6th & 7th August 2011 – Lower Blue Mountains, NSW
A cool morning greeted competitors as they lined up on the start line. After two years of 30 degree C plus temperatures for the Blue Mountains leg of the series, it was moved to August.
Competitors were using an electronic checkpoint system (Sport Ident) for the first time. The new system is more accurate and reliable than the old manual system. It also means punching checkpoints is a lot quicker.
The first leg was a mini rogaine around Euroka Clearing. Competitors needed to collect six checkpoints scattered around the clearing before transition to the kayaking leg. Teams then kayaked 3km up the Nepean River to Glenbrook Gorge. They then transitioned onto the Canyoning section choosing their route carefully as they made their way up the Gorge. Strategy was a key component of this section. Knowing when to swap over from one side of the canyon to the other and when to do a water crossing or not would save you valuable time.
Teams then made their way back to Euroka clearing along the walking tracks. They then picked up their bikes for a ride up to the Oaks fire trail. Stopping on the way for a short trail run before riding back down the sweet single track to the finish.
No Roads Expeditions (Jeff Price and Mark Howell) took line honours in 2hrs 45min. No Roads Expeditions (Mel Pelly and Matt Shields) came first in the mixed teams in 3hrs 28min and VO2 Vitality 2 (Anita Graham and Lis White) won the female category in 4hrs and 1min to round out Saturdays podium.
On Sunday Kiwiscantfly (Mike Sumner and Jamie Anderson) took line honours in 2hrs 54min. Camelbak 1 (Kimberlee King and Sean King) came first in the mixed teams in 3hrs 6min and The Cheminas (Katrin Van Der Spiegel and Jacqui Kennett) won the female category in 3hrs and 33min.