Competitors Psyched at Southern Traverse Start-Line
3pm (PST)
A glorious sunny morning greeted the 56 teams converging on Queenstown's picturesque lakeside this morning. All were psyched for the start of the Southern Traverse, New Zealand's icon adventure race. A blast from the horn of the TSS Earnslaw, Queenstown's historic steamboat, was the official signal and teams set off by bike, cheered on by about 200 locals.

All the teams looked pumped for the six-day event, including the international competitors who had traveled from all over the globe to compete.

The Australian teams were looking confident, with the biggest line-up yet from across the Tasman. Team leader of No Limit Australia, Warren Forster, was optimistic about the weather. "It's going to be brilliant for us if the weather stays like this," he said, "warm and sunny. We'll be loving it!"

Italy, a country in which adventure racing has not yet fully caught on, is represented by two teams this year. Members of the two teams, Friesian and Kong-Italy, are all friends and joked that Italy's entire adventure racing population was currently in New Zealand.

"In Italy, triathalons are considered an extreme sport," explained one Kong-Italy member.

The course was revealed yesterday by Race Director Geoff Hunt and encircles the Queenstown Basin. It is the most accessible course ever and Hunt said teams were able to see Lake Wakatipu on all but two legs. Although close to Queenstown, Hunt said the course included terrain most locals had never seen.

Bill Godsall of Team Cromwell, who has competed in every Southern Traverse, said this year's course really showcased Queenstown. "I was surprised that Geoff managed to squeeze so much technical into such a compact area. I think it's going to be a long race," he said.

The first leg was a fast and furious bike ride to Frankton Beach, just outside of Queenstown where teams had an unassisted transition into kayaks. Team Outdoor Action Fourmidables from New Zealand was the first to reach this checkpoint shortly after the race began at 9am.

The winner of the 2001 Southern Traverse will receive a cash prize of $9000 and a free entry into the 2003 World Championship Adventure Race. As a founding member of the AR World Series, Southern Traverse is a qualifier for the World Championship Adventure Race.

Team 8 First Onto Water
09:27:48 (NZ)
Outdoor Action Fourmidables are first through CP1 and CP2. It has a small lead as they start the kayak stage.

Race Begins in the Heart of Queenstown
06:33:18 (NZ)
The race will start from Earnslaw Park in central Queenstown at 9am - we expect the first results from the checkpoint radios at approximately 10am - keep tuned as the first day is going to be hectic!

Strong Winds
06:32:17 (NZ)
The strong winds are a concern for competitors and officials alike with large waves possible during the lake kayak and high winds affecting the exposed abseil high on Cecil Peak.

Storms Brewing?
06:31:34 (NZ)
The weather looks to be fine for the first 2 days and then, in true Southern Traverse-style, a storm is brewing that may batter the competitors during the middle of the week.

Teams Focus
06:31:00 (NZ)
The focus for for the first teams will be to reach the end of the lake kayak checkpoint 27 by the 9pm Tuesday (dark zone when they can no longer paddle).

—Courtesy, Southern Traverse Ltd.