It's finally on the road and athletes are gearing up for this weekend's Action Asia Challenge to be held on Taiwan's northeast coast between Fulung and Lungtung. The starting date of Nov. 16 was put back by almost a month and a new category of two-person teams has been introduced for the race that will start at dawn on Dec. 7.
The Action Asia Challenge is in its third year in Taiwan. The event is gradually finding its stride and while everyone agrees that the topography of the island is perfect for multi-discipline adventure racing, organizers face many challenges, not least being the relative unfamiliarity of Taiwan's outdoor sports community with the concept of adventure racing.
This year, the event will take competitors from the seaside resort of Fulung to the rock climbing center of Lungtung and back again in a race that winning competitors are expected to complete within four hours. In the world of endurance racing, this is a "baby race," according to Marc Turckenburgh, a veteran competitor who will be participating in the Challenge as a prelude to leading a four-person team representing Taiwan in the Mild Seven Outdoor Quest in Saba, Malaysia, Dec. 11 to Dec. 15.
Michael Maddess, the race designer of the Challenge, emphasized that this race is designed to be accessible by anyone who is physically fit and enjoys adventure. He said that while even adventure race novices should be able to complete the course, placing in the race would tax the endurance and skills of even highly experienced teams.
Local teams cover the whole spectrum, from novice to experienced competitors. Joining for the first time are Team I-Li (毅力), who simply want to try "something
different."
Team leader Song Chih-ping
(
These are the people that Action Asia is particularly targeting, seeing them as the basis from which they can "grow a new market," according to David Abbott, events managing director of Action Asia.
While adventure-style racing is not completely unknown in Taiwan, it still tends to be restricted to particular fields. Team "Why Here?" is no novice to endurance sport, with one team member having competed in Taiwan's very own Mountaineering Ironman event and another working as a trainer at Taipei' s Y-17 youth activity center. The team, a group of friends formerly from the Tamkang University Mountain Climbing Association, aim to "enjoy ourselves, but seriously."
"We know that terrain [along the northeast Coast] so well, it isn't too difficult to work out the course they will set," said team leader Ah Hsing (阿信), who welcomes the addition of the Action Asia Challenge to Taiwan's outdoor-events calendar. He suggested that the reason that Taiwan is not more active in such sports is "because of the social structure here. It is hard to find the time."
He added that this is gradually changing, as there is more demand for outdoor oriented lifestyles and the professionals, such as guides and coaches, who can help promote it.
PHOTOS COURTESY OF DYNAMICS PUBLIC RELATIONS
According to Lai Tsen-rong (賴增榮), team leader of Echo-2, Taiwan teams are handicapped by the rigid company structures that make it difficult for them to participate regularly in such events. But he said he also saw a changing attitude that is reflected by greater participation in such events as the Action Asia Challenge. The opening for two-person teams for Taiwan was, partly based on demand from local and expatriate groups in Hong Kong, who felt it difficult to get three-person groups together on the relatively short notice that the current organization of the Action Asia Foundation provided.
The lack of time between the announcement and the event came in for considerable criticism from local teams, who are still at the fringe of international adventure racing and still have only a minimal understanding of its requirements. While Taiwan produces a share of outstanding athletes in various fields, there is limited interdisciplinary interaction at the present time. "We all want to be the best in our fields," Robin Dai (戴昌 盛), a mountaineering specialist who will serve as chief marshal on rappelling legs of the race, said at a promotional event for the Challenge.
Marc Turckenburgh of team MTI Formosa Star pointed out what is probably the key to the popularity of Action Asia in Taiwan -- namely that it gives older athletes a way of developing. "At 37, there are few sports where I can compete with younger athletes in their specialties. That's because I am an all-rounder," said the telecommunications manager and sportsman. "Much of an adventure race happens in your head," and older competitors have the advantage of
experience.
As Taiwan develops a deeper pool of athletes, the shift to multidiscipline activities is likely to increase, as many local participants see adventure racing as a way of discovering new
challenges.
According to Maddess, the delay has worked in favor of the event, allowing more time to mobilize locals both to participate and assist in the event. In addition to 25 top climbers who will be serving as marshals, 50 coast guards will also be on standby for the event for the kayaking and swimming legs. Although the water is expected to be somewhat chilly, Maddess said that the weather at the moment is probably ideal for adventure racing, with little danger of contestants overheating or dehydrating.
Speaking about the introduction of two-person teams, Maddess said that the main event will still be based around the three-person teams, with two-person teams getting a certificate of completion. They will not be in contention for the main trophy.
As of press time, 20 local teams, nine foreign teams and one celebrity team have registered to take part in the Challenge. Past races have tended to be dominated by expatriate teams in the open categories, a trend that is likely to remain unchanged this year.
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