There are some things that are definitely worth throwing your support behind, SF Super Series is one of those things. It’s actually a collection of challenges
There are some great events held in some fantastic locations. There’s the Surf Coast Century, a 100km trail run held on the Surf Coast in Victoria for the Gears and Beers in Wagga which ties a 130km bike ride in with the local craft beer and cider festival, Big Feet, Little Feet which will see you walking across a car-free Sydney Harbour Bridge and of course the Endure 24, the 24hr CrossFit event held locally at Crossfit Manly Vale. There are plans afoot to try and get more events on board as well.
Each event aims to raise money to help the Sanfilippo Children’s Foundation in the fight against Sanfilippo syndrome. Sanfilippo is a genetic disorder which is rare and sadly fatal. Children affected with it have a life expectancy of between 12 and 20 years. Although there are no signs in the early years of childhood an enzyme deficiency prevents the body from going through its normal recycling process, causing cellular malfunction.
The team at Endure 24
Planning the next routine
Endure 24 at Crossfit Manly Vale as part of the SF Super Series
Endure 24
Endure 24
Endure 24
Endure 24 at Crossfit Manly Vale as part of the SF Super Series
Endure 24
Endure 24 at Crossfit Manly Vale as part of the SF Super Series
Endure 24 at Crossfit Manly Vale as part of the SF Super Series
Once again it was time for one of the trail runners favourite races, the Coastal Classic. It’s one of Sydney’s highest rated trail runs, taking runners along a beautiful stretch of coastline going through the Royal National Park. Being in a national park though the organisers, Maximum Adventure, cap the number of competitors and so it can be hard to get an entry as they sell out so quickly. The Coastal Classic completes the Thermatech Triple Challenge series which included the Jabulani in Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park and Raffertys Coastal Run at Lake Macquarie on the NSW Central Coast.
Although the Coastal Classic may not be the longest of races it certainly presents a good challenge to those who take it on. The trail takes runners up and down the park’s headlands and onto the numerous sandy beaches along the coast of the Royal National Park . Unlike last year at this time, when there was torrential rain forcing the postponement of the race, we had a beautiful spring day, chilly in the morning but warming up nicely as the day progressed. Out on course I set 5 photographers, myself included, positioned to capture the beautiful coastal scenics and the runners enjoying the trails. There was around 1000 runners on course from all different skill levels, some there to run fast and put in the best time they can while others were taking their time and enjoy the day out.
The Triple Challenge has been a great series to cover. Next up for us in the trail running category will be the Bouddi challenge in October. A new race on the running circuit running through the Bouddi National Park on the Central Coast.
I went to the ORA (Outdoor Retailer Australia show) for a day to have a chat with some people and check out all the new gear that is coming to Australia over the next few months. I teamed up with guest blogger Jason Lorch, the editor from Tyres and Soles, who wrote the words below. T&S do loads of great gear reviews on their site and I thought this was exactly their cup of tea.
It was our first time at the ORA show and I only wish we had gone for more than one day. It was on from the 18th – 20th June 2017 at the Royal Hall of Industries and the Hordern Pavilion, Moore Park.
We couldn’t shoot every product as some were pre-production and prototype models, and the exhibitors didn’t want us shooting those, which is understandable. We understand that you need to keep a few tricks up your sleeve in this industry. It’s also worth noting that this event is primarily focused on B2B, so business is key here and media although welcomed, are not the highest on the agenda for the exhibitors. Again, we understand and respect that.
But rest assured, we saw a lot and you should all be getting excited about the new products heading your way.
AXISGO (Aquatech)
Aquatech have been around for years making submersible camera housing and other protective gear, at the highest quality. After making very specific products for a certain target market, Aquatech has now jumped into the global market of the smartphone with their AXISGO iPhone underwater case and we managed to have a play with it.
