The day began with all teams registering and an official welcome from XPD Director, Craig Bycroft. Each team had the opportunity to introduce themselves to the rest of the field and say a few words as they collected their official race bibs. Fast-paced, 30-seconds each – we heard all variety of snappy and witty, humble, controversial, enthusiastic, sarcastic and quirky comments, sponsor plugging and also insights into some teams’ goals, experience and rivals.

This is the first XPD or expedition length adventure race for many of the teams, quite a few having only one previously seasoned member among them. Also for several teams it is the first time they have actually met in person due to reasons such as geographic location or needing a sudden new team member perhaps only days before arriving in Cairns.

The new teams are all in such great spirits and full of enthusiasm to give it their best and just have a go, an Aussie characteristic that Canadian team Race the Rockies (35) commented is unknown for similar new teams at their home events. Several of the US teams further commented that the high reputation of XPD internationally not only reflects it World Series quality, but also its capacity to foster new expedition adventure racers.

Serial XPDers and seasoned expedition length adventure racers from overseas were humble in honoring the large contingent of strong national and international teams present at this year’s event, highlighting the uncertainty and increased competition this will bring to the event – we are in for a treat of fantastic suspense once the starting guns fires.

The bulk of the day centered on teams ticking off their competency and equipment checks under the shady Esplanade trees and in the resort pool: team photos and bio updates; navigation and GPS; first aid; ‘all time – on person’ equipment checks; and kakak skills. Lots of shopping and then food preparation was going on in team accommodation … and lots of resting up and just waiting for the course to be released.

First aid was a bit of an eye opener (and fear raiser) for most teams and not just the international visitors! The amount and severity of dangerous fauna and flora in this neck of the woods has the potential to be quite overwhelming – box jellies, irikanji, stinging trees, crocodiles, spear grass, cassowaries, ticks, leeches, snakes, wasps, wait-a-while, lantana, blackberries, spiders … anyone still keen to race? Some of these things give the most painful and most deadly encounters for their type IN THE WORLD!! An early consensus was the dangerous biodiversity is the biggest concern for teams at this stage.