The first leg of the highly anticipated Duavata Adventure (Race) Series was completed over the weekend by ten teams who were tested for their agility, endurance and teamwork.
Dubbed as Fiji’s toughest cross-country competition, the first leg involved rafting across gushing rapids for three hours from Serua to Namosi, followed by a 10-kilometre hike through rugged forest terrain, mountains and uninhabited valleys in Namosi.
Each team comprised of four fit members who channeled the duavata (togetherness) spirit throughout the entire race.
The non-stop multi-disciplinary cross-country competition was due to take place in April, but was postponed because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Despite these challenges, the first leg was successfully coordinated by the Duavata Sustainable Tourism Collective (Duavata Collective).
It will now advance to the next stage with a date set tentatively for March next year at Leleuvia Island Resort.
Namosi Eco Retreat owner Daniel Sovatabua, who was part of the Duavata Collective, said the event intertwined people from all walks of life.
“One exciting aspect of this event, is that, it brought together different people; from a village in Namosi to lawyers,” he said.
“The people of Namosi are so proud and excited to have been part of this event – a first for Fiji and what a way to showcase the amazing people the extraordinary scenery of the Namosi mountains.
“We’ve had eight landowners involved, not an easy thing to organise.
“But it’s worth it and really satisfying for me, as a member of the mataqali Nabukebuke, Navunikabi, to see our people benefit and be directly involved in successful national events.
“Unfortunately, Namosi is often overlooked for national events and development, apart from mining and extraction industries which are not always welcomed by landowners and so we hope that this will help change mindsets so Namosi is seen on par with other provinces as an extraordinary location for future tourism and community development initiatives.”
Duavata collective member and Talanoa Treks director Matt Manley hopes to see the series become an annual challenge that appeals to groups of friends, clubs and business houses both domestically and internationally.
“There’s definitely potential in adding to what Fiji offers as a destination by putting on well-organised challenge events that showcase our country’s natural beauty and can benefit rural and maritime communities and tourism operators alike”, he said
“We were grateful to receive the support of all the mataqali whose land we crossed and we are also proud that the event could make a contribution to each of them after the hardships of the past 18 months or so”, he added.
The first team to complete the first leg of the race series was Veidalana Lokaloka comprising of members Theo Dumanchin, Flavia Ciribello, Petero Manoa and Jonathan Kunau with Philip Silatolu as their support Crew. In second place was High Voltage and third was Team Tara.
Video: All the teams that participated in the Duavata Adventure Series (Leg One)
