Fulda Tyres Arctic Challenge
To the Arctic Circle
06.02.2005
The fifth and sixth days of the 2005 Fulda Challenge consisted of three more exciting events as the eight remaining teams (UK and USA are no longer competing) drove 536km north from Whitehorse to Dawson City. An incredible place that has preserved its past, the city is the heart of the Klondike Gold Rush. Team event: Tyre changing, Five Finger Rapids
The male competitors got the day’s initial event underway. To start with each competitor had to loosen the nuts on one of the Toyota RAV4’s Fulda tyres and jack the car up. Once the wheel had been completely removed they had to run for approximately 100 metres before returning to refit the tyre and lower the jack.
The female athletes had to complete the same task but had a shorter distance to run. The teams with the fastest combined time collected the ten points. The maximum score was awarded to Austria, followed by the German celebrity team in second place and the Italian team in third.
Event 8: Bridge Climbing, Pelly Crossing
In the afternoon, competitors gathered below the bridge at Pelly Crossing on the frozen Pelly River. Home of the Selkirk First Nation’s Heritage Centre, Pelly is located halfway between Dawson City and Whitehorse.
This physically, demanding event required skill and strength. Initially, each team member had to climb ten metres up a free-hanging rope ladder onto the bridge. Then, holding onto the handrails, they had to shuffle across the bridge before descending down a knotted rope.
In the women’s section Helge Vurr took maximum points for the Dutch team followed closely by Judith Lanthaler of Italy. It was also victory for the Dutch in the men’s race as Pieter Groen picked up a further ten points for the team.
With temperatures of just below -50°C, organisers of the challenge made the decision that all teams would stay in a hotel overnight in preparation for the next day’s half-marathon.
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