4 // TRACKFREAK.COM
TRACKFREAK.COM // 5
INSIDER TIPS - adrian beard Muppets
XPD essentials Will teams from other areas need to do any special training to get themselves ready for a race in Tasmania ?
WIMPS GO HOME Will cold be a factor at XPD? Any special gear or foods you suggest. Cold is always a factor down here. I certainly suffer from skinny man syndrome, so layering clothes for night time and water will certainly help keep you happy. As for food, just eat what you love and mix it up. Your team mates food always looks better than yours after a couple of days. What do you like about the XPD events. XPD simply takes us to places we probably wouldn’t get to experience in our everyday lives.
Lots of amazing granite boulders on the east coast, so definitely spend some time channelling your inner child and play on your local rocks. Single track MTB opportunities are endless, so upping time in technical terrain might also help a bit. There are also many sea kayaking options, so spending some time on the open water might also help.
We love the fact we can cram a bucketload of playtime into just a few days. The organisers, staff, volunteers and fellow racers are exceptional people and the event always runs like clockwork. We might be biased, but the East Coast of Tasmania is a pretty special part of the world and we can’t wait for XPD to roll around. What advantages will being a local give to the Muppets. Not sure local advantage ever counts for a lot with Lou and Craig’s races as they have a terrific ability to take us to new places, regardless
of the race destination. Having said that, being able to sleep in our own beds in the lead up and then just throw gear in the car will certainly be a big help. Not paying flight excess costs this time is a real bonus ! The Coles Bay area and Ben Lomond are our absolute favourite training grounds so fingers crossed we get to spend some time in those areas.
What do you expect teams will experience in XPD that are specific to Tassie. Wildlife on the east coast is prolific, so spending time with the natives will be something pretty special. The weather at that time of year is pretty stable so we are hoping for lots of 2025 degree blue bird days and then crisp 8-12 degree nights (or it could snow !). We think the bush on the east coast is
pretty special and because it is nice and open it is well suited to off trail trekking. Best part about north east Tassie is you can literally surf in the morning and then be boulder hopping in alpine areas by afternoon, so we will certainly get to experience some varied terrain. The Muppets are now in the legendary status for completing XPD races. What are the basics for the team achieving so many finishes. No secrets here.....we are getting older and slower so we just have to keep moving.... and hopefully in the right direction. Sledging your team mates when they are in the hurt locker is an important skill to learn ! Ultimately I think we just really appreciate how lucky we are to be fit enough and healthy enough enjoy what is a pretty amazing sport. We are all very lucky to have exceptionally supportive families who let us indulge in AR.