Thursday, May 31, 2007
Updates from the past 48 hours
30 May, 2000hrs GMT - Dalwhinnie
Shortly after 6am today at TA4, mixed Hong Kong/Singapore team TNF
Greater China withdrew from the short course of the Adventure Racing
World Chamiponship. At that point, they had been racing for more
than 3 days (including the prologue stage) through some of the most
challenging terrain of the western Highlands of Scotland.
Speculation abounds. Stuart had had a good block of sleep at TA3
after battling the sleepmonsters on the 140km-long bike ride prior;
Stone was cold, cold cold from the ride, but had battled on
stoically; Esther was worried about her knee possibly playing up on
the 30+ km hike through the track-less Monadliath mountain range;
and Ryan was perhaps the most chipper/alert of the team at TA3.
The reason for TNF Greater China pulling out of the race are unclear
at this point. But what is clear that as the race progresses and the
weather closes in on the course, teams have started to succumb to
exposure and accumulating fatigue.
Will keep you lot informed as soon as i find out more, trying to
phone Esther now.
May 30, 2059hrs GMT – The Inn, Dalwhinnie, Scotland
Weather woes – just another typical day in Scotland
The past 24 hours have revealed the true extent to which weather can
compound the difficulties of the epic race route that is the
Adventure Racing World Championship here in Scotland.
Temperatures remained in the single digits for most part of Tuesday.
That infamous hallmark of Wilderness ARC events – the water jump –
was the bane of the lead full-course teams in the hunt for top
places. Virtually all teams stripped naked for the jump in order to
preserve their cycling attire for the remainder of the 140km-long
ride to TA3. Other teams decided to receive the penalty of 30
minutes added time per racer rather: a small price to pay when
measured against the risk of possible hypothermia.
Further down the route, safety crews closed down the canyoning
section on Tuesday evening as water levels swelled to unsafe levels.
On the ascending and multi-pitch abseil section at Moy, high winds
made for bitterly cold conditions on the rocky ridges and crags, and
officials closed that section down only a few hours ago. The few
teams that got through have pushed on to the settlement of
Dalwhinnie.
Here, respite from the weather beckons – in the form of the hotel
just a stone’s throw from TA6, the start of the 65km kayak stage.
Several teams have pulled into the hotel - The Inn - in various
states of fatigue and hunger:
- Jari Kirkland of Salomon/Crested Butte has just recovered
from the edge of hypothermia after spending some time in front of
the hand dryer machine in the ladies’ room.
- Spanish squad Buff Coolmax had a relaxing pub meal,
complete with beer, before heading out again. I lent team captain
Emma Roca some loose change to pay for some hot drinks and a giant
cookie - which she has promised to pay me back at the post-race
festivities!
- Bjurfors had a pasta feast in pretty much the same fashion
- Team Sole has changed into some warm transition apparel and
are currently deciding what their next plan of action will be
But for the teams at the very pointy end of the field, the heat of
competition continues to be sustained. Team Nike has kicked into an
extra gear on the 65 km long kayak/portage leg, and has overtaken
Wilsa/ Helly Hansen. Orion, an extremely strong team on the water,
is currently making their move against Wilsa too, as will Balance
Vector, another Kiwi squad with strong paddlers.
A quick update. Balance Vector's Nathan Fa-avae has fired off an e-
mail from a castle next to the loch they are paddling. The gist of
the e-mail is that Richard Ussher is hypothermic from exposure on
the kayak section. Currently sleeping and regaining his core body
temperature in the castle, Richard's ability to finish the race
remains a question mark at this point. They are encouraged by fellow
Kiwi team Orion's effort to bring the fight to the frontrunners,
Wilsa Helly Hansen and Nike, as the race enters its fourth day.
Over here at The Inn at Dalwhinnie, Petri Forsman from Team Sole is
currently undergoing medical treatment. In te hunt for a top finish
amongst the world's best teams, the stoic Finn has battled strongly
as one with his American and Canadian team mates - but the effects
of nearly 4 days of continuous racing are showing.
Esther's team still can't be reached by phone... am still tying.
Wilson
Scotland
P.S:
Balance Vector and Orion just got handed more penalties for taking
unauthorized shortcuts on the ascending/abseil section. So really,
what's new?
