I felt that off the back of yesterdays post I would give you what I consider to be my only really hardcore event I have gone to in recent years – the Australasian Team Challenge. Before I get to stuck in, here is a link to the site
Essentially, 6 to 8 teams (one from each state or territory) get together once a year with a strict format for armies and battle it out for the bragging rights of being the champions. I won’t get into the complexities (at least this post!) of how the team works, how matches are organised or anything like that – what I wanted to cover was WHY I enjoyed this event so much.
I have qualified for the Western Australian team almost every year since the ATC kicked off. Through a series of unlucky timing I only got to go to the event for the first time in 2014 – as the team captain. I had played in a team event of the same format before, the European Team Challenge in 2012, as part of the Australian Team in our first showing. We did ok and won best sports that year but more importantly, it gave me a taste of team events.
The ATC is the one time of the year when the gloves come off and you make the dirtiest lists you can (within the restrictions of course) – you can really let your neck beard grow! For me – this is the pinnacle of competition because EVERYONE on EVERY team has the same mindset. We all go in and play hard but fair and go for the gold.
For some, the very idea of this has probably made them mentally recoil – why would you do that? Because simply, this is competition at its peak for 40k where 48 to 64 guys get together and smash face on the table! No holding back, no soft scores, 40k to the core. That’s not going to be for everyone I know but that’s just the juicy core. The other facet – is the trip itself.
For those not in the know – Australia is BIG. Really big. To get from Perth (where I am) to Sydney is around 3,900 kilometres! That’s roughly equivalent of New York to Los Angeles. So for me to get together with 7 of my mates and travel to the other side of the country on a boys weekend – just awesome! That social aspect of the event can not be understated – its one of the main reasons I go and I think when the team is coherent and gets along, the weekend is that much better.
We fly the in the day before, get 2 days of gaming (along with much drinking) and then fly home again. Factor in accommodation, taxis, the army you are taking and then food and drinks and its a very expensive weekend all things considered.
And its worth every cent.