Orion, fresh from a win at the Keen Adventure Race on Australia's south coast last weekend, have confirmed that they will take part in the Whakatane event, which is one of New Zealand's most popular adventure races. 

Now in its eight year, the Whakatane Great Outdoors adventure race will feature two other strong competitors in the 24 hour event.  

Members of last year's winning team Whakatane Hiab Services will all compete again but in two separate and equally accomplished teams.   

Shane Armstrong and Sophie Hart from the former Hiab team will join Nic and Gus Ross from Christchurch in team Vamos en Bici.  Meanwhile Hart and Armstrong's former team mates Chris Morrissey and Rhys Burns have combined and will together provide formidable opposition. 

The Adventure Race is hosted by the Eastern Bay of Plenty Triathlon and Multisport Club and is directed by eastern bay duo Neil Jones and Mike van der Boom.

The event also includes the Daylight Express six hour option on Saturday 16^th May, which has been dubbed by organisers as ‘achievable for mere mortals'.   Jones and van der Boom admit starting the new Daylight Express was a nerve wracking venture and both are relieved by the groundswell of positive interest.  Jones says, "I'm stoked with the response to the six-hour event and I think it will become even more popular in years to come".  

Adventure racing is a form of long distance orienteering and the Whakatane Great Outdoors event will include trekking, mountain biking, kayaking and shooting plus several mystery events, which are being kept secret for now.  

Van der Boom says, "The only clues we'll give away are that Kawerau's natural features will be well used and people should have a good look at the gear list for example, the snorkel and mask!"  

"Also normally kept secret is the location of the course so we've broken with tradition by revealing that the Tarawera Outlet is the start and finish of the 24 hour race and the start of the six hour event.  We'll have our event village set up there from Friday onwards with a coffee cart, bar-b-qs and pizza wagon.  The Daylight Express six-hour event will finish at the hot pools in Kawerau so everyone can have a good soak afterwards," said van der Boom.

Van der Boom invites spectators to Kawerau for the afternoon to watch the Daylight Express six-hour participants in the final stages and says, "There will be a few laughs at the mystery activities, so come along to the hot pools after lunch and we'll let you know where to go to watch the fun."  

The first Daylight Express six-hour event competitors are expected in Kawerau at the hot pools by about 1:30pm on Saturday 16^th May. 

For more information about the event visit www.whakatane.com