Terra Incognita
Interview with the Race Director - Simun Cimerman
Corey Rosen / 04.09.2005
Simun: In 1998 I was finishing my studies at the University of Southern California in L.A. I was playing waterpolo professionally, for many years, also playing for the national team, and all my life I have been in sports. At one party, I met a fellow countrymen, Davor Novoselac, who has been racing since 1995, completing the Eco-Challenge in Columbia 1996, also flying an air plane for Mark Burnett in the Eco-Challenge 1995 in Utah.
His idea was to form the first Croatian team to race in the Eco-Challenge. He first found me in L.A., than found a girl of Croatian descent in Canada, Korina Besednik. Finally, we found the forth member in Croatia, Joško Božiæ. At first, I was not impressed with Adventure Racing. But, after I graduated, I had plenty of time at my disposal, so competing in the Eco-Challenge seemed to be a great opportunity to try something extraordinary. Before that, I had never ridden a bike or a kayak, not to mention rope work or orienteering.
But, Davor was a great teacher and captain and he really managed to get us together and prepared us for the Morocco Eco-Challenge in October 1998. Basically, that race changed my life direction. I thought adventure racing was something meant to be tried once in lifetime. But, I got addicted to it and devoted my profession to something that I haven\'t been educated for. I do not think that I got my university degree in vain, but it was my choice. So far, I have never regretted my decision.
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