Canadian National Adventure Racing Championships
Race Registration
Doug Doyle / 27.05.2006
Adventure Racing teams from across Canada have journeyed to Timmins, Ontario for the opportunity to race in the Canadian Shield area to compete in the National Adventure Racing Championships. Timmins is the largest community in the far Northeastern Ontario Region, a pristine wilderness background for hosting anglers, hunters, backcountry travelers and a perfect environment for the Canadian Adventure Racing Championships May 28 to June 3, 2006.
The race will feature local areas of interest and have adventure racing teams racing over 400 kilometres of boreal forest, decommissioned logging roads, lakes, rivers and wilderness preserves.
The weather today is 21 degrees C and not a cloud in the sky: the forecast over the next few days is for the temperatures to steadily rise to over 30 degrees with increasing humidity and probability of precipitation with possible thunder storms and lighting. Any wind would be good as the locals told me that due to unseasonably warm temperatures and over the last week (despite a snowfall on the weekend of May 20 and 21) there was a double hatching of blackflies. Rob Trahan of Northern Expeditions, a local outfitter and guide who was recently in the field reviewing the water sections of the course, told me that the blackflies will be a significant nuisance for racers as they’re hungry and looking for any flesh and will burrow into clothing to get at it. He was shaking his head in disbelief saying he hasn’t seen it this bad for a good number of years.
Race headquarters is at the McIntyre Community Center (which is patterned after Maple Leaf Gardens and was the first indoor skating school in North America) and all teams made their way through the sign in, gear check and skills testing requirements in order to participate in the race. The curling rink was clear of ice, but filled with each team’s bikes, gear boxes, backpacks and mandatory equipment at the ready and to be shown to race staff. Chantal Grant, a volunteer performing the gear check brandished her clipboard and pen with authority, confirming all teams were all the teams were very cooperative and the process went smoothly with each team.
Team Adidas Canada, captained by Pete Cameron demonstrated his teams’ water skill prowess performing the “T� rescue in the chilly lake waters adjacent to the McIntyre Centre. Rob Trahan was satisfied with their skills but only after providing pointers to the team post wet exit and having them repeat the exercise again. He is particular and demanding when it comes to water skills as the teams will be facing white water when paddling and their safety is his primary concern. He told me he and his team will be on the water during the more gnarly white water to ensure a safe white water run for the teams.
The teams have from 9:00am to 5:00pm to complete their registration and check in. True to form, Team Spirit Canada was the last team to arrive at registration and clear check in. They are known for leaving this to the last moment as they have amply demonstrated in past races.
A racer and volunteer welcome BBQ sponsored by the Timmons Chamber of Commerce is next, then opening ceremonies at 7:00pm to 7:30pm followed by the Sprint Race and Stage One of he Expedition Race Captains’ meeting where maps will be handed to each team.
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