You would think the two top ranked Adventure racing teams in the world would be clear favourites for this year’s Adventure Racing World Champs (ARWC), but the world’s top team from New Zealand was not able to compete in the last two years.
While Team Avaya have been unable to compete internationally, they have continued their unbeaten local record.
The team had set the standard in Adventure racing winning the ARWC title 5 years in a row between 2014 and 2018, with teamwork and navigation their key strength.
“None of us have raced in Paraguay before so that is a huge appeal, to travel and explore somewhere new,” says team leader and Nelson Orienteer Nathan Fa’avae.
“The 2016 ARWC in Pantanal (Brazil) was an incredible experience, and with Paraguay being close by, it has always been tempting to travel there.”
The course will be put to the test by 53 teams, from 18 countries and 5 continents, with the Swedish Armed Forces Adventure Team defending the title they won last year in Spain.
Nathan says while they’ve always wanted to race in Paraguay, it had been a difficult build up to the event.
“It’s been a hard winter in New Zealand with Covid and influenza. It’s been difficult to stay healthy, especially in what has been a cold and wet winter.”
The team prepared well throughout August but was struck by another set back when Sophie Hart was training in the mountains and suffered a fall, resulting in an injury that will see her unable to compete again until 2023.
Even though the team is a late entry, with Simone Maier stepping in with Sophie’s absence, they have been training hard mixing navigation with speed.
The AR race will test their resolve through sand and mud and carrying out rope activities on rock walls and waterfalls. The beginning of the race starts with a 122km trek, followed by a 94km kayak stage.
Teams race non-stop, for up to 7 days, on a 550km course designed to challenge the best endurance athletes in the world and navigation is the part that can make or break a team.
“You never really know what your chances are until you see the course and determine if it plays to your strengths or not, but I think with our experience and team culture we should be able to adapt to most things. We hope to win another world title, but there is a competitive field and the racing will be exciting.”
2022 Team Avaya: Stu Lynch, Simone Maier, Nathan Fa’avae & Chris Forne
- via Orienteering New Zealand
