Geocentric Outdoors Email Update - 23 Feb 2009

Mountain Designs GeoQuest - 48hr Adv Race

Early Bird Entries Open! HQ will be in Forster, NSW..

Early bird entries are NOW OPEN until 8 March. Enter early to obtain a significant saving on the entry fee. You don't have to have all team members confirmed when you enter.

From 5-8th June this year the golden beachside town of Forster on the NSW North Coast, 3hrs North of Sydney, will play host to over 500 competitors, support crew, family and friends for the Mountain Designs GeoQuest 48hr adventure race. With the perfect winter climate, Forster and the region will witness the annual pilgrimage of the sport to Australia’s premier adventure race.

Race HQ will be based at the central Forster Beach Caravan Park. Not only is a great HQ for an adventure race, but it is also the perfect location to bring family and friends for the Queens Birthday Long Weekend. Click here for more information on Race HQ.

For competitors, the Mountain Designs GeoQuest 2009 is looking to be one of the best GeoQuest events ever to be staged. An incredible new location taking in Forster and Barrington Tops sees some modifications being made to the original format to allow teams to visit some truly spectacular areas. Barrington Tops is an unspoilt wilderness including subtropical rainforest, ancient beech forests and subalpine woodlands. The Forster region boasts a glittering mosaic of inland waterways based around the impressive Wallis, Smiths and Myall Lakes networks – known as the Great Lakes. These lakes are surrounded by an undulating network of forests just waiting to be explored by adventure racers.

2009 will see the addition of Grade 1 white water kayaking using inflatable kayaks provided by Geocentric. This is the first time white water kayaking will be included in the Mountain Designs GeoQuest and will provide teams a massive "fun factor" in this exhausting event. Add to this a roping section on some exposed cliffs, some great mountain biking, trekking, a rafting mystery discipline and you have the premier adventure race of the year!

6Hr Enduro Mountain Bike Race

Raceline clinics for Newbies and Intermediates

Are you new to mountain biking, want to try out an event but not sure how to go about it? Australian Mountain Bike Clinics are running introductory and intermediate training sessions to prepare you for the 6hr Enduro. Check out the Racelines Information page. The sessions are held the afternoon before the race on the actual 6hr course and show you everything you need to know to be part of the race. If you don't have team mates for the event, the instructors will match you up with similar riders for a team for the following day. You won't find a better way to start into mountain bike events!

The 6hr Enduro is a new event in 2009 so mark it in your calendars right away! Dates are set for the 5th April 2009. The race will be held at the Slickers Mountain Bike track, just like it's sister event the 8hr Enduro. With a slightly different track tailored specifically for the 6hr length, hundreds or riders will get to enjoy the great flowing single track the property is renowned for.

Why the 6hr Enduro? Two reasons, it is a great track and it is sooooooooo close to Brisbane! Entries are open now!

One Night in Vegas - City Raid

City Raiders Get Hot and Steamy in Bris Vegas.

Held on Friday the 13th, the 4th annual One Night in Vegas event saw teams racing around the Brisbane CBD riding the Ferris Wheel, jumping off a 5m platform into the pool, making an espresso coffee and much more. Teams of two ranged from the complete novice in fancy dress through to elite adventure racers going like startled gazelle's. Well done to all teams who took part in the event this year.

Congratulations to Narelle Ash and Wendy Read of Team Skirtsports Australia who won both the all female category and the overall eventl with 1200 points out of a possible 1300. Using their heads as well as their legs, these two girls showed up all the competition finishing a full 90 points clear of their nearest rival. That rival was team Mountain Designs who won the mixed category with 1110 points. Interesting to note Narelle and Wendy also beat Mountain Designs last year but by only 10 points. The overall winners from last year, team Out for a Laugh, were humbled by the girls of Skirtsports Australia, winning the all male category but finishing 150 points behind them. Go Girls!

Results, Race Reports, Photos are all up now.

