HURTLE

Hurtle's been asleep for a few weeks, but we're back.  As you're used to, this spot will show you what the really cool guys are achieving, but more importantly, it's a window to places you can go and be the really cool guys yourself.

Terra Australis has been on the go since at least 2008, and is carving out a niche as one of the epic rides that you must do.  Chances are that you can't win it, that's for the v ery select, but to borrow a catchphrase from Endurance (Horse) Riding, when you're in a contest like this, "to complete is to win", and with a heap of training and a bit of good fortune, we can all do that.

So what's the story?  Well firstly it's a real race.  While there is a whole lot of camartaderie to be had about being there and being part of the achievement, make no mistake, these guys are out to win and if you're in you'll be competing, not just riding.  Each of the seven competing days will start at 8:00am and you'll have 'til 6:00 pm to make it to the stage conclusion.

The event starts at Falls Creek, and seven days later the hardiest will have completed more than 550 km of track, and more than 15 000 metres of ascent.  They'll ride, in whatever shape they remain into Beechworth, where they'll celebrate victory over a ride that is in roughly equal measures gruelling, exhausting, and beautiful. 

Categories offered are Open Men – Open Women – Open Mixed – Masters (80+) Men – Masters (80+) Mixed - Super Masters (100+) Open Gender and a new category for 2011, Grand Masters (120+) Open Gender.

Riders in the Open categories can be any age but must be over 18 on the start date of the event. For the Age categories, the calculation is based on the total age of both riders. For example, a 35 yo and a 47 yo can team up and register for the 80+ category. This is a new innovation for TERRA AUSTRALIS in 2011. The idea is to blur the edges of the age categories so hopefully it will make it a little easier to find your ideal race partner for 2011.

To complete the event, both riders in each team must remain together at all times during the race. If at any point on the course teammates separate by more than 2 minutes the team may receive a time penalty.

Front Line Events have conceive TERRA AUSTRALIS as a MTB experience of a lifetime. They understand many of you can't be there every year, so every crack you get has to be special.  To make it so, every aspect of the events planning must revolve around you – the competing athlete. Your satisfaction, safety and above all enjoyment are their primary focus and they promise to deliver an unforgettable MTB experience.  It's a big call but at Hurtle we've checked the history and as far as we can tell it's true.

There will be 2 feeding stations on each stage, which will have fruit, water and other goodies to keep your energy levels up. There will also be some limited mechanical support at the feeding stations in case your trusty steed needs a bit of attention too.  A crack first response paramedic team will also be on course with the riders to deal with any medical emergencies and a comprehensive communications network will be the backbone to effective response.

So we're sorry you're hearing about it the day after it started, nevertheless it is the kind of thing we in the office would have to train and plan for, so perhaps it's time to think about whether you can beat the mountains in 2012.