Youth Adventure Racing Team Announced...
Thursday 15 November 2007, 11:16AM
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New Zealand's First Youth Adventure Racing Team the VASQUE U23's has been confirmed. The team will consist of four talented young athletes from diverse outdoors backgrounds: Rosie Taylor, Thomas Reynolds, Seamus Miekle (all Auckland) and Andrew Turnbull (Hamilton). The team will race in team uniforms provided by New Zealand bike gear designer NzO and has the support of a host of other sponsors: Silva, Lactic Turkey Events, Larabar, ARC Events, Nick Hirschfield, Day 2, Bridgedale and MADeventz. The team will debut at the Adventure Taupo event in December with the medium term goal being a top performance at the ARC 24hr in March.
The team was selected after a grueling selection weekend held in Turangi on the 3/4 November, where they and other great candidates from around the North Island endured some typical adventure racing challenges, like difficult night navigation in the pouring rain and a 7 hour remote mtb mission with the occasional difficult bike carrying episode.
The challenge now is to set-up the team as a sustainable entity for junior adventure racers. The current team will have to maintain sponsorship arrangements and develop them by achieving good results and developing good relationships. They will also have to learn the logistical skills required of an adventure racing team, as well as keeping fit and developing their technical competencies....a challenging time ahead. The team will be helped along their path by experienced adventure racers including Ross Leckie, the man behind team Ruahine Kayaks, and Jamie Stewart of MADeventz.
As time goes on the team composition will change but it is hoped the structure set up will keep the team as an ongoing feature of New Zealand adventure racing in the years to come.
Rosie Taylor: University Biomed student, Hillary Challenge Winner with Diocesan/Grammer team in 2006, Wide sporting background with strengths in cross country running and surf lifesaving.
Seamus Miekle: University Chiropractic Student, Hillary Challenge 2nd place 2003, Multisport background with particular strength in a wide variety of kayaking disciplines
Andrew Turnbull: Assistant Manager Bivouac Outdoor, All round athlete, up and coming multisport athlete with top individual efforts in Kururau Crusher and Motu events.
Thomas Reynolds: University Biomed student, New Zealand junior representative in both orienteering and mountain biking.