Rapid Ascent

There's something uniquely transformative about multi-day, stage races... Especially when they take you to far flung corners of the world and cut you off from social media, creature comforts and your "normal" routine. That's why Sam Maffett & Marcel Shields not only deliver stage races as part of their work with Rapid Ascent, but also PARTICIPATE in them in their spare time. In this episode, Jez sits down with these two adventurers to hear about: 1) Sam's upcoming running stage race in the Himalayas (the 8-day Manaslu Trail Race) 2) Marcel's upcoming gravel riding stage race through South Africa (the 7-day Gravel Burn) 3) Rapid Ascent's upcoming Run Bibbulmun Track Stage Race that's coming up in November in Great Southern WA. We also wax lyrical about the "secret sauce" that makes stage racing so much more immersive, communal and transformative than one day races. Whether your curious about doing your first stage race... Or searching for your next adventure... We hope this conversation gets you as revved up as it got us!

Shortly after their wins at the 2021 Otway Odyssey we conducted a live interview with Dan and Bec McConnell at the Forrest Brewery on Saturday afternoon - and here is a recording of that fascinating discussion. Hosted by Adam Kelsall, their conversation starts with how they started on bikes, and expands to include like details on their racing highs and lows overseas, how they celebrate World Cup podiums as well as how their Odyssey victories unfolded and so much more. This is a very honest and insightful interview into the lives of Australia’s best mountain bikers. You’ll also learn if they both rode the ‘Sandy Climb’ at the 90km point… did they or didn’t they?! We thank Dan, Bec and host Adam for their time and attention. (The audio quality for this is 8/10 but it is WELL WORTH tolerating in order to hear what they have to say. This was originally filmed on a Gopro and the video version is here: https://youtu.be/6SeC_lnYY-g).

We're very excited to announce pro multisport triathlete, Ben Allen, as our guest for Episode 11 of the Rapid Ascent podcast. We've had some ultra runners, adventure racers and mountain bikers to date but Ben is our first pro (off-road) triathlete. Ben has more than a decade of racing experience specialising in the non-drafting format of Triathlon, from 70.3 Ironman, Long Distance, and the XTERRA World Off-Road Triathlon Tour. He popped up on our radar last year when he blitzed the rest of the field at the final Augusta Adventure Fest in November... by a stretch! He's also won the X-Adventure Long course title and competed at the Otway Odyssey a couple of weeks ago. Hear all about the nasty injury that put a halt to Ben's promising career as a professional rugby league player and his switch to a life of elite endurance. Tune in and let us know what you think. Here's episode 11 of the Rapid Ascent podcast with guest, Benny Allen, and your host, Ben Hucker.

From windy Wellington to sunny Wollongong, Samara Sheppard had her sights firmly set on Tokyo 2020. Her Olympic dreams have been shattered though. Changes to the Olympic selection policy made it almost impossible for Samara to qualify. Find out how she still manages to keep a big smile on her face though and hear about her new plans for the 2022 UCI Road World Championships. All the action will be taking place in her adopted hometown of Wollongong, New South Wales. Sheppard was born in Clyde in the South Island of New Zealand. She suffered a series of injuries as a runner which led her to move into cycling as an alternative sport and relocated to Australia in 2016. Tune in to gain a deep insight into the challenges of racing abroad as a self-funded privateer and the mindset of female athlete in a male dominated sport. Samara also talks about her time representing New Zealand at the 2018 Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast where she finished ninth out of twelve competitors in the women's cross-country competition. Here's Episode 9 of the Rapid Ascent podcast with your host, Ben Hucker, and guest, Samara Sheppard.

He's got a ready smile, an infectious laugh and one of the most engaging personalities of anyone in the pro mountain bike ranks. He's also been described as the "Riders Rider" by the mountain bike fraternity. Meet GIANT sponsored rider Josh Carlson.After years of racing motocross and Supercross events in Australia at a pro level, Josh suffered a nasty injury that threatened to derail his moto career. He took up mountain biking to have some fun and rest up. But he never looked back. Josh was so fast that when he started racing the officials had to move him into the pro ranks in the cross-country division. Riders were complaining he was too quick!And when he started racing the enduro format, Josh quickly established himself as one of the top riders in the world. He’s won events in North America and placed 10th overall in the Enduro World Series (EWS). He's not afraid of going fast or telling it how it is either. Tune in to hear Josh's inspiring story in Episode 7 of the Rapid Ascent podcast with your host Ben Hucker.

Paul van der Ploeg has cemented himself as a force to be reckoned with in mountain biking over the past several years. Not only on the Australian mountain bike circuit, but also in Europe and around the world.The monster from Mount Beauty embraced the modern Eliminator XC format early in his career and picked up a World Cup Eliminator win in England 2011.In 2013 he WON the World XC Eliminator title in South Africa.Paul has since competed in the Enduro World Series (EWS) and a swag of other major MTB events on and off the road.And he was planning a massive 2019 season until a nasty accident in February at Rotura in New Zealand left him with a broken femur. The Doctor said he'd never race a MTB again. Find out what Paul's response was to that in Episode 5 of the Rapid Ascent podcast...

In Episode 3 of the Rapid Ascent podcast we interview the founder of Rapid Ascent—the man himself, John Jacoby. At just 19 John became a World Marathon Kayak Champion. He went on to win 3 more World Kayak titles along with 3 Multisport World Championships. He was the given the keys to the city of Melbourne at the tender age of 22 in recognition of these achievements. His crowning glory was perhaps winning the prestigious ‘Adventurer of the Year’ Award in 2015. But he talks of his adventures with his mates as his most satisfying achievements. And he even managed to scale Makalu in the Himalayas at 28,000 feet recently with a couple of old mates from Colorado. He’s as tough as they come....seriously tough. And he’s also my boss! He surfs, he paddles, he goes mountain biking, he’s goes mountaineering. I could go on and on with a full list of John’s achievements. But I think it’s better to jump right into the episode and hear it from the man himself. Here’s Episode 3 of the Rapid Ascent podcast with the founder of Rapid Ascent, John Jacoby. And your host, Ben Hucker.

Sean Purcell is lucky to be alive. In 2014 he went for your typical Sunday morning jog with his dog. His wife and 4 kids expected him home not long after. Well, he never came back. Find out what happened next and the transformation that ensued...