8 April 2008
Two teams of Army Officer Cadets recently competed in a three and a half day adventure race against an Air Force Cadet team, through the mountainous Nelson Lakes area.
The race was part of a training exercise organised by the Army Adventurous Training Team (AATT) and was designed to build the cadets’ knowledge of the development of small teams, which is a part of the NZDF competency framework. Before the race began the teams were briefed on the Army doctrine of team development, and the phases forming, storming, norming, and performing. As well as the lessons on team development, the teams were given other lessons including nutrition and adventure racing.
On the first morning the three teams woke up, nervous but excited, apprehensive of tales of the exhaustion they were about to be faced with, but eager to prove themselves up to the challenge. For the two army teams in particular, the challenge was on - this was the 4th race of its kind, and three years in a row the army had come up short. So it was with gritted determination that the teams sprinted away from the start line, running for their rafts to start the first leg of the race.
The challenge of the race was not simply being quicker or stronger than your opponents, but included a great deal of thinking, planning and high risk decision making. As the teams made their way down the Buller River, they were faced with their first challenge – to stop and do an activity to receive a critical piece of kit, or do without and suffer the consequences later down the track? All teams stopped, but as time progressed and no solution became apparent, the teams were faced with a new decision – leave, suffer the two hour penalty and admit to having wasted the 30mins already spent, or continue to try for the solution.
All teams eventually abandoned the challenge, and continued down the river, bunny hopping each other along the way. At the first transition the teams were called upon to haul their rafts up 20m to a bridge and then quickly change into their cycling kit for the next leg. Though the Air Force team arrived at the transition first, they were outmuscled in the raft hauling and outthought in the transition phase. So it was Army 2, Army 1 and then Air Force leaving the transition area on their 40km mountain bike ride and it was in that order that the teams finished for the day.
Day 2 began with a two hour kayak across Lake Rotoroa, followed by a hike through native bush. The path emerged onto a ridgeline, were the teams caught some Lord of the Rings worthy views, but as the fatigue of the last 36hrs began to set in, the scenery went largely unnoticed.
Army 2 were again in the lead at the end of the kayak and for most of the walk, but were pipped just short of the finishing line for the day by Army 1. The Air Force again brought up the rear. Though finishing first, Army 1 had incurred two hours of penalties throughout the day and Air Force suffered one hour. So the end time for the day had Army 1 back 2hrs 10mins from Army 2, and the Air Force team a further 1 hr 30mins behind them.
The final day of the race began with a kayak back across the lake, then a cycle back to the start line, with activities along the way. Army 1 needed a massive effort to claw back a victory, while the Air Force would need a miracle to catch up. And so the day began with Army 1 taking to the kayak with a vengeance, powering across the lake, and quickly transitioning into their cycle, with the other teams battling to keep up.
Half way through the cycle the teams were presented with an extra, completely optional, supplementary activity, with a potential gain of two hours. Army 1, and then Air Force opted for the activity, but Army 2, feeling the strain of the proceeding days and knowing that the race would end in the early hours of the morning, decided to use the light to their best advantage and opted against the activity. This put them back in the lead, but unknown to them the other army team had put in a massive effort for the day and had almost caught them up again.
The next leg was orienteering around the district of St Arnaud. An outstanding effort by Army 1 saw them more than double the score of any other team. During this leg the news was broken to the army teams - one of the Air Force members had pulled out through injury and the team would suffer a six hour time penalty. The race was all but lost for the Air Force. The race was no longer just about taking the trophy back to Linton, but for pride and bragging rights among the Army cadets. From there the race picked up a notch, with Army 2 running their bikes up the last hill, and Army 1 running through the night to catch them up.
The final leg of the race was a ½ hour kayak across Lake Rotoiti. Morale was high as the Army 2 came into the transition for the last leg, racing through the transition to keep their lead - and the line rights. But Army 1 was breathing down their necks and the final battle was on. As the teams rounded the last corner, Army 1 was catching; but it seemed the lead was too great and Army 2 took line rights, finishing at 2353hrs, Army 1 just 7mins behind, bang on midnight. Air Force would finish later, at 0317hrs.
After a well earned feed and a sleep, the teams were given the final scores, with all the supplementary activities added in. And the winner was Army 1, a mere 1hr 7mins in front of Army 2, after approximately 52 hours of racing. The Air Force team came in 8hrs 30mins behind them.
The race was well fought by all who participated, and congratulations go to Army 1 who won the race. The Officer Cadets would like to extend their thanks also to the staff at AATC and the Air Force team, who continued to give it their all to the bitter end. The exercise made for a fantastic week and all the participants learnt a lot about team development, each other and how far beyond exhaustion they could push themselves.