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Action Asia goes to war on Kinmen

By Ian Bartholomew
STAFF REPORTER
Wednesday, Sep 13, 2006, Page 13

Michael Maddess, left, and Robin Dai abseil down the facade of the Carrefour hypermarket in Neihu yesterday. PHOTO: IAN BARTHOLOMEW. TAIPEI TIMES

The Action Asia Challenge, an adventure race that started in 1998 in Hong Kong and has now grown into a major regional event, will be back in Taiwan next month with what is billed as its most ambitious project yet. Having tackled such high profile locations as Taiwan's rugged northeast coast and the forests and waterways of Sun Moon Lake, Action Asia will now be taking the race to the former frontline military redoubt of Kinmen.

The competition, which is broadcast around the region, has always made a point of combining athleticism and outdoor skills with an introduction to various appealing tourism destinations around the region. Michael Maddess, event director for Action Asia, has repeatedly emphasized over the years that the event has both a social as well as a competitive dimension. In 2002, Action Asia played its small part in focusing attention on Sun Moon Lake, which had suffered severe earthquake damage in 1999, and in 2003, Taiwan's ongoing development of the northeast coast as a tourism destination was given a boost as images of people paddling through surf and abseiling from cliffs were aired on television.

The development of Kinmen as a tourism destination has also been picking up pace in the last few years. It was first opened to the public in 1993, and the government has dedicated considerable effort to making this offshore island appealing for both domestic and international tourists. Through special arrangements with local authorities, new sections of military tunnels — a must see for tourists to Kinmen — will be opened and incorporated into the course design, as will sections of military installations such as the shooting range. While the military infrastructure will provide an exciting backdrop to the events, the real test will be on the running and cycling trails that have been designed. According to Michael Maddess, Action Asia events director and course designer, Kinmen will probably be the most “friendly” Action Asia course yet, adding that it has been designed specifically to appeal to first-timers with little experience of adventure racing.

Races held in Hong Kong and Macau, which both have a strong tradition of adventure racing, tend to require more technical skills, but Maddess emphasized that on this occasion things would be different. “It is one of the longest races we've set up,” he said, “with extensive running and biking legs.” The race covers about 65km and expected finishing time for competitors is expected to be around five hours.

In a promotions stunt yesterday, Maddess and members of the support team, including local rock climbing celebrity Robin Dai (戴昌盛), better known as Xiao Hu Zi (小鬍子), organized an abseil from the top of the Carrefour store at the Miramar Complex in Neihu. The Carrefour Cultural and Educational Foundation (家樂福文教基金會) is one of the competition's growing number of major corporate sponsors. Another, with greater symbolic significance, is Kinmen Kaoliang Liquor Inc (金門酒廠), which will also doubtlessly be providing some of the beverages for exhausted athletes after the race.

Although gradually opening to tourism, there are many areas of Kinmen island that remain closed to the general public. For local racers, racing along coastal areas dotted with pill boxes and kayaking between Kinmen and Little Kinmen, areas which have been off limits in the past, will be a major attraction.

To encourage local participation, Maddess emphasized that Action Asia has negotiated a preferential deal for travel and accommodation in Kinmen for just NT$4,500 per person. “It's a great way to go and see the place,” he said, “and also you get to have a great time and a great workout.” Registration is US$130 (NT$4,300) for a team of two, which includes two full meals and other benefits.

Because of the early start, competitors need to be in Kinmen on Sept. 30 for the race, which will begin early on Oct. 1.

Comprehensive information about the race and registration details can all be found at www.actionasia.com/aae/en/Events/2006Taiwan.
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