The AXISGO is a housing kit that allows you to take your iPhone down to depths of 10 metres! It comes in 3 colour choices, with a trigger handle (which was brilliant!) and different housing lenses for different image effects. We saw some of the photos that had been taken with this gadget and the results were astonishing!
The impressive AXISGO underwater housing for iPhones from AquaTech.
The AXISGO has several different dome options that produce some incredible imagery.
Barz Optics
Barz Optics is an Australian-based family company located at Burleigh Heads in Queensland on the east coast of Australia. They offer a huge range of optics and frame types for any situation. Floating models, kids’ polarised models, melanin-infused polarised sunglass lenses, polarised lenses with a bifocal reader, and prescription lenses….
New products at the show included their latest floating model, the Polarised Photochromic BiFocal Reader – the Cabo, as well as the new kids floating polarised model, the Grom. They’ve also released a cycling-focused model which has been very popular with the cycling community to date. We recommend you check them out.
LifeStraw started in 1994 with their first filter that could remove Guinea worm larvae from water. It then evolved into a more effective pipe form in 1999 and is essentially the design you see today. Since then, more than 37 million LifeStraw Guinea Worm filters have contributed to the near-eradication of the disease.
The design is simple, elegant and highly effective at removing 99.9999% of waterborne bacteria, including E. coli and salmonella. It weighs only 57 grams and can be placed in your pack or pocket. You can literally drop down to a dirty puddle and suck it up. The effect it has had on third-world communities has been hugely impactful.
LifeStraw now has a range of products from the individual LifeStraw, LifeStraw Go, LifeStraw Mission and the LifeStraw Family. Plus, for each LifeStraw that’s purchased, one school child in a developing community receives safe drinking water for an entire school year.
One of the main purposes of attending the ORA 2017 show was to discover new brands. One such brand is UQUIP. A small company based in Bad Bramstedt in Northern Germany (close to Hamburg). They produce a range of camping products such as stools, beds, portable storage, mats and lights.
What impressed us was the detail and the level of quality in their designs. One item caught our eye straight away. It was a teeny weeny folding chair, that looked as if it would fit a very small dog or kitten. In fact it can hold up to 150kgs of weight yet it only weighs 250 grams! So we just had to test this out for ourselves.
Although I was nowhere near that weight, it felt incredibly secure and rigid under me. It was also surprisingly comfortable. We could see this stool being incredibly handy for many uses, especially for the professional photographer who needs to carry a lot of stuff around and sit in the same spot for long periods of time.
No, there was no forced perspective or crazy Lord of the Rings photo magic going on here. The stool really is that small and incredibly strong.
THERMAREST
We’re fans of the THERMAREST products, namely their air mattresses and sleeping bags but we haven’t had much exposure to their tent range, so were happy to see their Tranquility tent on display. The tent itself appeared well-built and had all the quality you would expect from this brand. It is aimed more at car camping, so don’t expect anything lightweight that you can carry in your pack for multiple days.
The 4-man tent weighs in at 5.19 kg. If you’re looking for high quality and not concerned about weight for those short trips to your favourite car camp spot, then you’d do well with these tents. Thermarest offers a range of 4 to 6-man tents, shelters and footprints.
Pelican have been around for years and are best known for their virtually indestructible travel cases. What caught our eye this year was their range of drinkware and cooler boxes. The Traveler Tumbler can store hot or cold liquids at the correct temperature all day, and come with a narrower bottom section so they can fit into most vehicle holders.
We were told that the cooler boxes can retain ice for ten days! One of the Pelican exhibitors recently came back from a ten-day fishing trip where he had fish stored in the box but was dubious about opening it up and releasing all the cold air, but he took a gamble and opened it anyway. To his surprise, there was still ice in the bottom, after ten days!
The reason we didn’t shoot as much as we wanted was that we got stuck at the One Planet stand for longer than expected. We’re big fans of One Planet and any opportunity to catch up with them is a bonus for us. One Planet is based out of Melbourne and has been manufacturing outdoor equipment for more than 30 years. They have a reputation for creating gear that’s incredibly tough and durable.
