RAID AMAZONES ANOTHER SUCCESSFUL STINT
The Sri Lankan Airlinessponsored Raid Amazones destination adventure event, the only adventure race in the world exclusively for women, got underway in Sri Lanka for the second successive year on March 19 around the outskirts of the hill capital Kandy.
The adventure event, which originated in France, saw female athletes numbering over 250 competing in a range of sports activities such as running, archery, orienteering, canoeing, mountain biking, riding, and running, which of course requires a great amount of endurance.
Before the events kicked off, the participants underwent medical checkups to prove their fitness, which were conducted at the Earl’s Regency Hotel in Kandy.
The Raid Amazones kicked off with the first event, which is Trail Running where the participants have to complete just over 11 km of running starting from Hanthane, where they trekked jungles under humid conditions added to the hot climate, and ending at Galaha, which they completed with success. The second day of the event saw the participants begin the canoe race starting from Lake Victoria, and they had to complete nearly 15 km along with the waters of Lake Victoria, Pallekele, Digana, Bambaragala Purana, and Rajamaha Viharaya.
The third day is the toughest that the participants are due to face, which is the bike and run events starting from Rideegama. and will take the route of Lewala, Katugastota, Mawathagama, Delvitta, and back in the same route to the Earl’s Regency Hotel, and in all, they have to complete just under 18 km.
Another event is the 15-25 km mountain bike event, which was scheduled to start at Pinnawala and will take them along Bathamuraya playground, the Kandy Lake round, and Colombo-kandy road. The curtain will come down on the series of events with the 10km trail run starting from Pahala Kadugannawa via Colombo-kandy road, Ganethethenna, and Mahanthegama road.
The participants will also be involved in the cricket and cooking activities after the completion of the field events in the morning session.
Alexandra Derbanne, President and Co-founder of Raid Amazones said, “I was convinced due to the excellent feedback we received from the participants last year, which was the 20th edition, which culminated in conducting back-to-back events in Sri Lanka, and also because we want to show the world how safe and authentic Sri Lanka is.”
Apart from the events, the participants will no doubt experience Sri Lankan culture and return home with memories, which will be a boost to Sri Lanka.