Captivating adventure talks at FEAT

Adventures progress from planning to execution. The expedition takes place and at the end, successful or not, the adventurer returns home. Then what? There’s the struggle to fit in to ‘normal society’ again, to resume work and family responsibilities, deal with shifted priorities and the persistent feeling of “I must be going mad!”. As one adventurer says, “No one really understands what you have endured or achieved and there is always a story that is never told because of this”. At the third edition of FEAT, in October, psychologist Gerard Finnemore tells this story.

A fast-paced and inspirational event, FEAT is an evening of time-limited talks where each speaker has only seven minutes for their presentation. Talk topics presented by the nine speakers are diverse but all related to the expedition and adventure sports genres. FEAT is an annual event.

“I’ve loved every talk at the previous two FEAT evenings and I’m already looking forward to this one coming up in October; presentation topics are diverse, entertaining, informative and captivating,” says FEAT director, Lisa de Speville.

FEAT Jo’burg also welcomes ‘weatherman’ Simon Gear, who links meteorology to the adventure environment and big-wave surfer Grant Baker. “And I love the story of novice adventurer Dan Skinstad paddling around Iceland with seasoned adventurer Riaan Manser,” says de Speville. “I can easily imagine convincing someone to join me on a multiday run or bike adventure; but getting a novice, who has to learn how to paddle for the expedition, to agree to a 5000 kilometre kayaking trip around an island with turbulent conditions and on near-freezing water... Lovely!”

Skinstad and Manser are currently on this ‘Around Iceland on inspiration’ expedition. Poor conditions have slowed their progress dramatically and the trip will take longer than the originally anticipated four months, which would have had them back in August. “I’m really hoping that Dan makes it back in time for FEAT in October,” says de Speville.

Earlier this year FEAT introduced its ‘FEAT Award’, which celebrates an adventurous spirit by contributing up to R10,000 to make an adventure possible. Used wisely, this money can go a long way. After six weeks on the road, around-Africa cyclist, Charmaine Dudley had spent only R1000.

“The Award winner will be the one with an original, captivating and inspirational adventure concept,” de Speville adds. The Award applies no restriction to age of applicant, destination or duration of the expedition. The application form for the FEAT Award is available on the FEAT website and entries must be submitted by 29 August 2011.

Other speakers at FEAT Jo’burg include sports scientist Ross Tucker and adventurers Kobus Bresler and Kim van Kets.

FEAT takes place in Jo’burg, on Thursday, 6 October 2011 at 18h30, at The Alexander Theatre in Braamfontein. Tickets are available through Computicket from Monday, 1 August 2011. Tickets are R140.00 per person. R5 from each ticket is donated to the >FreeMe Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre

FEAT is made possible by its sponsors – Black Diamond, CAPESTORM, Hi-Tec and 32Gi. These companies also support adventurers, making expeditions possible.

For more information, visit the FEAT website at www.featsa.co.za and FEAT page on Facebook at www.facebook.com/featsa>. Photos and videos from the two previous FEAT events, held in Jo’burg and Cape Town, can be viewed online.