Bull of Africa
Race cut-off looms, race wraps
Lisa de Speville / 01.07.2005
Overall impressions of the race are mixed and all, without exception, have commented on the sand. This was a desert race and although sandy conditions were expected, the knowledge could not allieviate the energy-sapping strain of trekking, biking and bike-pushing through drifts for hours.
The Richtersveld is an interesting location, chosen for its remoteness, isolation and unique qualities. Des Searle, 9th placed team 180° Adventure\'s navigator, eloquently commented, \"It was a good race... a tough race in a different way. To truely get the most out of this event you really need to understand what this area is about. There are succulents that only grow in the Park, nowhere else. There is wildlife. Snakes too... we saw a black necked spitting cobra and two horned adders. This is a very specialised area and if you don\'t appreciate its uniqueness you\'ll miss the boat completely.\"
The race course was sectioned into legs, which alternated between trekking/hiking, mountain biking and paddling disciplines. The 60km paddling stage through Sambok Rapid to Norotshoma River Lodge in the area of Aussenkehr, Namibia stood as a highlight for all. Not only is this one of the most beautiful sections of the Orange River, but it also gave the competitors a break from hours spent on their feet. Two rope sections were also included. The abseil/rappel was initially thought to be around 140m but was recalculated to be a heart-stopping 152m drop. Within the Richtersveld National Park was the second activity, a tiered rope ascent.
The length of the stages was notable - some taking well over 24-hours for even the top teams to complete. \"The long sections felt like old time races,\" said Cross Sportswear\'s captain Mats Andersson (3rd overall). \"I really like long section but also short. It is nice to have variation. But I did like that we felt we were in wilderness. We didn\'t see people, houses or powerlines at all in the Park.\"
One of this race\'s most exciting dynamics was the cat-and-mouse chase between the US/Kiwi team Merrel/Wigwam Adventure and South Africa\'s Mazda Salomon. 72-hours into the race they were racing neck-and-neck. Mazda had gained 2-hours and they left the following bike-hike transition together. Mazda continued to advance their lead but at some stage under cover of night Merrell overtook Mazda, arriving at the top of Cornelskop - the highest point in the region - ahead. But, they thought they were second and that Mazda had been and gone. Merrell were sitting down - eating and resting - resolved to second place, when Mazda appeared.
\"We thought we were at least one-and-a-half hours ahead of them. We were really deflated to see them at the top. The wind went out of our sails,\" said captain Michelle Lombardi. Hoping to gain an advantage Mazda Salomon chose not to follow Merrell down, hoping to make up time on another route. \"We went down a gully that was more vegetated and difficult to get through. We got cliffed out a number of times. It was an awesome route in that it was challenging but we lost a lot of time.\" Down below, already on the jeep track, Merrell were running hard for the next transition.
\"Merrell played a better psychological game. They saw our slump and took advantage. We ended up 3-hours behind them after this section. Still, I\'m absolutely thrilled with our result. We fought a hard battle against one of the World\'s top teams and faired really well,\" Lombardi concluded.
This remote region is different, very different to South Africa\'s traditionally beautiful areas like the Garden Route, Wild Coast, Drakensberg, Northern Natal coast... Those who participated in this race will return home having experienced an ecosystem that most South Africans have never seen.
* Photo by Craig Dutton
ENDS
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