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Final two teams finish…course closed

Susan McKenzie / 19.05.2005

Thirteen teams began the race, and seven finished.

This morning, around six-thirty, Team Nomad crossed the finish line in last place. Officially, the course was supposed to close at ten p.m. last night, but race director Mikael Nordstrom extended the deadline to allow the novice American team to finish ranked.

The Americans came in almost ten hours behind sixth-place SOLE Custom Footbeds, and 26 hours after first place Cross Sportswear. Even as they fell further and further behind the pack, the team never considered quitting.

“We talked at the beginning of the race, and we all agreed that we wouldn’t just quit,� Cary Kinross Wright says as she sorts through smelly wet gear. “I’ve been on a team where someone quit, and we stopped, and the next morning we woke up feeling horrible, wondering why we didn’t just carry on. So we knew we were going to finish this race, no matter, and on the course we never once talked about stopping. This was such a tough course, this really wasn’t a course for beginners, so we’re just so proud we finished it.�

SOLE’s Karen Lundgren agrees this was no race for beginners. SOLE crossed the finish line around nine o’clock last night. Without a doubt, they had the best turnout waiting for them, some at the finish line, others from the hot tubs a hundred metres up the hill.

“This was a challenging course. Mikael (Nordstrom) really doesn’t make it easy for you. He just puts it out there and expects you to go do it.�

Her teammate and partner Paul Romero has been adventure racing for years, but this race found him acquiring a new skill.

“I’d never cross country skied before this race,� says the resident of the mountain town of Big Bear. “Man, talk about a way to learn. On this icy stuff it was one thing, so with waxed skis on groomed trails it’d be great.�

The race over, some athletes took advantage of the nice weather today to head into the hills for a bit of cross country skiing. Others have taken their bikes out, but most are spending the day sorting through gear and packing boxes. The awards ceremony begins at six o'clock this evening.See All Event Posts