It was great to see how the One Planet range has evolved. Offering more and more products each year, from their beloved backpacks and sleeping bags to tents, jackets and footwear. They remain true to their core market and their consistency for high-quality, super-tough gear can be seen across all of these products.
It’s been great to see the One Planet brand and product range grow over the years. Check out the little kiddies range, bottom right. The One Planet range at the ORA 2017 show is a testament that they are providing solutions not only to the hardcore adventurer but also the daily commuters.
The new down jackets coming out are impressive and we’re very excited to see these hit the shelves. The two models on offer were targeted at typical Winter conditions through to high altitude mountaineering conditions.
One Planet admit that the “4Midable” tent, blurs the line between a tent and a fly, and defies pigeonholing, we’d have to agree. It’s simple and versatile. The tent can be pitched using trekking poles to save weight. You can add the footprint and an optional inner mesh, turning it into a bug-free retreat for two.
There was a new shoe on display at the ORA 2017 show. It had a mix of an approach shoe with its lacing system and rubber toe area and a hiking shoe with its grip and aggressive tread. We really liked it.
No show is complete without a few freebies. Yep, someone has to look like a plonker, so I took that award out on the day, but thanks to XTM Performance for this awesome little free gift. A beanie with a detachable headlight.
All in all, it was a great show with tons of interesting brands and products on display, I just wished we’d come for more than one day.
Born and grew up in Wales but now a fully fledged Aussie. A passionate mountain biker, hiker and general nature addict. He also fancies himself as a bit of a muso and enjoy a good craft beer every now and again (probably too often).
His blog at Tyres and Soles will inspire people to get out there and experience first hand, the natural wonders that surround them. and is well worth checking out. Be sure and go get lost in the stories and reviews over at Tyres and Soles.
A couple of weekend ago I went and covered perhaps the toughest race that I have covered to date, True Grit. True Grit is a military inspired obstacle race held over a 10km or so track. What makes it so tough though is that there is also a smaller True Grit run in conjunction which is a punishing 24hr obstacle race and is also the Australian Titles. It was the 24hr part that I came to cover.
Heavy rain preceded the event and was forecast to continue over the weekend. I got out onto course just after the main race from day 1 finished up. I started out with the closest obstacles, a rope crossing and a 10ft wall climb. On the wall climb team work or help from strangers went a long way to getting up and over. A last gasp from the weather and the rain hammered down for an hour or so. Thankfully the Canon gear is pretty well waterproof throw on an OP Tech rain sleeve and an umbrella in between competitors goes along way to keeping the gear dry.
One section was called the muddy mile but due to the rain was more like a mile walking through a river. The muddy mile finished with having to duck under some barbed wire however around 3 in the morning the wire duck had to be closed off due to the river rising and covering the barbed wire.
I got so wrapped up in shooting that my night went way longer than expected. I grabbed an hour and a half sleep but think that I shot for around 20 out of the 24hr race. Its events like this that I love. Night shooting always adds an extra dimension and there is just so much variety in things going on to shoot
If you think this is up your alley you can check out all the details and get involved with the event when it next comes around over at the True Grit website here. They also run the standard True Grit in other cities around Australia.
Get your balance on point for the creek crossing
True Grit and the 2017 Aussie Titles for 24hr obstacle racing
If you failed or dodged an obstalce the its 10 burpees as payment
Up and over the A Frame Cargo
Getting down and dirty at the True Grit 24hr obstacle racing
Drying out and warming the bones for the next lap
Heavy rain at The Wall
Heading back to the event centre
Along the Muddy Mile
True Grit and the 2017 Aussie Titles for 24hr obstacle racing
The obstacles don’t get any easier as the race goes on
A bit of night time bouldering
Night time adds an extra dimension for lighting
True Grit and the 2017 Aussie Titles for 24hr obstacle racing
Across the finish line and out for another lap
At least with the rope climb you were out of the mud and water for a moment.
