MCain leave in 3 days for Spain - Monday, 11 May 2009 *The McCain Adventure Addicts, rated as one of South Africa’s top adventure racing units, are in the final preparation stage for this year’s Bimbache Extrem Castilla y León, the European leg of the 2009 Adventure Racing World Championships.*
This will be the 7th edition of Bimbache Extrem, and the second time the race will take place in the region of Castilla y Leon. This is undoubtedly the premier expedition race on the Spanish AR calendar, and the remote and rugged provinces of Palencia and Leon will provide the perfect backdrop for the collective blood, sweat and tears of more than 30 top adventure racing teams from around the world. Technical routes traversing high ranges, including the Picos de Europa, Sierra de Manpodre and Palencia peaks, will no doubt test the racers along an event lasting a minimum of three to four days. "Even though Bimbache Extrem is billed as a 4-day race, we’re expecting to reach the finish in around 72 - 80 hours", says Graham Bird, captain of the McCain Adventure Addicts. "Taking into account the unusually high snowfall in Spain this year, we may have to revert to using crampons and ice axes during the race', he continues. 'Plus, we will be faced with segments of high-speed in-line skating, and an aquatic caving section requiring waterproof headlamps and 5mm neoprene wetsuits. You can say we are therefore 100% convinced the organisers will be testing our sense of adventure at this year’s Bimbache Extrem!" Bird, who hails from Johannesburg, will be joined by McCain’s first-string Adventure Addicts on this month’s mission to Castilla y Leon. Back-up will come in the shape of self-confessed pack-horse Hano Smit (Sedgefield), Andre Gie from Knysna, and Tatum Prins from Cape Town. As team members, they excel in adventure sport disciplines as varied as paddling, mountain biking, trail running, technical rope work and navigation, but curve balls such as the in-line skating and cramponning may expose chinks in their armour. Race start in the tiny village of Vegacervera promises to be a festive affair, with the local communities co-opted into adding local colour and culture to the opening ceremony. Race support, athletes and media representatives from around the world will descend upon the town from May 16th, but McCain’s extensive international experience should stand them in good stead as the tension builds towards the start of the race two days later. When they do set off, they will not only be facing some of the world’s top AR teams, but also a full gamut of adventure disciplines in extremely testing terrain. With entries limited to a maximum of 30 teams, the cream of the AR crop come here to face off against each other and a gruelling 450km route. Disciplines will, as usual, include mountain biking, trail-running, trekking, canoeing, technical ropes and canyoneering, plus the aforementioned in-line skating, caving and an exciting raft descent. According to the organisers, participants in this year’s Bimbache Extrem Castilla y León will face natural wilderness and true adventure, and only teamwork, physical endurance and mental focus will get the mixed teams of four to the finish line at Aguilar de Campoo. McCain Adventure Addicts currently rates right up there with the world’s best teams, and there Top 10 finish at last year’s Eco-Motion (the AR World Championships) in Brazil positions them well for a podium finish at Bimbache Extrem. Prize money for Bimbache Extrem will amount to a solid €35 000, with the winning team walking away with €9 000 as well as a free entry into the World AR Champs in Portugal later this year. The Adventure Addicts plans to go all out for glory, and would be keen to maximise media exposure for their sponsor, McCain Foods Limited. This international leader in frozen foods is a foremost brand in frozen vegetables and potato chips, and their extensive product range targets people striving for an active and well-balanced lifestyle. McCain Adventure Addicts furthermore boasts apparel manufacturer CapeStorm as another official sponsors. CapeStorm, winner of the Proudly South African Award, rivals global technical wear when it comes to durability and quality, and the team can absolutely trust their clothing to keep them warm, dry or cool, depending on conditions they face. Other team sponsors include PVM Nutritional Science, Giant Bicycles, Island Tribe Sunscreen, Squirt Bicycle Lube and Black Diamond head torches. For more information on McCain Adventure Addicts, their sponsors and upcoming races, check out the following web sites -: Team Information - www.mccainaddicts.co.za Main Sponsor - www.mccain.com Apparel Sponsor - www.capestorm.co.za Bimbache Extrem - http://www.meridianoraid.com/raid/bimbache09/en/the_raid.html CONTACTS: Team Manager: Graham Bird - (083) 601 8693 / [email protected] Image Queries: Jacques Marais - (083) 444 5369 / [email protected] --- ends --- --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "DarkAndDirty" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/DarkAndDirty?hl=en -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
