Discussion: XPD

I mentioned XPD and the World AR to newpatrick. He mentioned it had been in Tas before. Here is where I guess it won't go in 2011.

http://www.xpd.com.au/images/webmap2nd.gif

But it sounds like you could pick his brain about terrain a fair bit (though he said he wouldn't be a good choice to race with unless you like using a tow rope a lot).

Its interesting your comments about how organizers are recently trying not to leave teams behind. Why? Its a frickin' World Champs isn't it?

My impression about organizers trying not to leave teams behind is that they don't like teams getting too spread out because that means they need more volunteers, more vehicles, more safety resources, finish line staff on duty for several days, post-race party happening several days after the winners have finished, etc. In a classic-style expedition race, that's exactly what is supposed to happen - but as an event organizer, I can appreciate how hard that is.

Yeah that, and we will be the ones getting left behind!!!

Yeah, but it's a world champs. So there has to be some expectation that this is a high level competition. I'm fine with only the top 10 teams finishing a world champs race. That means it's tough enough to be called a world champs. You can easiley design something to short course the other teams and still make it easy to follow and easy to organize I would think. What they did in Spain and Portugal goes way beyond that IMHO.

Thanks Mike for the info.

Agreed, I don't know anyone who was thrilled with the format in Spain or Portugal.

Interesting. That whole bottom left bit is World Heritage Listed and is super raw. We had breakfast with the organizers of XPD in Spain and they seemed like purists for sure in that they wanted to create a point-to-point racecourse. Having been on 'apple isle' before (that's a nickname for it in Oz), this event will be awesome. Tassie was my favourite part of Australia for sure.

I understand they are offering free flights there next year... and if you run into my wife you best be confirming that! :-)

I understand they are offering free flights there next year

...what, really? That might swing my initial thoughts of XPD.

Check out Patrick Saile's AP log this week for photos of Tassie.

newpatrick