Vulcania AR - ARWS S. American Championship
The Vulcania Adventure Race Hosts the First Adventure Racing World Series - South American Championships
Press Release / 04.02.2022
Adventure, Soul and Passion at a Gorgeous Venue and on an Amazing Course
After 2 years promoting the first ever circuit for Adventure Racing across South America, this past weekend the Vulcania AR in Chile finally took its place as the Championship race, following frustrating delays due to Covid.
It all started when the ARWS South America team introduced a 5 race calendar in March 2020.
The first round was in Paraguay at La Gesta in January 2021, then Desafío Ecotrail in Brazil in July 2021, Desafío de campeones in Uruguay in September and then the Tango AR in Argentina in November. The championship final was supposed to happen in late November, but was postponed due to COVID.
With a much charged calendar of competitions for the region, January was the date they picked to reschedule, crossing fingers and hoping for better developments regarding Covid. And it got worst.
Chile closed all ground borders and airfares skyrocketed, making it almost impossible for Argentineans and Uruguayans to get to the amazing outdoor destination of Pucón.
Chilean border control restrictions were definitely the first Adventure obstacle for athletes and staff.
Just 48 hours prior to the race, two of the Brazilian teams didn't know if they could make it.
Guillerme Pahl from Brazil Multisport couldn't recover from COVID, while Camila Nicolau tested negative 24hs before her flight. Thiago Bonini joined the team to replace Pahl.
Ze Brou from Brou Aventuras couldn't get a travel pass and solved the problem by taking a much later flight and climbing into a bus to arrive at Pucón just ten minutes before the rafting prologue!
Heart, Soul and Passion
Despite all the obstacles, Race Director Nelson Yañez and his team delivered an amazing race that marked the comeback of this very experienced management team and showed the huge potential they have to offer.
They picked the Adventure capital of Chile, the gorgeous Pucón, surrounded by three volcanoes in a region with 134 volcanoes.
An hour of guided rafting on the Trancura River was a perfect prologue on Thursday, ahead of 2 days spent on an amazing course designed and tested by Nelson, his former team mates and his wife.
And you could almost touch the heart, soul and passion in every detail.
Nelson's life partner cooked for all racers, Bárbara (daughter) was managing the HQ and socials, Claudio (son) was in charge of logistics, setting up tents and gazebos. And all former athletes and good friends of Nelson we're in every detail, and at every TA.
On Thursday afternoon, all of the teams gathered in a lovely campsite near 2 rivers where the organization had prepared tents and tables so everybody could be comfortable to prepare the race and to do the gear check conducted by ARWS referee Alen Pujol and RD Nelson Yañez.
At night came the briefing where maps were delivered and teams found out that the volcano trek was on Sollipulli, a massive 2600m summit, surrounded by many small hills and with a 3km glacier on the top!
A Course Amongst the Volcanoes
On Friday, at 7.30am teams went on a controlled 13k mountain bike section to a beach in Lake Caburgua, where the official start line was set up.
At 9.30am, in misty weather, teams paddled 16kms to the north end of the lake, where they undertook a 5km rogaine and then headed back by the west coast, completing 23kms.
At TA 1 the leading team was Brazil Multisport, followed by a pack of teams lead by locals OT Trail Curdos, just 22 minutes behind. This local team was a surprise but also has an amazing story. One most athletes would envy. Veteran racer Danilo Curaqueo finally got to be in a South American final with a team he developed over many years! He was joined by his son Danilo, his daughter Karin and his son in law Pedro. All of them are great navigators.
The next 70k MTB section had many difficulties as teams rode a gravel ATV route and at 10pm Brazil Multisport got to TA2. Just 10 behind them, local couple Chile AR was pushing them hard, and an hour later the pack arrived with BROU, Merrell and BOA.
The monster trekking leg was 45k with most of the checkpoints on top of hills, so the added attitude was quite significant. During a cold night, the stars were the main highlight, but an incredible show was something most athletes referred to: Elon Musk’s Starlink SatelliteTtrain made them think their sleepmonsters were in the sky!
Brazil Multisport reached the top of the volcano just at sunrise, and they were rewarded with a magnificent view of the Andes and the volcanoes nearby.
At noon, they got to TA3 and only 15 minutes later the couple Chile AR arrived. One hour behind the lead, local team, Merrell Chile, with experienced Ecuadorian racer Dani Costa, made it to the TA.
A kayak leg and a buoy rafting were cancelled due to low levels in the river, and at Mariñanco Camp, the finish line was set up to receive teams after a 63km mountain bike stage.
Brazil Multisport – the New ARWS South American Champions
At 6pm on Saturday, BRAZIL MULTISPORT was first team over the finish line to claim the first ever South American Championship of the Adventure Racing World Series, after leading the rankings by winning two regional rounds!
They were followed by local couple Chile AR, and the team’s podium was completed with Merrell Chile and BROU Aventuras from Brazil.
Through the night, many other teams arrived and 1 hour before the award ceremony Izzan Invictus from local town Pucón arrived. Brazilian athlete Jussara Natalino gave her 3rd place medal to rookie Silvana Gutierrez, who had finished her first ever AR, pushing though rain and cold during the last night to finish in nearly 50hs!
All racers and staff were part of a very emotional ceremony in which the Yañez family was appreciated for the effort, heart and passion they put into every detail of the race.
(Press note: the first day of the race was Nelson and Sole’s wedding anniversary and the next day was Claudio (Nelson’s son) birthday.)
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