World First IN Noosa Ultra Trail
2023 is the Year of Accessible Tourism in Queensland and Noosa is leading the charge with a world first for one of our newest events – the Noosa Ultra Trail.
In its second year the Noosa Ultra Trail is on track to be the biggest trail running event in Queensland with over 1200 runners hitting the trails in March plus the first in the world to offer a modified track for wheelchair athletes.
Natasha Price, an elite adaptive athlete, Queensland State Champion, international marathon winner and Gold Coast Women of the Year 2020 finalist will make history when she completes the Noosa Ultra Trail on 25 March. On Monday she did a recce of the rough terrain in Tewantin National Park with coach Adam Sheppherd in preparation for this world first in sport.
“I am so excited – these endurance events tend to have a really fantastic atmosphere and I think there is going to be a lot of excitement around seeing people with disabilities on this type of course,” Natasha said.
Natasha will complete a modified version of the 15km trail through the Tewantin National Park. Coach Adam (a wheelchair user his entire life) said she is one of the most dedicated athletes he has ever met.
“Tash is strong willed and always wants to up the training routine.”
Natasha is a truly inspiring athlete – she’s in a wheelchair but also vision impaired (legally blind in one eye and low vision in the other). It is her coach’s job to guide her through the terrain with vocal instructions to avoid rocks, sticks and other obstacles so the team is very tight but also a bit cheeky.
When I asked Tash if her coach ever slows her down she said, “all the time.”
Acting Noosa Mayor Frank Wilkie and 2023 Noosa Ultra Trail entrant said the event is important because Noosa Council aspires to convert the Noosa Biosphere Trail network into a network of tracks and trails that are able to host world class events.
The whole world will take notice when Natasha and Adam hit the hills next month in their wheelchairs for the first time in a trail event like this.
Event organiser Nick Stewart said the participation by Tash and Adam in the Noosa Ultra-Trail is an accolade and shows great character for them to come and take this challenge on.
“We are grateful, humbled and excited to have them participate in this event. We hope in years to come we can expand the course to allow wheelchair athletes access to even more trails.”
Register now for what will be a sell-out race at the NOOSA ULTRA TRAIL!
There are six distances to choose from – 15km, 25km, 30km, 50km, 80km and 100km that take in the Noosa hinterland utilising the Noosa Biosphere Trail around Tewantin, Pomona, Lake MacDonald, Kin Kin, Cooran and Cooroy. Natasha and Adam and any other wheelchair participants will take on the 15km modified track.
Spectators will not want to miss this moment in sporting history and are encouraged to attend the Noosa Ultra Trail between 23 – 26 March 2023.
