Extreme sports races in Malawi
Posted on: Thursday, September 02, 2010
The annual Mount Mulanje Porters Race has attracted the attention of runners both male and female from all over the world with 48 foreign participants from the UK, the US ,South Africa and Mozambique. The participants athletically compete by running up and across the lovely plateaus of
Mount Mulanje.
The Race, in its 14th anniversary, started as a small event among interested individuals willing to do a running competition up the mountain. John Kayange was this year’s male champion, scaling the mountain in a record breaking 2 hours, 8 minutes and 45 seconds, beating 347 other participants. The 21km climb normally takes at least 13 hours of hiking! This year’s female champion was Doris Fisher finishing in 2 hours, 39 minutes and 14 seconds, ending Tereza Master four year winning stretch.
Deputy Minister of Tourism, Wildlife and Culture Honourable Shadreck Jonas MP, who was guest of honour at this year’s competition which took place on Saturday July 10, 2010 said the government supports the race as a way of advocating for the preservation of Mulanje Mountain.
“ As we are all aware, the current government has put emphasis on the promotion of tourism and Mulanje Mountain being as attractive as it is, is one of the resources that the government would like
to see promoted.” He said. “Our aim is to see our natural resources benefiting people, not only those living around them, but Malawi as a nation. “It is through events like this that we can tell the world what wonderful, attractive and beautiful resources we have. Mount Mulanje is in the processes of gaining its World Heritage Site status which would further help its preservation.
The Mount Mulanje porter’s race was not the only extreme sports race to take place this summer. The Luwawa Mountain Bike Race. The race begun at the
Luwawa Forest Lodge on the edge of the Luwawa Dam in the Viphya Mountains, between Mzuzu and Kasungu. Participants came from across Malawi, with a big group of Liliongwe super bikers , some from Cape Maclear and Blantyre Cycling club taking part. The winner was Missi Kathumba from Blantyre Cycling Club in 2 hours and 32 minutes.
Malawi is a great place for adventure sports, with watersports such as waterskiing and canoeing as well as hiking and biking.
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