214 competitors from 38 countries are expected to participate in this extreme endurance race, including a record number of past champions who will be vying for top places.
This is an endurance race bar none. This six stage, seven day, 250 km self-supported footrace will cover some of the most spectacular dunes and stunning landscapes of the oldest desert in the world – the Namib Desert. Starting with a steep descent into the Fish River Canyon, the second deepest canyon in the world, an area rich with local wildlife such as Mountain Zebra, Giraffe, Oryx, Steenbok, Springbok and Leopard, competitors will make their way through the African bush traversing lunar landscapes and will go over some of the most demanding and challenging sand dunes in the world to finish at the Skeleton Coast in the charming town of Lüderitz.
The event kicks off on the 17th May with 17 former champions including 27-year-old Ryan N. Sandes of South Africa, who has won two previous RacingThePlanet events and 60-year-old Marco Olmo of Italy, a recent champion of many top ultramarathons.
Seven teams will be competing including a four-person team from Israel, a Spanish team, a father/son/daughter team, a Japanese team, an HSBC bank team, an American/Danish team and an all female team. A record number of women will be competing with 54 on the roster. The largest contingent of competitors hails from the United Kingdom with 58, and a record 63 competitors are coming from Hong Kong.
It’s a stunning environment to have this seriously extreme race in. Namibia has spectacular desert scenery, including some of the world’s highest dunes; fascinating ethnic groups free (so far) from the negative affects of mass tourism, and game parks second to none. Add to this a stable government, good infrastructure and an official language that just happens to be English – it doesn’t come any better than that, does it.
Best of luck to all of you taking part….
Extreme Sports 