Rapid Ascent

Rapid Ascent Contact information, map and directions, contact form, opening hours, services, ratings, photos, videos and announcements from Rapid Ascent, Sport & recreation, Suite 2, 1-3 Gilbert Street, Torquay.

Rapid Ascent is Australia’s leading adventure sports event management company, organising off-road & adventure sports events across Australia including mountain-biking, trail running, ultra marathons, adventure races and off-road triathlons.

Can you believe the TWENTY FIRST Otway Odyssey weekend is already approaching?! (ENTRIES OPENING NEXT MONDAY 7TH SEPT.)I...
04/09/2026

Can you believe the TWENTY FIRST Otway Odyssey weekend is already approaching?! (ENTRIES OPENING NEXT MONDAY 7TH SEPT.)

It's had us chatting in the RA office about what has kept riders flocking back to this event for so long, while countless marathon MTB and gravel events have come, gone and faded into obscurity.

πŸ‘‰ Maybe it’s because there’s something for ALL riders – with a suite of mountain bike races of 100km, 50km, 30km, 10km, 43km e-MTB… and Gravel rides of 100km and 50km.

πŸ‘‰ Maybe it’s the post-race elation that can only be experienced after pushing yourself to your limits on flowing singletrack & β€œchampagne” gravel with views that make you look to your riding buddy and say "is this real?!"…

πŸ‘‰ Maybe it’s the lush wilderness and prehistoric ferns of the Otway National Park…

πŸ‘‰ Maybe it’s the deep elite field made up of World-Cup contenders, national jersey holders… and even former Tour de France yellow jersey wearers and stage winners!

πŸ‘‰ Maybe it’s that nod or wink shared between riders that says β€œI know what you did. You’re tough as nails”…

πŸ‘‰Maybe it's because you awesome riders bring the vibes and support each other (or "trauma bond" as Peta Mullens put it) like one big (slightly crazy) family...

Or maybe… Maaaaybe…

It’s the magical combination of ALL these things (and more).

Whatever the case, we're beyond grateful for this riding community for coming out and supporting this little event of ours. We CANNOT WAIT to kick it up a notch in 2027.

We'll send you another email when entries open...

In the meantime, read up on all the NEW features* and NEW schedule*, start nagging your mates and get ready to enter on MONDAY!

27/08/2026

Awesome to have ABC Alice Springs documenting the Shimano Gravel Muster last week!

Bring on 2027!!

24/08/2026

β€œThe truth is I don’t feel ready.”

Well blow us down with a feather duster…

In seven simple words, Feel Good Ambassador, Jodie, has perfectly articulated how 99% of Surf Coast Century entrants are feeling right now.

In a recent Insta update she said:

β€œSome days the doubts are louder than anything else, and no amount of someone else’s certainty quiets them. Maybe that’s the point. Maybe you don’t wait to feel ready. You just go”

YOU. JUST. GO.

Love that Jodie!

In fact, you’ve landed on one of the toughest parts about signing up to a massive goal like an ultramarathon…

Once the excitement wears off and you’ve told all your friends and family, you suddenly find yourself on the hook to achieve something unthinkable.

Then the niggles start… the unplanned illnesses… the work deadlines that suck the time and energy from your training weeks. And before you know it…

β€œYoooouuuu cann’t dooo thiiiiiss”, whispers that little, pesky voice inside your head.

Good news is: After 20 years in the events game, we can safely say: Everyone hears that irritating voice. From the elites … to the first timers… to the relay team runners. EVERYONE. (In fact, it often seem, the better you are, the louder the voices!)

The only difference between the people who get a big ol’ DNS next to their name on the results sheet, and those who are β€œyeehaing β€œand β€œyahooing” over the finish line; is that the finishers hear that little voice and KEEP GOING ANYWAY.

Want to stick it to the inner voice that says β€œyou can’t”?

Why not join Jodie (and ~1500 other runners) at the Surf Coast Century?

πŸ‘‰β€― All details and entries at LINK IN BIO

Here’s to NOT waiting til you’re ready,

The (LFG) Rapid Ascent Team

P.S. Follow Jodie She_runs_anyway_ for a fun and inspiring perspective on running and keeping going when the going gets tough.

