Jan 22 - Cassowary Coast wins Red Bull adventure gig

Adventure athletes from around the globe will converge on the Cassowary Coast this August for the Red Bull Defiance 2019 event, the most challenging adventure race in the southern hemisphere.

The rugged terrain, breathtaking vistas of the Wet Tropics and Great Barrier Reef World Heritage areas and support of the Cassowary Coast Regional Council has convinced organisers to stage the Red Bull event in the Cassowary Coast over the next three years.

“This cements the Cassowary Coast region as a world-class adventure tourism destination and has the potential to significantly add to its economy, profile and prosperity,” a jubilant Mayor John Kremastos said.

The Council was approached by Jersey Road, representatives of Red Bull for this event in Australia. While the Red Bull Defiance event has a five-year history in New Zealand, the Cassowary Coast event will be the first in Australia.

Cr Kremastos said the Council had been working closely with Jersey Road in organising the World Rafting Championships, which will be held on the Tully River in May 2019. This successful relationship was a key factor in the Cassowary Coast region winning this opportunity from rival locations.

More than 300 competitors, about one-third from overseas, are expected to contest the gruelling two-day event which offers a $30,000 prize pool. Individuals and teams of two and four athletes will raft over 10.2km of white-water, run 34.84km, mountain bike 70.4km, kayak for 17.04km and take part in one surprise activity over August 31 and September 1.

The first day includes rafting, running and biking through the rugged, mountainous terrain behind Tully Gorge through to Mena Creek. Day two includes biking, kayaking and running around the Mission Beach area, and Dunk and Bedarra islands just offshore.

“The competitors, their support teams and families will boost the local economy and put our beautiful region in the world spotlight,” Cr Kremastos said. “Estimates suggest the event will be worth more than one million dollars a year to our region over the next three years.”

The Council has been asked for financial support of $80,000. It resolved at its general meeting in Tully today to support the event in principle and consider an allocation of $80,000 from existing savings in the current budget as part of its commitment towards the event. This will be looked at as part of its budget review process and discussed at the February general meeting.  

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