Team Explore Warms up for ARWC by Winning the Swedish Multisport Championship

Rob Howard / 21.10.2009

In heavy rain and with the temperature just above zero Celsius, the Swedish Championship was held recently in Uppsala, Sweden. It was a tough course including 22km of inline skating, 20km kayaking, 45 km mountain biking, 15km Orientering and a 3km Bike & Run. The course took the participants through the city of Uppsala and 183 two person teams stood on the start line in the morning. (Later many were forced to withdraw because of fatigue or darkness.)

Per Vestling and John Karlsson of Team Explore won the most prestigious male category after 6 hours and 43 minutes. They set a furious pace on the first inline skating section and made the winning break on the long kayaking section. Even though both Lundhags teams tried to work together to catch Team Explore, they held out to claim the title.

Team Nike with Chris Forne and Martin Flinta finished 6th, with Lundhags 2nd & 3rd, Sweco 4th and FJS 5th. The mixed category was won by City Wolfs and Kiwi Sisters won the female category.

This victory was the 15th podium place for the season for Team Explore and the next stop for the top Swedish teams is the main goal for the season; the Adventure Racing World Championship in Portugal. There are 5 Swedish teams taking part and they are; Explore, Lundhags, FJS, Herkules CityWolfs and Team SMS.

ARWC is a 910km long course that will take over 6 days to fulfil including whitewater paddling, orienteering, mountaineering, mountain biking, kayaking, ropeworks and inline skating. Firt-eight teams from all around the world are participating in this seventh edition of AR World Championship which starts on 8th November just outside Lisbon.

[SleepMonsters will be reporting live from Portugal in both English and French.]