33,000 kilometers, 12 months, 7 states and heaps of adventure activities...finally it's time to announce the winners of the Van-Tastic Adventures roadtrip competition.
Congratulations Willie Concepción and Andrew Adams, the Van-Tastic Adventures Northern Territory roadtrip team!
The American comedy duo spent 6 weeks motoring through the Northern Territory - entertaining us with their antics throughout the roadtrip. From flirting with kangaroos to alleged UFO sightings, they explored the all that the legendary outback of Australia had to offer.
Willie Concepción is originally from Miami, Florida and Andrew Adams from Baltimore, Maryland. The two met at university where together they honed their filmmaking and directing skills, as well as their comedic talent. However, it was their passion for travel and adventure that led them to apply for the WorldNomads.com Van-Tastic Adventures competition.
What do they win?
Seven teams of travellers from across the world were in competition for the title of the ultimate Aussie roadtrip. It was a close vote, but Willie and Andrew are taking home the prize - and the title.
They truly captured the spirit of a roadtrip during their six weeks in the van, and in their winning video: How to Survive in the Northern Territory.
They will be taking home the $10,000 cash prize as well as two flights with Virgin Blue.
Their Reaction to Winning
Willie is working at as a
camp counselor; he’s not allowed to answer his phone. When we call to tell him
the news, he sneaks into the nearest closet to talk. Andrew is at the Flaming
Lips concert in Central Park. When we call him, he runs through the crowd to
where he can hear better (as the band is coming out on stage in
human-size hamster balls).
The realization comes in bursts.
First it's overwhelming. Then confusing. Do people realize what won? Our videos
had fart jokes in them, and highlighted playground games like
"Safety." But mostly I feel
humbled and incredibly joyous that people enjoyed watching.' - Willie
'It's affirming, really, which is what's most valuable to me. Willie and I both
chose to study arts in college, knowing full well how low the rate of success
is in such fields. So to earn such an amazing opportunity in the first place,
and then to know that our work touched people in such a way and was actually
entertaining -- it means a lot. It lets us know that we didn't make a mistake,
and that we were right to study what we love.'- Andrew
What will they do with all that cash?
'I was about ready to quit acting because I wasn't sure that
my career was going anywhere. Then this news came. And now I KNOW that this is
the only thing I want to do with my life. So I've decided to save the money and
use it to make a feature film.' – Willie
'Together we're working on a script, a dark comedy that we can make on a super
low budget. Using the award money, we're hoping to get a nice camera, to move
to New York and get involved in the comedy and film scenes there, and to start
funding a film. Basically, we're hoping to use the money to launch careers in
film. We're also hoping to use the recognition in pitches to other tourism
bureaus, ideally ones that would fund more travel and more videography. - Andrew
Just winning the road trip was a dream come true, but now all the additional
rewards can make all the rest of our dreams a reality, too. This award has
rejuvenated us and reaffirmed all the risky decisions we've made up to this
point. It's an honor. Thank you so much for taking a risk on two wacky guys
that live their lives by the "Yes And" rules of improvisation. And
we're really sorry about all the fart jokes.' -
Willie & Andrew
Roadtrip Adventure Pack winner
Just for voting and leaving a roadtrip tip, punters were entered to win a roadtrip adventure pack including: iPod Touch 32GB$100, iTunes voucher, MacBook Pro 15", iPhone 32GB, Canon Legria HF20 video camera, WorldNomads.com adventure travel kit
The winner of the pack is Naomi Edmondson! Here is our favourite, and quite original roadtrip tip:
'For a cooked breakfast where ever you are-wrap
some bacon in tin foil and wrap around some pipes that get really hot under the
bonnet. Start driving and after a short while put the fans on in the car.Once
you can really smell bacon coming through the vents it cooked- voila bacon
sarnies on the road!' - Naomi
Thank you!
WorldNomads.com would like to thank our travel community for your interest in the Van-Tastic Adventures competition. From your video applications to your votes, your support has helped to showcase all of the great adventures and roadtrip opportunities in Australia.
Hope to see you on the road!
