South Africa's Lieuwe Boonstra and Czech Republic’s Jan Kubicek of Team Red Bull proved that they have what it takes to dominate as they soared to an unbelievable winning finish at their debut entry in the 2008 Mark Webber Pure Tasmania Challenge (MWPTC).
Finishing almost an hour ahead of their nearest rivals, Team Keen, the elite Red Bull X-terra athletes conquered the 280km course over a torturous five day race against the merciless gusty winds which proved to be their biggest hurdle over the weekend. “We won four of the five days but we were pushed the whole way,“ Boonstra said. “We are really glad to be here for the challenge."Wild boat ride
The race continued on Sunday despite Webber’s accident with a car on Saturday, which saw him undergo surgery for a broken leg. The final day’s action saw competitors begin the day with a wild boat ride from Port Arthur into Hobart’s port. The kayak leg of the course was removed at the last minute by Race Director Tim Saul due to the blustery conditions. Team Keen crossed the finish line in second place closely followed by Driza Bone Activ.Multi-discipline challenge
Each competitor used mountain bikes, kayaks and their own two feet on each day of the course. Along the way, they were challenged to other activities, including abseiling and whitewater rafting, designed to push competitors and take them outside their comfort zone. Following each day's course, participants returned to base camp where they were able to rest, recover and enjoy a communal meal featuring some of the best local produce, before heading to their tents for a much needed night's sleep ahead of the next day's course."This is a premium event designed to give competitors a truly rewarding experience while pushing their individual and team limits," said Mark Webber.