GODZone’s opening revealed
The first day’s programme for GODZone – the world’s longest expedition adventure race in the world – has been released.
GODZone will begin at the Akaroa beach front on Sunday, March 10.
Competitors will have to make their way to the Christchurch Adventure Park, about 80 kilometres from the start line.
The next day, competitors will be taken out of the park to an undisclosed location in the greater Canterbury area, and have six days left to complete the race. The rest of the race programme is under wraps.
More than 250 competitors from around the world will compete in the 600km-long race.
GODZone event director Warren Bates said it would take teams anywhere from 8-12 hours to get from the beach front to the adventure park.
‘‘There will be a few hours of respite on Sunday night when they can eat, rest and prepare their maps before being coached out of the park in the early hours of Monday morning to an as yet undisclosed location.’’
GODZone teams will complete five different disciplines in the first day, including coasteering, mountain biking, packrafting or canoe, trekking and orienteering before arriving at the Christchurch Adventure Park some time between 4pm and 9pm on Sunday.
‘‘We have introduced a multi-sport style stage one to the race where teams will navigate their way from the Akaroa beach front and over the Port Hills to eventually finish at the Christchurch Adventure Park.’’
Bates encouraged spectators to go to the Akaroa start line on Sunday morning or to head to the adventure park later in the day to support the teams.
‘‘Also check out the GODZone live website as each team will be carrying a GPS tracker unit so viewers can follow their every move and see the points they are hitting around the wider Akaroa region, Port Hills and city areas,’’ he said.
‘‘This is the first time we have ever brought an adventure race of this stature to the city, which is fitting given Christchurch was recently named one of National Geographic’s top 10 adventure locations in the world.’’