ARWS Estoril Portugal XPD 2008 unveils its mysteries
Alexandre Silva / 04.10.2008
After an exhausting September, the organizers have managed to prepare the longest ever Adventure Race in Portugal. The complete route, including all mandatory and optional checkpoints will be over 700 km, and they are glad they decided to explore this area of their country and present the racers such a challenge!The landscape is beautiful, the terrain is tricky and in some parts physically demanding, in others it’s a complete “nightmare†and promises to test the racers mental toughness to the limit. However nobody needs to be afraid: the highest point of the race will be just 500m above the sea level but many times the racers will have the sensation of being really close to the sky (they will pass along the top of sea cliffs with 400m high vertical walls!).
According to the organizers the race is designed to offer the best territory for Adventure Race in the Estoril/Lisbon area and to help teams to discover the natural and cultural heritage of the area, ranging from the Jurassic era to the Palaeolithic, Roman, Arabic and Medieval times. This year the race will have checkpoints in Dinosaur footprints, in Phoenician pottery mills, in Roman swimming pools, in Stone Age sanctuaries, in Moorish Castles, on Medieval bridges and churches and the route will even take the teams to the real launching place of the great exploratory sea expeditions of the 15th Century discoverers.
Paddling with dolphins and flamingo’s, hiking with falcons and eagles, and biking with bulls and wild boar will be possible in the several natural parks on the route. Cohabitation with humans is quite natural for this wildlife due to fact that the lands crossed are inhabited for thousands of years. Nevertheless, caution and an “eco friendly†attitude are recommended.
From the organizers point of view, the BIG question all teams should address in this race is management: How can we manage to do it all? The race is planned to give the “trophy†to the faultless options; thus good judgment, focus and teamwork will be decisive to overcome the challenges of the course.
The weather is also a crucial factor, which had to be taken in consideration for the route layout. For instance, “rain†will speed the race in some places and almost stick the racers to the ground in others; careful choice will be needed when these situations occur. Fortunately, there are always small country roads available, which can speed everybody to the next Transition Zone.
