Stewart Bennett

Stew is a 24 year old Science Graduate of the University of Tasmania, currently studying post graduate teaching specializing in secondary school science education. Stew is a scholarship holder with the Tasmanian Institute of Sport and a member of the Derwent Canoe Club, based in Hobart, Tasmania, Australia.

Stew began kayaking as an 11 year old student of Devonport High school in Tasmania and experienced success as a junior winning the U16, U18 and U22 Australian Wild Water Championships as his paddling developed. Following his first taste of the international completion at the 2000 Junior Wild Water Championships in Italy as a 16 year old, Stew returned to the international scene two years later finishing 9th in the Junior Wild Water Championships in Wales, the highlight of his junior paddling.

Following some time out to complete his Science Degree including a year studying and living in British Columbia, Canada Stew returned to Australia and resumed his training aiming for national selection and international competition. Finishing 3rd in the 140km Avon Descent in August 2007 signaled a return to competitive form, this time as a senior and provided a taste of things to come for Stew as an elite Wild Water competitor.

Stew qualified for the Australian Wild Water Team in December 2007 and was selected to compete in the 2008 World Wild Water Championships in Italy, and for the 2008 Wild Water World Cup Series. This tour was a steep learning curve for Stew in his first taste of senior international competition and a wonderful success for the young athlete.

Stew’s results in Europe this year are as follows:

- World Wild Water Championship – 21st (Ivrea, Italy)
- World Wild Water Teams Championship – 5th (Ivrea, Italy)
- World Wild Water Sprint Championship – 35th (Ivrea, Italy)
- World Wild Water Teams Sprint Championship – 8th (Ivrea, Italy)

- Wild Water World Cup Rapid Sprint – 33rd
- Wild Water World Cup Classic Race – 14th
- Wild Water World Cup Final Rapid Sprint – 31st
- Wild Water World Cup Final Classic – 9th

Stew is currently completing the final semester of his teaching degree with the University of Tasmania and setting his sights on the 2009 Wild Water World Cup to be held in his home state Tasmania and looking ahead to the 2010 World Wild Water Championships in Spain.

Tanya Faux

In 2007 Tanya was awarded Australian Female paddler of the year and received the International renowned Everest Award, also gaining the sliver medal for the 2007 World Freestyle Kayaking Championships.

Incredible in 2008 Tanya became the first female EVER to lead the longest self supported whitewater kayaking expedition. Tanya and her team spent 18 days in the remote and widely pristine Kimberley region. Tanya has unlocked the beauty of the Moran River and Mitchell River systems. Not only was the expedition for her thirst for adventure, but also to promote the SAVE THE KIMBERLEY campaign.

“The river is my home, my campaign, my teacher, my friend”

A few of Tanya's achievements include:

- 2007 Silver Medallist World Freestyle Kayaking Championships
- 2006 Nominated for Australian Female Athlete of the year
- 2006 World Cup Freestyle Champion
- 2005/06/07 Reno River Festival Champion
- 2005 Teva Cataract Adventure Festival – Boater Cross Champion

- 2007 First Decent – King Edwards River – Kimberley’s Australia
- 2005 First Decent – Onot River – Siberia - Russia
- 2003 First Decent – Moran River – Alpine National Park Australia

Dan Hall (Danimal)

Results for 'Danimal'

- Silver medal, Wildwater World Cup sprint race, Ivrea, Italy, June 2008
- 4th, Wildwater World Cup sprint race, Lofer, Austria, June 2008
- Silver medal, Wildwater World Cup sprint race, Ivrea, Italy, June 2007 (first ever Australian medal at an international wildwater race)
- 4th, Wildwater World Cup sprint race, Mezzana, Italy, June 2006
- 10 top 10 results at Wildwater World Cup races from 2004-2008
- Australian Extreme Kayak Champion 2005-present
- Australian Wildwater Kayak Champion 2003-present for all disciplines; sprint, classic and teams events
- Current record holder for the Franklin River (100km, 12.58 hours)
- Current record holder for Mersey wildwater course (13.04 minutes)
- Current record holder for the Leven wildwater course
- Numerous first descents in Australia and Canada
- Paddled and rafted throughout Australia and Europe, Canada, America, New Zealand and Japan

Ben Maynard

• 12th overall, 2008 Wildwater World Cup (Karlovy Vary, CZE and Lofer, AUT)
• 8th Sprint Teams, 2008 Wildwater World Championships (Ivrea, ITA)
• 5th Classic Teams, 2008 Wildwater World Championships (Ivrea, ITA)
• 2nd Individual head-to-head, 2007 Lea Xstream (Tasmania, AUS)
• 3rd Teams (with Tanya Faux), 2007 Lea Xstream (Tasmania, AUS)

Mountain Designs Team

2008

• 1st placed premier mixed team Adventure Race Qld (ARQ) Series
  • winners race 2 & 3
  • 2nd race 1 & 5 (Hells Bells 24hr)
  • 3rd race 4
• 1st placed premier mixed AND all males team in the Kathmandu Adventure Race, Sunshine Coast
• 1st place Qld State 8hr Rogaine Championships
• 1st place 8hr Upside-Down Rogaine, Qld
• 1st place 6hr Rogaine, Qld
• 3rd place 48hr Geoquest (Australia’s premier Adventure Race)

2007

• 3rd Geoquest 48hr Adventure Race
• Winner of Adventure Race Qld Series (1st Race 4, 2nd Race 1,2 & 5)
• Winner of pairs category in the Anaconda Adventure Race, Gold Coast
• 1st placed premier mixed team TEVA Championship Race (Lee memorial Trophy) and Race 2
• 1st mixed team in the 3hr Rogaine, Qld
• 2nd mixed team Kooralbyn 24hr Mountain Bike
• 2nd 8hr Upside-Down Rogaine, Qld
• 2nd Teva Series, Race 1
• DNF XPD World Series 10-day expedition race, Whitsundays, Australia

2006

• Winner of Geoquest 48hr Adventure Race
• Winner of Arrow 24hr Adventure Race
• 1st placed premier mixed team TEVA Series, Race 1 and 2
• 1st placed premier mixed team in the 2hr Adventure Racing QLD Series, Race 1
• 1st placed premier mixed team in the 8hr Adventure Racing QLD Series, Race 4
• 1st placed premier mixed team in the Kathmandu Adventure Race, Sunshine Coast
• 1st women's and men's team Kooralbyn 24hr Mountain Bike
• Winner 8hr Upside-Down Rogaine, Qld
• Winner of pairs category in the Anaconda Adventure Race, Gold Coast
• Gary placed 1st Mountain Bike Rogaine and QLD orienteering championships
• Brett is the 2006 male Winner of Noosa Enduro 100km Mountain Bike Race and placed 1st in the masters Mountain Bike State Cup, Rounds 1,2,3
• 2nd placed team Overall in the Adventure Racing QLD Series
• 2nd placed premier mixed team in the 3hr Adventure Racing QLD Series, Race 2
• 2nd placed premier mixed team in the 4hr Adventure Racing QLD Series, Race 3
• 2nd placed premier mixed team in the 24hr Adventure Racing QLD Series, Race 5 (Hells Bells)
• 2nd mixed team in the 3hr Rogaine, Qld
• 3rd placed premier mixed team in the Kathmandu Adventure Race, Gold Coast