5. Merrell Adventure
Addicts

Country: South Africa
Sponsors: Merrell, PVM Nutritional Sciences, Black Diamond Head torches, Squirt Bike Lube, Llama Bars, Buttanut Nut Spreads, Extreme Bike Lights, Giant Bicycles, Island Tribe Sun Protection, Ocean Eyewear
Team Members: Graham Bird (C), Hanno Smit, Grant Ross, Robyn Kime
Average Age: 36.75

The Merrell Adventure Addicts are South Africa’s premier adventure racing team. Graham Bird, the team’s captain, started canoeing in 1986 and won most of the country’s canoe races before transitioning to multi-sport adventures. He’s joined by Hanno Smit, an experienced triathlete working in forestry, and Grant Ross, a season mountain-sport competitor. Each has more than 10 years of adventure racing experience, a base that Bird feels could come in handy. “The core of our team has been racing together for a long time,” he said, “so our experience and knowledge of one another helps us tackle big races and expeditions.” Robyn Kime, the final teammate, is a relative newcomer to adventure racing, but a seasoned trail runner and canoeist in her own right.

Bird said that the Patagonian Expedition Race (PER) has been on the Addicts’ “to-do” list for years, and that they’re particularly excited about exploring the region. His team participates in adventure races to learn how much they can do “mentally, physically, and spiritually.” Their numerous top ten finishes in the ARWS (Adventure World Racing Series) could prove to be the twist to the 2016 tale.