Team Aussie Bodies race report by Steve Keeley

The fog slowly lifted as teams of racers bounded off the two busses. Streams of excitement and over-hydration then added to the colour and clamour of the preparation for the start.
And then we were off - at least able to run off the pent up energy for the first leg. Whilst some had the sense to walk up the hills the leaders' unwavering pace dragged the front of the field after them to the first transition.

After inflating the boats it was down the first of many steep scree covered tracks to the Shoalhaven River. Once on the river the cascading tumult of Grade 1 & 2 rapids and gentle carp filled pools had teams paddling, dragging and tumbling after their boats to the next transition. Some didn't make it - unseen snags ripping and tearing - duct tape no answer to bad luck.

The trek up the boulder strewn creek bed was a scrambler's maze of route choices followed by the inevitable climb up and out of the gorge. Despite the dramatic back drop it is unlikely many took more than a fleeting glance as the unfolding grandeur of the scenery mirrored the difficulty of the climb - heaving lungs, head down and just keep going!
A brief respite, a quick traverse along the ridge and back (walking only of course as required), then down again to the waiting kayaks and another opportunity to irreparably damage the now fragile looking inflatables.

As boats slowly (and in some cases instantly) deflated a position straddling the boat, one knee on each side proved to be the best to navigate thru the rapids. Barely afloat, the kayak take out could not come too soon. Not content with having generated amongst the teams a measure of dislike and distrust for the inflatables, Race Director, Gary Farebrother, ensured that hardened to hatred by requiring they remain inflated for the climb/portage out of the gorge to the bikes. No potentate has been more pompously carried in procession than those barely inflated Sevylors as they made their self important way up the steep slope.

The bikes came as something of a relief as maps were marked up - a tantalising mid point abseil something to look forward to. Unfortunately many (yep) did not read the (not so) fine print - check points could be obtained in any order and you had to have a minimum of 6 before arriving at the abseil. Extra distance towards the end of a race really sucks!

The abseil over, the climb back up was either by caving ladder or a prussik ascent. Linton and self took the soft option, Andy confirming he is really nuts beat us up via the prussiks.
Lengthening shadows and then the lights for the final push to the finish. Nothing too difficult tho the constant criss crossing with other teams scattered over the bike course left us with no idea as to how we were doing. And then it was over ……….

Looking back now, a race with everything you could want in an adventure race - difficult, impossibly stupid tasks, difficult, brief glimpses of marvellous wilderness, difficult --- but achievable. It was a blast!