A bit of history
After the “Raid Gauloises” event in New Caledonia in 1991, two friends, Joan HOSKEN and Jean-Paul GRANGEON decided to organise a sporting event in the Territory to promote health through sport, without being sponsored by companies marketing toxic products. They created the “Transcalédonienne” which has become one of the annual meetings of Caledonian adventure racers and other racers. This popular event as Christian Perez, President of the Association Défi Santé (Health Challenge), organiser of the race today, likes to call it, is THE “sport-health-discovery” adventure race reference in the Pacific.
A hike to explore the unexplored “customary paths”
For 19 years, the Transcalédonienne has traced its route with the help of the tribes and brought the old customary paths back to life. In 2008, 233 teams, nearly 700 runners including 38 non-Caledonian ones took part in this Caledonian adventure race.
Forest and rocky trails, mountain ridges and crossing creeks, the Transcalédonienne 2010 will be held in the Southern Province on 3rd and 4th July 2010. For this 19th run, it will go through the Caledonian towns of Moindou, Sarramea, Farino and the Parc des Grandes Fougères (Big Ferns National Park) before arriving at La Foa.
The Transcalédonienne is also an opportunity to meet the mountain tribes and share some truly happy moments with these men and women.
This two day hike, through the Caledonian mountain chain is a sports event that offers participants the opportunity to discover not only the lifestyle of the more remote Melanesian tribes but also the unique flora and fauna of New-Caledonia, its beautiful lagoon listed on the World Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO.
From trails to creeks with often major changes in altitude, the Transcalédonienne proves to be a selective and intense race but always coped with in good humour.
The Transcalédonienne, well rehearsed logistics
To handle the logistics, the Défi-Santé (Health Challenge) race includes:
130 volunteers for organisation and security (first-aid station every 5kms)
2 Helicopters
9 Doctors
1 cardiologist
1 Podiatrist
2 Physiotherapists
16 “RED-CROSS” safety Specialists
20 Students from the
Institute of Training for Health and Social Professions (Masseurs)
1 radio network
An ambulance
Support from the local police stations and medical staff (health centre).
Who is this race for?
Those who love hiking, accomplished sports people and courageous ordinary walkers wishing to explore the real New-Caledonia in a team, this hike is for you!
Transcal
Mixed team of 3 people
Two day event on 3rd and 4th July 2010
Minimum age: 16
Trans-unisex
Team composed of three people of the same sex
Two day event on 3rd and 4th July 2010
Different ranking than the above category
Minimum age: 16
Trans-Discovery Mixed team
One day event on 4th July
Approximately 25 km
Minimum age: 16
Trans-Discovery- Unisex
Team composed of three people of the same sex
One day event on 4th July 2010
Approximately 25 km
Minimum age: 16
All participants are asked to provide: A medical certificate Proof of personal insurance Equipment consisting of a tent for camping and an individual emergency kit. A registration form is available on the Transcalédonienne website - registration fees for each participant will be mentioned.
Because sport and health is everybody's concern and after an initial successful experience in 2009, the Transcalédonienne made a point of honour of being open to people with disabilities throughout the country, belonging to an association or being under the auspices of supervision. For this category, teams will consist of three contestants and two accompanying personnel.
The route
On July 3, 2010, the real sports people of the Transcalédonienne registered in a mixed or unisex team will take the start from the Katrikoin tribe for a race of more than 35 km. After a well deserved night in a “one star” camp site but “under the stars”, the athletes joined by the teams from the Trans-discovery, will leave the Grand Coulis tribe for a final finish in La Foa on July 4, 2010 at the end of day.
The Red Cross will be in charge of safety with a first-aid station every 5 km.
In recent years the Transcalédonnienne has welcomed enthusiasts and nature lovers from the Pacific with Tahitians, New Zealanders and Australians, from the Indian Ocean with our friends from La Reunion, who also love hiking and adventure races, from Asia with our Japanese friends who are more and more numerous and of course racers from France.
They are all very welcome to share the adventure and beauty of New Caledonia.
Advice and information is also available to prospective future participants on the website.
No comments:
Post a Comment