For the first time expedition racing hit the ACT. 20 teams started at 7am on the shore of Lake Eucumbene, traversing ten legs covering a distance of 400km on a journey back to the finish in Canberra city. The race included flat water paddling, white water paddling, abseiling, mountain biking, pack rafting and trekking in and around the ACT.

Teams raced form the Snowies, past the giant trout in Adaminaby, across Yaouk and into the bottom of the ACT through the Namadgi National Park. Travelling along the Naas River Valley, teams explored the Ororal Valley on the edge of the Bimberi Wilderness, with an abseil off Booroomba Rocks. From there the race headed into Tidbinbilla, across to Cotter Dam and then down to the Murrumbidgee River. Competitors packrafted the river towards the northern edge of the ACT where the race then went urban including a staged traverse of the city of Canberra with a paddle on Lake Burley Griffin and mandatory visits to some famous landmarks before finishing back in Sutton.

Distances were a 55km trek, 107km mountain bike, 50km trek and abseil, 50km mountain bike, 33km pack raft, 10km trek, 45km mountain bike, 14km paddle, 10km urban rogaine (orienteering) and a final 26km mountain bike.

ThunderboltAR, a team of three men and one woman from Victoria, crossed the finish line returning to Wildside Headquarters at Ibis Eaglehawk Sutton just after 2am on Thursday 5th October to win. They completed the course in an astounding time of two days and 19 hours.

First Place – ThunderboltAR

Second Place – Peak Adventure powered by JPRCA

Third place – Wild Earth Tiger Adventure