The Pavilion entrance at Caoura Cliffs under an Arc'teryx sign, the forecourt wet from overnight rain

Arc'teryx × Bursty · 3 October 2026

The Descent.

Arc'teryx launched the Sylan 2 trail shoe with a run across the property, produced by Bursty.

Sylan 2 launch
11.5 km and 7.6 km courses

The brief

A shoe launch, run as a race.

Arc'teryx brought the Sylan 2 to Caoura Cliffs on Saturday 3 October 2026. Bursty produced the day: a launch in the Pavilion, two marked courses across the property, and a finish line on the lawn with the gorge behind it.

The field collected race packs in the Pavilion, started from the lawn and finished under the same timber arch. Ice baths and a meal cooked over fire were waiting at the end.

Mist came up out of the gorge during the morning and settled over much of the course.

The launch

The Pavilion carried the shoe.

The Arc'teryx mark hung over the entrance and was lit onto the floorboards under the lanterns. The Sylan 2 stood on timber plinths, and a DJ played while the field collected race packs and laced up.

The sole of a Sylan 2 trail shoe, mid-stride on the Pavilion floor

Hands holding an orange Sylan 2, the Arc'teryx bird drawn across its upper

Sylan 2 shoes displayed on timber plinths branded with the Arc'teryx bird

A DJ's hands on the decks inside the Pavilion

The field

On the lawn, before the start.

Portraits were made a few metres from the start line, with the fog sitting on the paddocks behind.

A runner in a patterned bandana and rain shell, fog behind

A runner with two long braids looking into the camera, the lawn soft behind her

A runner in a faded cap and a beaded necklace, laughing

A runner with folded arms in a grey cap, the paddock and fog behind

A runner in a black cap and red jacket, mist on the treeline behind

The start

Out across the lawn.

The timber arch stood on the lawn in front of the Pavilion as both start and finish. One photograph under it, then the field went out across the lawn and into the paddocks.

The timber Arc'teryx arch standing empty on the lawn before the start, fog lifting off the gorge behind

The whole field gathered under a timber A-frame arch on the lawn, the gorge in cloud behind

Runners pressed together at the start under the Arc'teryx arch

The course

Two courses inside the boundary.

Both courses stayed inside the property's boundary and never crossed a public road. The shorter course shares most of its ground with the longer one.

Bush singletrack, a rock creek crossing, open tussock paddock and the farm road, all of it marked the day before.

Long course: 11.5 km; 295 m of climbing
Community course: 7.6 km; 167 m of climbing

A path through tall eucalypts with fog closing the forest in on every side

A runner splashing through a rock creek crossing in the bush

A runner on the wet farm road as it curves away through open paddock under heavy cloud

A runner stepping between boulders at the creek, ferns and gums around her

Two runners coming through misty bush over a carpet of leaf litter

A runner blurred against open tussock grass

Three runners in silhouette on the crest of a paddock under a grey sky

The bell

A bell at the edge.

Out on the course, a brass bell carrying the Arc'teryx bird hung from a timber post at the escarpment edge. Runners rang it as they passed, at times in fog thick enough to hide the gorge.

A timber post branded Arc'teryx at the escarpment edge, a brass bell hanging from it, cloud filling the gorge

The brass bell against white fog, the Arc'teryx bird on its side

The brass bell close up, the gorge and the ranges beyond

A runner reaching for the bell at the edge, fog where the gorge should be

The finish

Back to the arch.

The finish came back to the lawn in front of the Pavilion, under the arch the field had left from.

A runner coming through the timber arch to the finish under a storm sky, cloud sitting in the gorge behind

A runner crossing the finish under a banner reading The Descent

Two runners jumping under the arch at the finish

A finisher grinning into the camera with a thumbs up

Two finishers embracing on the lawn, the ranges behind

Two finishers celebrating with arms raised on the terrace

A runner crossing the lawn at Caoura Cliffs, mist rising out of the gorge below the ranges

After

Ice on the terrace, food off the fire.

Ice baths were set out on the terrace facing the view. The meal was cooked over open fire and served in the Pavilion.

A row of ice baths under white umbrellas on the terrace, the ranges and low cloud beyond

A runner leaning back in an ice bath on the terrace

Racks of ribs charring on a grill over the fire

Two chefs working in smoke under a grill rack

A runner holding up the brass bell inside the Pavilion, the glass and the ranges behind

What it took

The property behind the run.

Exclusive use

No other booking on the property on the day, with the Pavilion, the course and the escarpment held for one event.

Courses on private land

Two courses set inside the boundary with the event's course team, walked, marked and signed the day before.

Marshals and vehicles

Trail marshals from the venue on the course, and drivers with vehicles moving content teams around it during the run.

The event

Who made it.

Client: Arc'teryx
Production: Bursty
Venue: Caoura Cliffs
Content: Ed Bourmier · Steve Baccon · Marty Rowney · Bursty

Bring a launch here

Launches, trail events and campaign shoots.

The Pavilion, the farm roads and the escarpment are held for one brand at a time. Tell us what you are making and we will tell you whether the property suits it.

Send a brief More on brand activations

Site visits

Come and stand on the cliffs.

Site visits run by appointment and take about an hour. Bring your questions.

Book a site visit Or send us an enquiry