos. We also tried to ride without hands on the smooth tarmac.

a little break in the sugar cane fields

trying some sugar cane

my view when looking down

picking up another CP

happy Marcus

happy Jude

riding into the sugar cane fields

happy Mike

eating again

finishing a long ride at the TA where we meet Karen & Lisa

Leg 12 – Trek (90km – shortened to 75km) – Cathu – Hill Rise

At this TA we found Karen and Lisa and Muz seriously crashed. He needed a 13hr sleep before we could move on and we spent much of it in the yellow dome tent from the TA. When we finally started we hiked up a hill and just kept going up (luckily it was a gentle climb) for approximately 7 hours.

Navigation on this leg was hard and after the first 2 teams had reached the very remote CP the race organisors had decided to cut that CP out for the rest of the field. This meant unfortunately that the hike out (instead of via the CP) was along a boring dirt road. We overtook Clayton’s team again on this road as we had decided it was easier to slowly job instead of walk that long section of road. But first we still had to find the CPs. At some point we bumped into another team and spent some time hiking together until we found CP34 on top of a hill.

When we reached one of the CPs where they had a fire going we took a short break and discovered there was a 100% eclipse of the moon ongoing. That kept us entertained on the long hike out along the dirt track to the next TA.

catching up with Karen

we catch up on some sleep here in the yellow dome tent

packing up our bike boxes

doing stuff in the TA

sleep time

the TA the next morning

we’re off – finally

it’s a long walk up the hill

I am very happy with my hiking poles

Mike on the hike

checking navigation

on our way to the first CP on our hike

we found it!

team photo!

a quick break on the way down

cane toads…

a quick break at the fire

100% eclipse of the moon on our way to the next TA

Leg 13 – Mountain bike (60km) – Hill Rise – Airlie Beach

The course notes outline a short 3 hour 60 km ride back in Airlie (Not).

It is a ride with some tricky navigation and very frustratingly we struggle to find the way through a tricky bit, resulting in Muz needing another sleep before we finish the ride. Once we get through that section it is a relatively easy ride to the finish line.

We arrive at HQ just before 10AM in the morning and are on an absolute high.

our last mtb ride into the finish line in Airlie Beach

The Finish
Pizza, champagne, beer and ice cream on the XPD winners couch (anyone who finishes is a winner) as we drank out of our new ‘XPD Finisher’ champagne flutes.

Massive smiles on our faces, and an absolute high as we had finished XPD!!.

We were out on the course for 177 hours (7 days, although you sort of lose count of the days while out there), which put us in 15th place overall, out of 56 teams starting the race.