Ride in the rainforest, paddle the ocean, run on Dunk Island…
Cyclone Yasi will not stop the On a Mission Adventure Race at Mission Beach.
The popular North Queensland event – which features rainforest and beach running and mountain biking, ocean paddling and trail-running up Dunk Island’s Mt Kootaloo – will be held on September 11.
Queensland Parks and Wildlife rangers have been busy clearing trails for On a Mission.
“The route won’t be exactly the same as in previous years but we can still promise competitors plenty of picturesque beach, forest and island views as motivation,’’ race coordinator Dan Gallagher said.
OnaMission’s long course includes about 12km of paddling, 17km of running and 28km of mountain biking. The short course covers about 8km paddling, 11km running and 23km mountain biking.
“It’s a great event for people at all levels – from the multi-sports adventure racer who takes on the whole course or paddling, riding or running specialists who form a team; to beginners who want to give it a go and have some fun as individuals or in teams,’’ Gallagher said.
Last year’s long course winner, Cairns adventure racer Struan Lamont, ran home in just over four hours, ahead of Townsville’s Sam Stedman while Cairns’s Julie Sager won the women’s long course event.
Gallagher said the event, now in its fourth year, is fast becoming a flagship one for the Mission Beach community.
“There was never any question about whether OnaMission would be held this year – it was more how we would run it,’’ he said.
“We have worked around Yasi and unfortunately lost major sponsors including Dunk Island Resort due to the impact on the community of the cyclone.
“OnaMission is part of our community’s cyclone recovery.’’
For the first time, the event is also part of the Police Games.
OnaMission is a fundraiser for the Mission Beach Surf Lifesaving Club and the Innisfail PCYC.
To register for On a Mission as a team or an individual in the long course or short course,
or to find out more here.
Media contact: Julie Lightfoot 0427 039 117