24/08/2026

Like all passionate trail runners, Clara had been out on an adventure run, and time got away. Before she knew it, she was on the trails after dark, navigating by the dull glow of an iphone torch.

Her realisation?

β€œAn iphone will NOT be an adequate substitute (for an headtorch on race day)” πŸ˜‚πŸ˜‚β€―

We bloody love this kind of outdoor misadventure (and the valuable lessons they teach).

After all, if you aren’t getting lost or having to β€œMacGyver” things together by the seat of your pants, is it even trail running?!

One thing is for sure, when you enter the Surf Coast Century, you’ll be thrust into trail adventures (and misadventures) that will very much NOT be part of the plan. When these moments arise, half the fun is harnessing your inner Clara, hacking together a β€œwork around” and keepin’ on keepin’ on!

Or if that’s not your cup of tea, maybe enter a road marathon and withdraw from the race the moment things go sideways (only kidding, we love ALL runners!😜).

Jokes aside, if you’re the kind of runner who likes testing your endurance AND your creative trail-side solutions, why not join Clara at the Surf Coast Century?

It’s only 4 weeks away, so time to get serious!
(There’s also a PRICE RISE tonight.)

πŸ‘‰β€― All details and entries at LINK IN BIO.

Here’s to keepin’ on,

The (love when things go wrong) Rapid Ascent Team

P.S. It’s well worth following Clara’s (and all the other ambassadors’) journey to the start line. Check out her Insta Clara Helen Margrit

β€œπ‘‚πΎ, 𝑙𝑒𝑔𝑠: 𝑔𝑖𝑣𝑒 π‘šπ‘’ π‘œπ‘›π‘’ π‘™π‘Žπ‘ π‘‘ 95π‘˜π‘š π‘œπ‘“ β„Žπ‘Žπ‘Ÿπ‘‘ π‘œπ‘’π‘‘π‘π‘Žπ‘π‘˜ π‘Ÿπ‘–π‘‘π‘–π‘›π‘” π‘Žπ‘›π‘‘ 𝐼 𝑃𝑅𝑂𝑀𝐼𝑆𝐸 𝐼’𝑙𝑙 π‘‘π‘Žπ‘˜π‘’ π‘¦π‘œπ‘’ π‘ π‘‘π‘Ÿπ‘Žπ‘–π‘”β„Žπ‘‘ π‘‘π‘œ π‘‘β„Žπ‘’ 𝑝𝑒𝑏 π‘‘π‘œ π‘‘π‘Ÿπ‘œπ‘€π‘› π‘¦π‘œπ‘’ 𝑖𝑛 ...
23/08/2026

β€œπ‘‚πΎ, 𝑙𝑒𝑔𝑠: 𝑔𝑖𝑣𝑒 π‘šπ‘’ π‘œπ‘›π‘’ π‘™π‘Žπ‘ π‘‘ 95π‘˜π‘š π‘œπ‘“ β„Žπ‘Žπ‘Ÿπ‘‘ π‘œπ‘’π‘‘π‘π‘Žπ‘π‘˜ π‘Ÿπ‘–π‘‘π‘–π‘›π‘” π‘Žπ‘›π‘‘ 𝐼 𝑃𝑅𝑂𝑀𝐼𝑆𝐸 𝐼’𝑙𝑙 π‘‘π‘Žπ‘˜π‘’ π‘¦π‘œπ‘’ π‘ π‘‘π‘Ÿπ‘Žπ‘–π‘”β„Žπ‘‘ π‘‘π‘œ π‘‘β„Žπ‘’ 𝑝𝑒𝑏 π‘‘π‘œ π‘‘π‘Ÿπ‘œπ‘€π‘› π‘¦π‘œπ‘’ 𝑖𝑛 π‘π‘Žπ‘Ÿπ‘π‘ .”

That’s πŸ‘†the deal most riders were silently making with their bodies as they crawled out of their sleeping bags ahead of Stage 4 of the Shimano Gravel Muster today.

The bikes had carried everyone a long way by this point. The snack pockets had seen too much. The legs had formed opinions. But, we think we speak for everyone when we say, our SOULS are 100% recharged!

