Red Bull Defiance
 NSmith
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Posted: 21 October 2014, 3:06 PM
Red Bull Defiance- http://redbulldefiance.co.nz/
A few orienteers are competing in what will be an epic race down in Wanaka this Fri/Sat. With a Braden Currie designed course containing 150kms of MTB, running and kayaking over two days, words like brutal or vicious barely do this event justice.
Here we bring you detailed predictions of some of the team’s chances;
Tom Reynolds and Matt Jeans, Team University of Auckland: A solid team even with a slightly injury interrupted buildup (more on that over at Tom’s blog http://thomasreynolds.wordpress.com/). Will be strong across all the disciplines and after Godzone it should feel like a quick walk in the park.
Prediction: Whilst not quite being able to quite match the freakish speed of the Braden Currie/Dougal Allen dream team, expect to see Tom and Matt pushing the pace in the chasing pack.
Tim Robertson and Nick Hann: What a pairing. Nick has been bossing out some epic runs in the Southern Alps recently so should have heaps of endurance, and we all know how phenomenal Tim is in both the biking and running. However there are some questions to be answered; Will Nick be able to keep up with Tim on the MTB? Will Tim be able to match Nick’s endurance on the long final run? And how will the kayaking go? (https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=4802758684289&set=a.2240446268080.60553.1755767551&type=1&theater)
Prediction: Some good pacing should see them near the pointy end of the competition, however the kayaking could result in them slipping back a few places.
Nick Smith and Levi Hibbert: A very injury interrupted buildup (read six runs in the last month!) may see Nick struggling to keep up with top junior adventure racer Levi. However expect them to be relatively strong on the bike and perhaps even gaining a few minutes back to Tim & Nick on the kayak.
Prediction: Mid-pack, but achieving their goal of finishing the course before the after party starts.
Tane Cambridge and ?: Whoever is brave enough to pair up with Tane should be desperately grabbing for the end of a towrope on the running sections, especially on the brutal final 25km leg. (http://redbulldefiance.co.nz/the-race/the-course/)
Prediction: ?
There’s going to be live timing and updates of the race this, check out https://www.facebook.com/RBDefiance?fref=ts
PS: Thanks for letting me borrow the paddle Al!
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fraser
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Posted: 22 October 2014, 12:15 PM
Good luck guys. Might see you at the finish line.
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Jamie
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Posted: 22 October 2014, 12:47 PM
Hope they don't have massive queues at the abseil, would hate to see that mistake made again.
There can be a bit of fear and friction on a 100 metre abseil
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marcusd
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Posted: 22 October 2014, 11:38 PM
Jamie - there is a deadzone for timing at the top of the abseil.
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Neil K
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Posted: 23 October 2014, 1:05 AM
Who are you doing it with Fraser?
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fraser
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Posted: 23 October 2014, 10:30 AM
I haven't changed Neil. I am a hard core orienteer, not a multisport geek.
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Jamie
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Posted: 23 October 2014, 2:31 PM
So hardcore he has started his own Federation....the FONZ
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fraser
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Posted: 24 October 2014, 11:32 AM
The orienteers finished day one in the same order that Nick listed them. Braden Currie and Dougal Allan won with a comfortable margin and the top teams were fairly spread out. All the orienteers must have finished within 20 or 30 minutes of each other.
A common description of the course seemed to be 'brutal' but seemingly in a good way as all seemed to have enjoyed themselves. Quite a few mentioned that it was harder than they expected, particularly the kayak leg in to the southerly wind.
Can they all back up the performance with day two tomorrow?
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fraser
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Posted: 25 October 2014, 9:18 AM
Same finish order for the orienteers again today. Tim and Nick were close behind Tom and Matt. A bit more of a gap than yesterday back to Nick and Levi, with Tane and Hillary close behind them.
The final run over Mt Alpha seemed to favour the running ability of the orienteers. Certainly a physical race, and as Tom put it, the challenge was more like an adventure race than a multisport event.
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