SA team to take on the world

JOHANNESBURG – More than 300 of the world’s top adventure racers will line up for EcoMotion Pro, South America’s longest running expedition race.

This time around the event, now in its 6th year, will take place in Piaui, Maranhao and Ceara, three tiny provinces situated on the remote northeastern coastline of Brazil. The people of this pristine little part of paradise can look forward to an intense build-up as competitors from around the globe arrive in anticipation of a truly amazing race.D-Day is set for November 2, leaving Team McCain Adventure Addicts less than two weeks to prepare for the arduous challenge lying ahead.In order to assist in acclimatising to local conditions, team members will fly via Sao Paulo and Fortaleza to the tiny hamlet of Jericoacoara.This minute fishing settlement, boasting approximately 2 000 permanent inhabitants, will be transformed into a colourful race village for a week, and the international media will be there in full force.Team McCain Adventure Addicts can expect a challenging wilderness experience, with a gruelling race route in excess of 580 kilometres.The distance will be pieced together from a range of adventure disciplines, all selected to test the skills sets of the various team members to the absolute max.”We don’t want to pile on the pre-race pressure at this stage, so right now our strategy will be to aim for a Top 10 finish”, says team captain Graham Bird.Bird hails from Gauteng, and will be ably supported by Hano Smit, Andre Gie and Tatum Prins, all from the Western Cape.The McCain Adventure Addicts team members excel in a range of disciplines as varied as paddling, mountain biking, trail running and navigation, and can therefore be expected to do well, especially as the climate and conditions in north-eastern Brazil should suit their style of racing.Ecomotion Pro race organisers have pre-released some race details, and competitors can certainly look forward to a well-balanced route.Five trekking sections, making up 130 km, will traverse diverse terrain varying from dunescapes and rugged mountains to the fiercely hot Caatinga Desert.EcoMotion is part of the AR World Series, a worldwide circuit of premium adventure racing events representing ten countries over a one-year period.This year’s race will be the culmination of the series for 2008, and will expose competitors to the rich traditions and culture of this breathtaking region in Brazil.The people of this pristine little part of paradise can look forward to an intense build-up as competitors from around the globe arrive in anticipation of a truly amazing race.D-Day is set for November 2, leaving Team McCain Adventure Addicts less than two weeks to prepare for the arduous challenge lying ahead.In order to assist in acclimatising to local conditions, team members will fly via Sao Paulo and Fortaleza to the tiny hamlet of Jericoacoara.This minute fishing settlement, boasting approximately 2 000 permanent inhabitants, will be transformed into a colourful race village for a week, and the international media will be there in full force.Team McCain Adventure Addicts can expect a challenging wilderness experience, with a gruelling race route in excess of 580 kilometres.The distance will be pieced together from a range of adventure disciplines, all selected to test the skills sets of the various team members to the absolute max.”We don’t want to pile on the pre-race pressure at this stage, so right now our strategy will be to aim for a Top 10 finish”, says team captain Graham Bird.Bird hails from Gauteng, and will be ably supported by Hano Smit, Andre Gie and Tatum Prins, all from the Western Cape.The McCain Adventure Addicts team members excel in a range of disciplines as varied as paddling, mountain biking, trail running and navigation, and can therefore be expected to do well, especially as the climate and conditions in north-eastern Brazil should suit their style of racing.Ecomotion Pro race organisers have pre-released some race details, and competitors can certainly look forward to a well-balanced route.Five trekking sections, making up 130 km, will traverse diverse terrain varying from dunescapes and rugged mountains to the fiercely hot Caatinga Desert.EcoMotion is part of the AR World Series, a worldwide circuit of premium adventure racing events representing ten countries over a one-year period.This year’s race will be the culmination of the series for 2008, and will expose competitors to the rich traditions and culture of this breathtaking region in Brazil.