Shortly after 6am today at TA4, mixed Hong Kong/Singapore team TNF
Greater China withdrew from the short course of the Adventure Racing
World Chamiponship. At that point, they had been racing for more
than 3 days (including the prologue stage) through some of the most
challenging terrain of the western Highlands of Scotland.
Speculation abounds. Stuart had had a good block of sleep at TA3
after battling the sleepmonsters on the 140km-long bike ride prior;
Stone was cold, cold cold from the ride, but had battled on
stoically; Esther was worried about her knee possibly playing up on
the 30+ km hike through the track-less Monadliath mountain range;
and Ryan was perhaps the most chipper/alert of the team at TA3.
The reason for TNF Greater China pulling out of the race are unclear
at this point. But what is clear that as the race progresses and the
weather closes in on the course, teams have started to succumb to
exposure and accumulating fatigue.
Will keep you lot informed as soon as i find out more, trying to
phone Esther now.
May 30, 2059hrs GMT – The Inn, Dalwhinnie, Scotland
Weather woes – just another typical day in Scotland
The past 24 hours have revealed the true extent to which weather can
compound the difficulties of the epic race route that is the
Adventure Racing World Championship here in Scotland.
Temperatures remained in the single digits for most part of Tuesday.
That infamous hallmark of Wilderness ARC events – the water jump –
was the bane of the lead full-course teams in the hunt for top
places. Virtually all teams stripped naked for the jump in order to
preserve their cycling attire for the remainder of the 140km-long
ride to TA3. Other teams decided to receive the penalty of 30
minutes added time per racer rather: a small price to pay when
measured against the risk of possible hypothermia.
Further down the route, safety crews closed down the canyoning
section on Tuesday evening as water levels swelled to unsafe levels.
On the ascending and multi-pitch abseil section at Moy, high winds
made for bitterly cold conditions on the rocky ridges and crags, and
officials closed that section down only a few hours ago. The few
teams that got through have pushed on to the settlement of
Dalwhinnie.
Here, respite from the weather beckons – in the form of the hotel
just a stone’s throw from TA6, the start of the 65km kayak stage.
Several teams have pulled into the hotel - The Inn - in various
states of fatigue and hunger:
- Jari Kirkland of Salomon/Crested Butte has just recovered
from the edge of hypothermia after spending some time in front of
the hand dryer machine in the ladies’ room.
- Spanish squad Buff Coolmax had a relaxing pub meal,
complete with beer, before heading out again. I lent team captain
Emma Roca some loose change to pay for some hot drinks and a giant
cookie - which she has promised to pay me back at the post-race
festivities!
- Bjurfors had a pasta feast in pretty much the same fashion
- Team Sole has changed into some warm transition apparel and
are currently deciding what their next plan of action will be
But for the teams at the very pointy end of the field, the heat of
competition continues to be sustained. Team Nike has kicked into an
extra gear on the 65 km long kayak/portage leg, and has overtaken
Wilsa/ Helly Hansen. Orion, an extremely strong team on the water,
is currently making their move against Wilsa too, as will Balance
Vector, another Kiwi squad with strong paddlers.
A quick update. Balance Vector's Nathan Fa-avae has fired off an e-
mail from a castle next to the loch they are paddling. The gist of
the e-mail is that Richard Ussher is hypothermic from exposure on
the kayak section. Currently sleeping and regaining his core body
temperature in the castle, Richard's ability to finish the race
remains a question mark at this point. They are encouraged by fellow
Kiwi team Orion's effort to bring the fight to the frontrunners,
Wilsa Helly Hansen and Nike, as the race enters its fourth day.
Over here at The Inn at Dalwhinnie, Petri Forsman from Team Sole is
currently undergoing medical treatment. In te hunt for a top finish
amongst the world's best teams, the stoic Finn has battled strongly
as one with his American and Canadian team mates - but the effects
of nearly 4 days of continuous racing are showing.
Esther's team still can't be reached by phone... am still tying.
Wilson
Scotland
P.S:
Balance Vector and Orion just got handed more penalties for taking
unauthorized shortcuts on the ascending/abseil section. So really,
what's new?
