CHICAGO, USA (Team Geared Up) - This week I’m posting some personal pictures. For the last 10 days I was in Alaska, USA on a vacation trip that is really worth the 6:30 hours (from Chicago) in a plane without room for even moving your toes. I was in Anchorage, Seward, Homer and Denali National Park hiking, fishing, bear viewing and kayaking, among other things and I’m posting a few pictures of the kayaking part. As our (wife and I) experience as paddlers is not great (nor we have any adequate equipment), we did a one day organized tour with Kayak Adventures Worldwide. 5 paddlers, an excellent guide and an awesome day paddling close, very close to the Aialik Glacier. Totally recommended!!

Also posting a picture of the Mt. Marathon race, an annual competition in Seward where runners go up a steep and muddy peak on a cloudy, 10C degrees day… half naked? ;)

-Ed-
Trail, ultra and adventure running at trailrunningsoul.com

Image credit….. myself!

SINGAPORE (Team Geared Up) - We broke the news in January that an AR World Series race to be held in Ireland next summer. Valerie O’S just mailed in a press release to me.

The first ever World Series Adventure Race taking place in the South West in June 14-21 2008, as part of three major races taking place here along the western seaboard aimed at establishing Ireland as a premier adventure sports and tourism destination.

It looks fantastic.

The Turas Mór is a five day race which will trace a 650 kms course over the peninsulas and bays of West Cork and Kerry, encompassing trekking, mountain biking, kayaking, horse riding, traditional boat rowing, ropes, orienteering megalithic sites of the region.

The location for the first ever AR World Series event in Ireland is in the south western corner of the island, in regions of counties Cork and Kerry characterised by five great peninsulas and separating Atlantic bays.

Teams from 19 Countries have signed up for this exciting Race,these include, USA, England,Canada,Norway and Ireland,France,Mexico.Teams of Four must be able to traverse mountains, cycling over 150km a day, kayak over 45km, Row over 11km, sometimes without sleep for the five days.

Ireland’s arrival on the world stage of adventure racing seeks to honour athletic endeavor with a spectacular course that reflects the incredible natural and cultural landscapes of this place in a manner that promises a Turas unmatched anywhere in the World! .
Turas: a Special Journey,a pilgrimage,a sacred journey over land and seascapes,involving body,spirit and soul
For Further Information:

Daragh O’Suilleabhain
087-7842848

Looks great, for more see www.turasmor.com.

-Robin.

The Zipline crossing the Gap of Dunloe sounds unreal! Pictured below.

Killarney, Ireland - For immediate release
14th January, 2008

Ireland launches new ARWorld Series Adventure Race

On behalf of adventure racers in Ireland and our community in the South West of Ireland, we are delighted to announce the first ever ARWorld Series Adventure Race in Ireland, An Turas Mor.

This race will take place from June 15-22, 2008.

Organised by a passionate team of local adventurers who are experienced at delivering high quality adventure races, this race is different from all others as it is being run with its roots deep in the community by those who know and love the area.

Course Director Con Moriarty describes the event, “This race allows teams to explore the most rugged mountain and ocean scenery in Ireland – the wild passes and deep valleys of our five southernmost peninsulas. The entire route is rich in archaeology and passes through areas of spiritual importance to ancient Ireland. I was born and raised roaming these landscapes, and I’m very excited to be part of a team that may redefine adventure racing.”

Making the Turas the richest ARWorld Series race ever, significant prize money of US$150,000 will be distributed amongst the top five classified teams. First prize also includes a guaranteed spot for the winning team at the ARWorld Championship taking place in Brazil ‘08.

Significant worldwide media coverage is guaranteed for the race with print, online, and global television production packages being finalised.

Geoff Hunt, ARWS Director, “I am delighted to have Ireland join the ARWS in 2008. Working with the team over the past 9 months, I’ve experienced first hand the amazing landscape and passion there for the sport. I am excited about the race in 2008 and the ambitious plans for future years, and
believe the race, the terrain and organisation will create a memorable and challenging experience not to be missed.”

Registration opens Feb 1, 2008. The cost is €4000 per team with an early entry special available until March 1st. The registration fee includes the race entry, all transfers to and from the international airport in Cork and Kerry, hotel accommodation before and after the race, and VIP entry to the post-race festival and prize-giving ceremony.

Disciplines include: Mountain biking, sea-kayaking, mountaineering/trekking, swimming, horse riding, orienteering/micro navigation, traditional boat rowing, and ropes – including the longest zip wire ever in an ARWorld Series event, spanning the famous Gap of Dunloe pass. One or two unique mystery events will also be included.

The Details:
- This race is a non-stop adventure race for mixed-sex teams of four people, which will take competitors between 4 and 5 days to complete.

- The race is unsupported. Teams may not receive any outside assistance during the race. Support will be provided by the organisation.

- The exact race location will be announced soon. It will cover much of the South West of Ireland through some very special places.

More information will be available soon on the website www.anturasmor.com.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION:

Athletes Contact: Vanessa Lawrenson
Email: Vanessa@outsider.ie
tel: +353 86 8351722
fax: +353 1 4151267

Press Contact:
Email: info@anturasmor.com

www.anturasmor.com for more details

GEOFF HUNT
ARWorld Series Director +64 3 4418215
Email: admin@arworldseries.com
The Adventure Racing World Series is an international circuit of premier adventure races representing 10 countries creating, a 12-month calendar of professional events around the world and acting as qualifiers for the Adventure Race World Championship.
www.arworldseries.com

Casio ‘Official Watch of the AR World Series’ www.casio-watches.com
Sleepmonsters ‘Official web site of the ARWorld Series’ www.sleepmonsters.com

– end –

-Robin-

(Image Credit: Wikipedia)

SINGAPORE (Team Geared Up) - I just watched two Aussies on BBC World completing a 62-day and 3,300km journey by kayak to New Zealand.