Morning mist adds to the atmosphere
Over the water on the Tyrolean Traverse
True Grit and the 2017 Aussie Titles for 24hr obstacle racing
16hrs in and still smiling
True Grit and the 2017 Aussie Titles for 24hr obstacle racing
True Grit and the 2017 Aussie Titles for 24hr obstacle racing
Barb wire kept them low on the Tyre Crawl
True Grit and the 2017 24hr obstacle racing Aussie Trails
Taking the win yet again Lachlan Dansie
True Grit and the 2017 Aussie Titles for 24hr obstacle racing
One of the more unique events on my calendar with Outer Image is Paddy Pallin’s Urban Adventure Race. It is an adventure race that takes place through the heart of Sydney. Competitors race around the CBD and surrounding suburbs doing various events and challenges. collecting points.
The events and challenges that I shot were only a small part of it. They included indoor climbing at Sydney University, slot car racing where competitors had to complete 3 laps of a circuit in under 25 seconds, frisbee golf at Centenial Park, a short sack race, dance lessons where it was all about the style and even price check shopping in the Paddy Pallin store in the city. A little bit of something for everyone.
The race attracts all types of people from some serious racers out for a day of fun to families with small children taking on their first adventure race. It’s definitely one to keep an eye out for next year especially if you would like to dip your toes into the world of adventure racing.
If you have an event that you would like covered swing on over to Outer Image and touch base with us so we can work out how best to suit your needs
And they are off…..
Route checking
Orientation at the Urban Adventure Race
Climbing at The Ledge at Sydney Uni.
Maximum Adventure’s Paddy Pallin Urban Adventure Race through the streets of Sydney
For a different type of Wednesday night some friends organised a small fire spinning in a special location in Sydney which I shall keep secret for now though I am sure that many of the light painting community know all about it. Due to the location being rather cramped they kept the event to a close knit group of friends and myself. I ended up, as I usually do when I’m with these guys, just watching the display and forgetting to take photos.
Fire-spinning is one of the harder things I have tried to photograph. Trying to capture enough ambient light without over-exposing the fire is the hard part, plus you still want to be able to show a certain amount of movement of the spinning and not have them look too static. Add on to that the fact that the flames change in brightness according to fuel levels and it all gets rather confusing. Slowly I think I am getting my head around it though.
An evening of fire-spinning at a secret location in Sydney..
An evening of fire-spinning at a secret location in Sydney..
An evening of fire-spinning at a secret location in Sydney..
An evening of fire-spinning at a secret location in Sydney..
An evening of fire-spinning at a secret location in Sydney..
An evening of fire-spinning at a secret location in Sydney..
An evening of fire-spinning at a secret location in Sydney..
An evening of fire-spinning at a secret location in Sydney..
An evening of fire-spinning at a secret location in Sydney..
An evening of fire-spinning at a secret location in Sydney..
An evening of fire-spinning at a secret location in Sydney..
An evening of fire-spinning at a secret location in Sydney..
An evening of fire-spinning at a secret location in Sydney..
An evening of fire-spinning at a secret location in Sydney..
An evening of fire-spinning at a secret location in Sydney..
An evening of fire-spinning at a secret location in Sydney..
An evening of fire-spinning at a secret location in Sydney..
An evening of fire-spinning at a secret location in Sydney..
An evening of fire-spinning at a secret location in Sydney..
An evening of fire-spinning at a secret location in Sydney..
An evening of fire-spinning at a secret location in Sydney..
An evening of fire-spinning at a secret location in Sydney..
An evening of fire-spinning at a secret location in Sydney..
An evening of fire-spinning at a secret location in Sydney..
An evening of fire-spinning at a secret location in Sydney..
An evening of fire-spinning at a secret location in Sydney..