Congratulations to Janette McCosker who won the photo competition with her "Mermaids and Sweat" photo. The creative writing race report comp was won by Helen "H" Lucas & Roger "Captain Rog" Leeson with their race report entitled "This Way H!".

The next City Raid - One Night in Vegas is scheduled for 12 Feb next year. Don't forget to tell your friends and plan your team now!

XPD Expedition Race

Macpac Sponsor XPD!

Organisers are excited to announce that outdoor giant Macpac are throwing their weight behind the XPD Expedition Race. Since their beginnings in New Zealand in 1973, Macpac have developed into one of the world’s most trusted manufacturers of top quality outdoor equipment and clothing. Macpac have stores open in Australia in capital cities including Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Canberra and Hobart with more stores on the way. If you can't get into a store you can also order online www.macpac.com.au.

Would you like to be in the draw to win a next generation rain jacket made with eVent fabric? Macpac are confident this new fabric will blow your mind as it is the most waterproof and breathable fabric around. They have organised to show you exactly why they are so excited about eVent. Product launches are scheduled in stores throughout Australia in the first week of March. If you RSVP and attend you will be in the running to win a great new jacket. Too easy!

Bribie Island Multisport

8 weeks to go! Entries Streaming In.

Entries are OPEN. There is a certain buzz in the air about this event in 2009. Entries are coming in thick and fast already.

The Bribie Half is a new event for 2009 and run at the same time as the full Bribie Island Multisport. The 53km race sees relay teams and individuals complete the last 4 legs of the full course. This includes a 9km trail running, 30 km mountain biking, 10 km of kayaking and a final 4km run. This is actually the exact second half of the full course, so it is a true "half" race.

The half has been designed as an easier step into multisport racing. It is perfect for a team of 4 to try out their first race. It is also great if you don't have the team mates or the time to commit to the full course. As the Bribie Half individual and team competitors complete the second half of the course, the start time is at a very reasonable 9:30am. This event certainly lends itself to those looking for a more social outing!

Latest details have been updated on the Bribie Island Multisport website.

Hells Bells - Fairy Bells

Flying in for this event?? Airport Transfer Packages for 2009

The 6th edition of Hells Bells 24hr Adventure race will be held on Oct 17th – 18th 2009. The new sister 12hr event, Fairy Bells will be held at the same time.

Let’s face it, half the time flying into a 24hr event can be harder than the race it’s self! In a bid to make it easier for those from interstate, Geocentric are putting together transfer packages for teams and their equipment from the Brisbane and Sunshine Coast airports. Teams will be able to fly in on the evening of Friday the 16th and fly out on the evening of Sunday the 18th. Full details on this will be out soon on the new event web site.

We would also like to welcome ARea51 online adventure racing store - and Endura Sports System on board as sponsors of the race.

Insomnia 24hr Mountain Bike Festival

Dates for 2009 27-28 Jun 09

The Insomnia Mountain Bike Festival will be on again in 2009 on the last weekend in June. Get out your diaries and write in the 27-28 June 2009.

The Insomnia 24 Hour Mountain Bike Festival is held annually at a stunning location 30mins North of Brisbane, Queensland. The feature is a 24 hour mountain bike race but is supported by a raft of festivities including live music, food stalls, competitions, displays, demos, corporate tents and all weekend camping. At the event centre, Pit Lane is the hub of all event happenings. It is lined with all sorts of vendors and stretches from the transition area next to the lake, right down to the main entertainment stage. The festival is open to the public and competitors alike. Gates open 3pm Friday with the main race starting midday Saturday and finishing midday Sunday.

Bush Fire Appeal

Congratulations to the team from AYUP Lighting Sytems and David Leggo for their winning bids on the Casio Protrek Adventure Racing watchs. The very genrous bids were contributed in full to the Red Cross Bush Fire Appeal.

For more information contact craig@geocentricoutdoors.com.au

Look forward to seeing you at the next event!

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