Two Australians have become the first people to paddle to New Zealand across the Tasman Sea in a kayak.

James Castrission and Justin Jones both 25 are the first to “Cross the ditch”, the Tasman Sea, by kayak. Australian kayaker, Andrew McAuley, 39, who disappeared while attempting the same crossing solo last February was never found. They found his kayak but no body. His camera mounted on his kayak shows photos of New Zealand in sight - so he was within the last few miles before drowning.

-Robin-

LONDON, UK (Team Geared Up) - 21 year old Irish paddler Dee Conroy lost her life paddling in Kerry, Ireland over the Christmas period. I didn’t know Dee, but she was clearly a well loved girl, great paddler and had a seriously adventurous spirit.

The news reached me on the morning after the TGU meet-up where climbers, paddlers & mountain runners alike were all discussing heading to Kerry. News came from RTE on the 28th to say CPR sustained her but she until later died in hospital. It’s terribly sad to hear she was a member of UCD Canoe Club - I remember well when Conor O’Keefe (Chair of UCD Mountaineering Club) fell climbing in Glendalough and died - it really shook the college clubs. I’m sure this will have similar effect.

I came across Dee’s Bebo page - Dee Conroy . Nicknamed ‘Vitamin Dee Dee’ it is a lovely tribute to her, her life and her adventures. I found the photo above in the galleries from her recent paddling expedition to Uganda in 2007. Go take a look. It was this photo above that convinced me to write this post.

Certainly - a real flame in people’s lives.

-Robin-

(Image Credit: Dee Conroy’s Bebo, Nile River, Uganda 2007.)

LONDON, UK (Team Geared Up) - The Great Outdoors Canoeing Awards were held on November 24th At Green Isle Hotel, Dublin. Read the post “Kelleher is Crowned King at Great Outdoors Canoeing Awards”. TGU love IrishFreeStyle.com and love featuring their photos (see above!).

The awards went something like this:

Paddler of the year (The Salmon Leap Trophy)-Winner LEN KELLEHER-World champion in kayak surf this October.

Junior paddler of the year (The Celbridge Paddler Trophy)-Winner BARRY WATKINS-European Junior Champion in Flatwater racing and medallist in marathon Worlds.

Club of the year (The Richmond Canoe Club Trophy)-Winner WILD WATER KAYAK CLUB-Irelands largest and most active canoe club.

Coach/Instructor of the year (The Training Unit Trophy)-Winner MARTIN MCCARTHY-Based in Wild-water kayak club .

Outstanding contribution (The Weirgate Trophy-In Memory of Ken & Violet Cooper)-Winner PADDY MALONEY-Our octogenerian competitor was honoured as one of the founders of canoeing in Ireland.

Outstanding support (The Brendan O’Connell Trophy)-Winner ESB-Our key partner across the disciplines of canoeing over the last 50 years.

-Robin-

(Image Credit: Bosco, not giving up without a fight!!!, Big Boat Bonanza - 2007)

DUBLIN, IRELAND (Team Geared Up) - The Water-Buoy, a flotation device for your keys has appeared on Springwise, one of my favourite sites for ideas.

As featured on BBC’s Dragons’ Den last night, young entrepreneur James Halliburton is bringing an innovative solution to market for boaters who are worried about losing valuable items overboard

It works very much like a hydrostatic release on a lifejacket. At a certain water pressure it pops open a valve releasing gas. The impressive thing here is, this tiny keyring can lift 1kg.

Once the Waterbuoy hits the water, the gas inflates the balloon and the submerged item is pulled up to the water’s surface. Aiding retrieval at night, an integrated LED light switches on and keeps flashing for 24 hours.

Much like Alex’s dark thoughts about his Life Bag being used on long flights, I can’t help but wonder what would happen if this went off in your pocket on a dance floor.

-Robin-

(Image Credit: Images from Water-Buoy, montage made by Springwise)

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Congrats to Len Kelleher, Irish Freestyle Kayaker who won Gold at the 2007 Kayak Surf World Championships in Bakio, Mundaka. Great news! Len’s Blog

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Eoin discovered that top baselayer company NZ Ice Breaker state in their Privacy Policy that you cannot link to their website. Now that’s really not good for your SEO!

You are not permitted to reproduce, adapt, distribute or incorporate in any other work, in whole or in part, anything from this web site without written permission from Icebreaker. You may not create a link from any other web site to any part of this web site, without Icebreaker’s express consent.

Well guys, after you sue Google, you can sue me.

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I wish I was under 21 again! The Moutaineering Council of Ireland are holding a Youth Winter Skills course in Scotland. Eoin can speak out for these, they’re bloody good courses. Apply!

The MCI are also holding a Youth Climbing League in Ireland. All indoor, all before February.

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Check out Irish MTB Riders, Mel & Ryan Sherlock’s Blog. The photo above is from their site of the last race that Ryan took part in this season - the Irish Marathon Championships.

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Must go dig out some more links for next week!

-Robin-