Guy Andrews and AFL stars turn up the heat at Lorne Anaconda Adventure Race

Guy Andrews announced his comeback to professional adventure racing with his debut at the Anaconda Adventure Race at Lorne this Sunday December 5th.

The tough 57 km swim, paddle, run and cycle Anaconda Adventure Race is in Lorne for the sixth time and this year has gained momentum drawing athletes of all backgrounds to the beautiful Surf Coast resort town. Former surf ironman legend turned adventure racer Andrews will be joined by well known ex‐AFL stars Richie Vandenberg (Hawthorn) doing the whole race solo, Jason Johnson (Essendon) and Mark Bolton (Essendon) who will be competing as part of a team.

The former surf ironman legend turned adventure racer, Andrews, has had a work and injury induced break from competitive sport for a couple of years but has had a carefully planned comeback assault with the goal of winning the elusive Lorne event that he got second place in back in the inaugural race in 2005. Andrews ahead of the race said “At 40 I’m possibly the fittest I’ve ever been – this time round I’ve trained for my weaknesses”.

Andrews job as a busy stunt driver has also kept him fit in a different way and helped build core strength and endurance. Adversely though, he spent some time in the last year filming Mad Max 4 in the remote outback making training difficult.

Andrews as well as the ex‐AFL stars add to the most competitive men’s field ever with previous winners Jarad Kohlar (Port Melbourne) and Grant Suckling (Geelong) also racing plus numerous other title contenders. Age is no barrier in this sport as it has become common in endurance races for winners to be well over 35 years old. The two top women in the Anaconda Adventure Race Series, Kim Beckinsale and Deanna Blegg, are also over 40 years old and current leader of the Series in the men, Grant Suckling is 36 years old.

The 57 km course format is as follows:

• 1.9km swim course from the pier to Lorne beach.
• 13km ocean paddle
• 15km trail run along the coast and Otway Ranges above Lorne
• 24km mountain bike is the final long leg
• 1.5km run along the beach to the finish line on Lorne foreshore.

This Saturday 4th December the Anaconda Junior Survivor is on again too with over 600 kids aged between 5 and 13 years old expected to participate in the 4km fun obstacle course that winds its way around the foreshore.

Entries are still open for all the races and those people looking for a team to join can use the website Team Mate Finder function. For information, details and to enter visit www.anacondaadventurerace.com.

For further information, quotes and photography on this event, please contact:

• Steven Carey on 0413 988 640 or email steven.carey@anaconda.com.au
• Naantali Marshall on 0419 000 689 or email naant@rapidascent.com.au

The Anaconda Adventure Race is proudly sponsored by Anaconda - Australia's
largest camping and adventure retailer. Anaconda is a proudly Australian owned
and operated with a growing network of stores their mission is to INSPIRE,
EQUIP and ENABLE!