Following months of desktop research, stakeholder engagement and detailed planning, we’ve been on the ground across South West Western Australia, exploring the landscapes and bringing together the course for Legend 2027.
From spectacular coastlines and towering forests to exciting opportunities for packrafting and mountain biking, we’re enjoying the challenge of creating an expedition that makes the most of this extraordinary region.
We’ve also got some exciting developments on the race village front, with more news coming soon.
Same, but very different
Having grown up on the coast, I’ve particularly enjoyed exploring the beaches and coastline of the South West. The colour of the water is extraordinary, and the ocean and beaches will certainly feature strongly in Legend.
But it’s the bush that has perhaps surprised me most. There’s something familiar about the Australian landscape here, yet it’s remarkably different from the East Coast. The towering forests, changing vegetation and seemingly untouched wilderness have been a real privilege to explore.
Despite being a well-visited region, there’s still an incredible sense of wildness out here.
And while the coast will be a major feature, teams certainly shouldn’t expect an entirely coastal expedition.
Course design and continuous improvement
Course design is one of the most enjoyable parts of delivering adventure races. The challenge is bringing together proper navigation, extraordinary locations, physical challenges and genuine adventure into a course that is both demanding and rewarding.
Over the past decade, we’ve learned an enormous amount from competitors, volunteers, other race directors and the wider adventure racing community. The Japanese concept of Kaizen, or continuous improvement, is something we strongly believe in.
Legend 2027 will bring together those lessons, and that philosophy will continue across all our Wild&Co events in 2027.
The South West already hosts some fantastic running and mountain biking events, with an incredible network of MTB trails that will certainly feature in our course. But we’re not looking to replicate existing events. We want to connect these landscapes in ways that even experienced Cape to Cape riders or Margaret River ultrarunners might never have considered.
And yes, we’ve got some proper adventure planned too!
Packrafts are in!
We can now confirm that packrafts will feature in Legend 2027.
The region’s waterways offer some fantastic opportunities to combine trekking and paddling, creating interesting route choices and some memorable adventures.
Many teams already own packrafts, and for those who don’t, there are excellent hire options available. We’ll share more about equipment requirements and hire opportunities as planning progresses.
Building the race village in Busselton
With Busselton already confirmed as race HQ, we’re now finalising arrangements with a local accommodation and headquarters provider.
Based on feedback from previous editions of Legend, we’re placing a real emphasis on creating a central race village, bringing teams, supporters, volunteers and officials together in one location.
With easy access from Perth and Busselton Margaret River Airport, we’re working towards a convenient, welcoming event hub with a fantastic community atmosphere and a spectacular finish-line experience.
We’re excited about what we’re putting together and expect to announce the accommodation and race village arrangements in the coming weeks, not months.
What’s next?
Course planning and local stakeholder engagement will continue as we refine the details, with some of our more adventurous ideas remaining under wraps for now.
One thing is certain. South West Western Australia is going to make a fantastic setting for Legend 2027, and we can’t wait to share it with you.
