BHP Billiton Rock and Ice Ultra
The Race is Underway
Rob Howard / 22.03.2008
After a night of light, but persistent snowfall, the 2nd BHP Billiton Rock and Ice Ultra began on an overcast day, and with the snow still falling. There was a breakfast on offer in the marquee, courtesy of Canadian North, and a ready flow of hot coffee, as welcome for warming the fingers as it was for the wake-me-up taste. If they were not grabbing breakfast most racers were in their tents in the Matrix Village, completing their last minute packing, gear checks, or just relaxing and waiting for the call to the start line. Jay Goss from Scotland and Mark Macy of the USA were among the first to haul their pulks out to the start line but it didn’t pay to get there too early. Not wanting to sweat up too much once on the trail the majority of competitors had two or three thin layers on, and the faster ones just running shoes on their feet – not the warmest dress for waiting around in -18C temperatures.
As the racers gathered, the scene around the start gantry became a confused mixture of colours, skis and pulks … and for a while the racers were confused too. No one seemed quite sure in which direction the race was going to set off, but eventually everyone was gathered on the correct side of the start line facing towards the Air Tindi airstrip.
Ultra runner Ray Zahab, who is a consultant on the race, conducted a roll call to check everyone was present and this took some time, so it was a very cold collection of racers waiting for the start gun. To keep himself busy Michal Kapral got his juggling balls out – and his fingers can’t have been too cold as he had no difficulty keeping the balls in the air.
When the clock ticked around to 0900 it was time to go and Deana Twissell of BHP Billiton made a short speech, asked everyone to be safe and counted down from 10 to GO! With a cheer the race was underway in a flurry of ski poles, sleds and snowshoes and a long line of racers disappeared towards the first checkpoint, on the road at Dettah Crossing. This is where the racers left Great Slave Lake and entered a series of wooded portages to work their way north to Prosperous Lake, crossing the busy Ingram trail road again before reaching the checkpoint there.
As expected it was the relay racers who lead the way and in the soft new snow the runners were wearing snowshoes the vast majority of the time. The British Diamond Ultra team were bringing up the rear and at the front Michal Kapral and Rick Hellard were among the leaders in the very early stages of the race. There is a long day ahead however, and we’ll have news of the outcome from the first stage camp at Prelude East later tonight. This is also where the Cold Foot Classic will finish, but only after those racers have made a additional 26km detour out to the Hidden Lake Checkpoint and back.See All Event Posts