When the racing got underway, the tired bodies left Ross River Homestead for one last push back to Alice Springs (and a finish line literally INSIDE the Alice Springs Brewing Co b**r garden!).

It started steadily enough, winding over the ridgelines of Ross River Gorge, along the Binns Track south and across the dry Ross River bed before opening out onto the plains.

But then came the last piece of business...

A 43km timed segment, affectionately dubbed β€œThe Ringwood Roubaix”, began at the 21km mark. It gave the flat-chat crew one final chance to pump out the watts, seek a smooth line and put time on the board in the battle for GC.

For the cruisers, it was one last dance with the desert before returning to asphalt and rolling into the local watering hole.

At the finish line, all riders came together like a big family for high-fives, fresh ales and tales that are still getting taller with every b**r!

Huge CONGRATULATIONS to the entire field for taking on this slightly hare-brained concept of ours. It’s terrain that would make most mere mortals squirm, but you handled it like pros and should all be proud!

Finally, a HUGE THANK YOU for your good humour, pig-headed determination and adaptability! Toughing it out is one thing. Doing it with a smile on your face is something else entirely!

FINAL RESULTS:
STAGE 4 - FEMALE
Bek GRATTON 1:14:19

STAGE 4 - MALE
Jack BRAND 1:09:46

𝐀𝐧𝐝 𝐑𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐑𝐞 𝐟𝐒𝐧𝐚π₯ 𝐆𝐂 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐒𝐧𝐠𝐬:

FINAL GC - FEMALE
1st: Elizabeth NUSPAN 6:22:48
2nd: Bek GRATTON 6:43:55
3rd: Bridget LESTER 7:32:32

FINAL GC - MALE
1st: Jack BRAND 6:07:01
2nd: James MORRIS 6:08:52
3rd: Ian MCKELLOW 6:24:25

Full results here: https://gravelmuster.rapidascent.com.au/2026-results/

Thanks again, everyone. (Now let’s get to that post-race buffet!)

Sunburnt country, one gravel road at a time.Stage 3 of the Shimano Gravel Muster served up the kind of scenery that make...
22/08/2026

Sunburnt country, one gravel road at a time.

Stage 3 of the Shimano Gravel Muster served up the kind of scenery that makes you forget you're mid-race and just start soaking it in.

The 90km stage left Hale River Homestead this morning, beginning with a 17km mass-start racing segment. The route passed Ambalindum Station and its working cattle yards, crossed dry riverbeds with the occasional sand trap, wove through shady gullies and climbed onto the Arltunga Plateau.

Then the timing stopped at the historic Arltunga ruins. Time to jump off the bike, explore Central Australia's oldest settlement and imagine what life would have been like during the gold rush in 1887!

Soon after we pulled into the Arltunga Bush Pub for morning smoke'o where the coffee machine was running almost as hot as the beating hearts of the riders.

From there, the desert kept shifting shape underneath us β€” new colours, new textures, new views around every bend. The cruisers took it slow and soaked it in together. The racers filed it away for later, heads down and ready for the next timing mat at the 37km mark.

The second racing segment ran for 30km to the 67km point near Trephina Gorge, a fittingly jaw-dropping backdrop for lunch on a jaw-dropping stage.

The final 20km cruise took the weary crew downhill to Ross River Homestead, their camp for the night, complete with a fully stocked bar, cafΓ©, pool and the chance to relax and chat some more.
Big congrats to the Stage 3 field.

Here are the results:
STAGE 3
Female: Elizabeth NUSPAN 1:32:42
Male: Jack BRAND 1:27:49

Here are the GC standings with one day to go:
GC - FEMALE
1st: Elizabeth NUSPAN 5:08.19
GC - MALE
1st: Jack BRAND 4:57:35

Full results here:
https://gravelmuster.rapidascent.com.au/2026-results/

Can't believe there's only one more day!

Address

Suite 2, 1-3 Gilbert Street
Torquay, VIC
3228

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5:30am
Tuesday 9am - 5:30am
Wednesday 9am - 5:30am
Thursday 9am - 5:30am
Friday 9am - 5:30am

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