Icebug 24
Rogaine by the Arctic Circle
Jan E Andersson / 30.07.2007
Tomorrow will be the start of Icebug24, a 24h rogaine competion in the Hemavan mountains, situated around the arctic circle in the NW part of Sweden, home for last years' ARWC. The purpose of the race is to gather as many checkpoints as possible, in any order the team wants, out of 30 total checkpoints. The checkpoints are given different values based on availability, difficulty and stategic significance. Tactics, in form of route and checkpoint choices, will thus be crucial to succeed.
A night camp with possibilities to get some rest and something warm to drink is available, but the top teams will probably only choose the latter and try to keep moving during the entire race.
29 teams will race for the main trophy, a scholarship worth 24,000 SEK; possible candidates are FJS and Team Halti - but because no team knows how they'll react to 24 hrs of running/trekking in this area, others may also succeed. When the teams reach the finish line in Hemavan, at the same meadow where ARWC2006 started, we'll know for sure.
For those teams not racing for the podium a great adventure in a stunning surrounding will be a trophy in itself. On of those teams is danish mixed team Oure+Røde Mor, Andreas Clausen & Nina Erstling. They have been hiking in the area for a week and sees this race as a part of their vacation. Andreas has merits from danish FEM, a OMM-like MM, while Nina makes her MM debute, and what a debut.
Apart from the rogaine class a traditional MM class is available, 40km split on tw days. 20 teams will race for 15,000 SEK split on a Mens, Ladies and Mixed class The mens class is expected to be a real wasps' nest with 12 strong teams racing for the podium.
The weather is looking quite good and the teams will probably be spared from too much rain during the night. See All Event Posts
