The established South African adventure racing team, Red Ants, will compete in their first overseas adventure race in February 2011. The team, formed eight years ago, has excelled in local events, with podium finishes at all major races. Their first international excursion will see the team racing at the Tierra Viva AR, a six-day non-stop expedition race in southern Argentina. The team’s founders, Brian Gardner (26) and Nicky Booyens (31), are joined by experienced racers, Alex Wagner (38) and Tim Deane (35).
Tierra Viva AR is an unsupported expedition-style adventure race staged in the Andean mountains of Argentina in late-February 2011. The race starts in the mountain village of Villa La Angostura in the Neuquen Province of Argentine Patagonia. Mixed-gender four-person teams will race for six days through this breathtaking area of high-altitude forests, lakes and mountains, covering the 450-kilometre race distance by foot, mountain bike and kayak.
The team expects the navigation in the Andean mountains to be challenging, but with three proficient navigators they are confident of minimising errors for a successful race. “And Alex is fluent in Spanish,” says Gardner. “The team is looking forward to a good result while enjoying the striking scenery of Patagonia and experiencing the Argentinean culture.”
The race takes place from 21-26 February 2011. Read about the team and follow their preparations on the team website at www.teamredants.co.za and visit the race website at www.tierraviva.com.ar.