The Rainforest Ride is run by Rapid Ascent – the event managers, in partnership with the Burnet Institute – the designated charity who are also greatly involved with the conduct of the event.
Rapid Ascent and the Burnet Institute have had a successful working relationship through the Anaconda Adventure Race International Series for which Burnet are also the charity partner. This relationship started with the conduct of the very first race Rapid Ascent ran back in December 2005 and continues to be strong.
The Burnet Institute is a unique, Australian organisation that is focused on curing and preventing the spread of some of the world’s most serious infectious diseases and cancers.
Meanwhile, Rapid Ascent Australia’s leading adventure event management company and run up to 14 different events around Australia and in New Zealand each year.
Rapid Ascent is wholly owned by the two directors -
John Jacoby (founder) and
Sam Maffett (who joined Rapid Ascent in 2006 as our Event Manager) and is now General Manager.
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 John is one of the most experienced and accomplished adventure racers in the world, having been involved in the sport since its inception. John was awarded the Keys to the City of Melbourne in 1987 after being crowned World Marathon Kayak Champion for the 3rd year in a row, going on to win the title four times.
John has completed 30 major international adventure races in 16 countries. For a copy of John's sporting CV, click here. Since then, John has developed a reputation as a designer of very challenging but interesting courses: both MTB & adventure racing.
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 Sam is always up for an adventure and keen to get outdoors as often as he can. He claims skiing steep and deep powder on his teles as number one, but is often seen getting around on mountain bikes, surf skis, running shoes, crampons, vespas, white water kayaks and windsurfers in various parts of the world pretty frequently too.
Experienced adventure racer but annoyed that he has cut his options by joining Rapid Ascent and so now is tied up organizing them, although he has managed to find time to win 2007 and 2009 Geoquest races, the 2007 Victorian Teva race and make the podium at Upper Murray Challenge. Not bad for a man who has retired. Retired?
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Our other key staff include;
Naantali Marshall who is our Sponsorship and Media Manager. Naant is also a gun surf lifesaver and swims like a fish. She competed in the Uncle Tobys ironman(woman) series and also has won the Lorne Pier to Pub swim 6 times.
Nicola Drummy who is our administration, customer service and IT guru. Nicola made the big shift across from Western Australia in July 2008 and has untold energy and euthusiasm. She also loves the odd coffee! Nicola has recently divulged her golf handicap of 5. Yep, 5. (Note from Nicola "...Might I add it is not at 5 anymore but I'm getting back to playing at a handicap of 5, very very soon".
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Rapid Ascent provides the following services:
- Course design and logistics planning
- Event directing
- Event administration and planning
- Event marketing, including location and race promotion
- Sponsor liaison and contracts
- Stakeholder liaison
- Community education and participation
- Event photography
- Event risk management
- Volunteer training and management
- Athlete matching service (for teams)
- Training programs
- Organised group training
- Video concept and planning
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Being athletes with extensive international race experience, we have a wealth of knowledge and fresh ideas to bring to the fledgling sport of adventure racing in this country. The sport is a boom sport in the US/Canada and Europe, and we intend doing our bit to bring it to the broader Australian public.
Rapid Ascent's values are:
- Integrity
- Respect for the environment
- Respect for the community
- Respect for participants
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