Adventure: Shaun Lewis competes in Rapid Ascent’s Otway Odyssey. Picture: Rebecca Jennings
JOHN VAN KLAVEREN
ACADEMICS have criticised adventure racing in national parks as a Surf Coast organiser of the events basks in tourism award glory.
A People in Parks symposium at Griffith University highlighted concerns over adventure races as Torquay-based Rapid Ascent won the coveted tourism award for a mountain bike race in the Northern Territory.
Associate Professor Catherine Pickering said the burgeoning popularity of adventure racing events threatened increased environmental damage to national parks.
Prof Pickering singled out an Anaconda Adventure Race series, which is under Rapid Ascent management, as one of a growing number of threatening event.
“When you have lots of people doing the same thing at the same time in a park there is always going to be the risk of environmental damage,” Prof Pickering said.
“When someone is heading for the finishing line after two days of full-on running, swimming and riding, (they) may not be focused on minimising their impacts.
“It would be easy to take a short cut, go off track to get around the people in front or slide about a bit on a bike when crossing that final creek.”
Prof Pickering said improved planning, management and selection of routes could reduce environmental risks.
Rapid Ascent founder John Jacoby defended adventure races.
“Competitors often dispersed across a wide area with negligible impact on the environment,” he said.
“We’re not just rampaging through virgin bush.
“Competitors follow defined routes on tracks and trails managed by the park authority.
“One of our events last week was audited by the government environmental organisation and found there was little or no impact.
“There are a lot more things to worry about than a few runners and mountain bikers in a national park.”
Mr Jacoby said his adventure events included an equipment wash to prevent spread of plant diseases.
“We always work with the park authority because it’s in our interests not to stuff the area up. We introduce people to parks, generate appreciation and create ownership and respect for area we are competing in.”
Rapid Ascent won a Brolga Award in the Northern Territory’s annual tourism awards, which identify the Territory’s hallmark festivals and events.
