In search of a feel-good distraction from world occasions? Then take a look at the brand new MAGNIficent journey race kicking off this Sunday in New Zealand.
The MAGNIficent Race, named for race administrators and twin brothers Andrew and Jason Magness, will see 34 groups competing to complete a brutal course traversing greater than 300 miles of the nation’s rugged terrain. Unfold throughout eight phases and with over 52,000 toes of elevation acquire, the race will pit contributors in opposition to all kinds of challenges, together with mountaineering, mountain biking, top-rope mountaineering, and whitewater packrafting.
Furthermore, the groups should depend on their very own navigation and end the course unsupported. Exterior of extreme medical emergencies, racers must deal with their very own medical care. They’ll additionally select when to sleep, what to hold, and the best way to transfer by way of the daunting New Zealand wilderness.
Race organizers stated they count on the course to take a minimum of 104 hours of journey time. They word that that estimate doesn’t account for sleep or dangerous climate.
“The one factor that can be constant on this occasion is the mind-blowing surroundings and wilderness settings that the groups will transfer by way of,” Jason Magness stated. “Practically each leg could be the crown jewel stage of most occasions!”
The MAGNIficent Race: Particulars
Up to now, the race has attracted 34 groups. With 25 groups coming from New Zealand, many rivals will get pleasure from a “home-court benefit,” so to talk. Of the remaining 9 groups, three hail from the USA, together with two every from Canada and Japan, and one every from South Africa and Eire.
Group Bend Racing is at the moment the top-ranked staff, and they’re joined for the primary time by skilled U.S. racer Mari Chandler. The staff can be led by Jason Magness, who co-created the MAGNificent Race together with his twin brother Andy.
Nicknamed the “Magni twins,” the brothers have a few years of mixed expertise planning huge adventures for themselves and others. As racers, they’ve competed in properly over 100 ultra-endurance occasions, in response to a press launch from the Journey Racing World Sequence. As race administrators, they’ve individually designed over 100 journey races in North Dakota, Oregon, Washington, and New Zealand.
However the two brothers have by no means labored collectively till now. They wished to fill the hole in journey racing created by the lack of GODZone, a New Zealand race that lasted for 10 years till organizers canceled it in 2023 over allowing points with the federal government. GODZone was thought-about one of many world’s hardest races. The Magness brothers wished one thing comparable.
“There’s a lengthy, mountainous packraft trek, an enormous bike leg with a brief however big (feeling) hike-a-bike that ends with maybe the longest steady singletrack descent within the sport’s historical past. There’s additionally a bike-rafting part with plenty of decisions of the best way to method it,” Jason Magness stated.
With huge phases involving a number of disciplines, the race goals for an old-school, self-supported expedition method, in response to Jason Magness.
“The crux of the occasion can be a 24+ hour trek with a lot mountain journey and so many route choices that it’ll reward groups with actual expedition expertise.”
How one can Observe the Race
The brand new expedition race will happen from January 25 to February 2. It begins within the city of Lumsden on the South Island. After Magness’s Bend Racing staff, one other staff hoping to dominate the occasion is FEAR Youth. The younger New Zealand squad was mentored by Andy Magness. They’ve pulled off a number of spectacular victories in different races all over the world.
“FEAR Society [Youth’s] racing expertise can be a bonus,” Andy Magness stated. “And Combined Nuts and Nutrient Rescue are the 2 standout groups, who will, a minimum of on their house turf, be exhausting to beat.”
With knowledgeable media staff readily available through the occasion, spectators can observe the occasion by way of movies and images on social media. Try the Instagram accounts for the AR World Sequence and The MAGNIficent for updates all through the race.
