Corporate teams face 24 hour adventure challenge

Corporate teams face 24 hour adventure challenge

At midday tomorrow (Friday 9 November) 18 four-person teams will set off on an adventure race in the Central Plateau. Before the race all they will know is that they are facing 24 hours of tough, exhausting and, at times, wet, dark and cold conditions.

The course has been kept secret until the day of the race. Competitors know that it will include some of the best terrain the spectacular Central Plateau has to offer. One clue is that the Sir Edmund Hillary Outdoor Pursuits Centre of New Zealand on the edge of Tongariro National Park will be the event base.

The Genesis Energy Corporate Hillary Challenge involves mountain biking, tramping, kayaking and navigating with map and compass to achieve several problem solving tasks. The highest levels of stamina, initiative and teamwork will be required. Genesis Energy has five staff teams in the challenge. Other teams include Environment Waikato, PowerCo, SITEL and Watercare Services.

The Challenge will also raise funds toward sending young New Zealanders on personal development and leadership courses at the Sir Edmund Hillary Outdoor Pursuit Centre’s two wilderness bases, in Tongariro National Park and on Great Barrier Island.

Genesis Energy’s General Manager - Retail Dean Carroll, who will be competing in the race, said this is the first adult endurance event Genesis Energy has sponsored, although it sponsors the Genesis Energy Outdoor Leadership School at the OPC and the Genesis Energy Secondary Schools Hillary Challenge.

“Getting in behind events like this - this amazing 24 hour challenge - is one way we take pride in giving something back to the community. We are thrilled to give people the opportunity to do things they love, things that challenge them, and even make lifelong memories.

“At Genesis Energy we’re putting all our energy into programmes, initiatives and sponsorships that address the impacts of climate change; reduce our own environmental footprint and make a difference to communities where we operate and beyond. These three pillars form the basis of our corporate social responsibility strategy – we strive to embed this thinking and rationale in every aspect of our business, in everything we do, every single day.”

The race is a cross between an adventure race and a 24 hour rogaine (Rugged Outdoor Group Activity Involving Navigation and Endurance). There will be up to six different rogaine courses on foot involving a mixture of navigation to suit all levels. Teams will navigate between these sections on mountain bikes. Spread along the course there will be 10 mystery problem solving activities and special stages involving water-based, ropes-based and mental tasks.

Completion of these stages will be worth extra points and some will be compulsory, others optional. All teams will have 24 hours to visit as many checkpoints as possible and accumulate the highest score.

ENDS

© Scoop Media