Eco-Challenge
The 2 Steves: It\'s good to talk
Steve D / 10.10.2002
I see my Welsh nemesis is cheerfully predicting a top 5 finish for the TNF boys... Stevie, put the crack pipe down and step away from the bong - it\'s for your own good.
You see, if the team\'s lack of strength in depth on the nav side doesn\'t knock them down the leaderboard, then communication will. Expedition races place strains on even the best friends with the tightest of bonds between them, and the ability to be totally honest, ignoring your own and your teammates\' egos, is key to racing well. And I think TNF Kona will struggle on this front.
Why? Well, having seen Pete and Anna before, during and after races, I have come to the conclusion that neither are great communicators. Away from racing, Anna can - and frequently does -talk to anyone and everyone about anything, yet at races she often seems pensive and withdrawn. Whether she\'s nervous, in the shadow of team-mates, or 100 percent focussed on the task in-hand, I don\'t know - and it doesn\'t matter. Pete also appears quite insular and quiet from the outside - although not having raced with him I don\'t know if this changes between the start and finish line.
I also think Keith is an odd choice for captain. Whilst on the one hand it\'s a smart move - Pete already has the burden of navigation without the added stress of leadership - I also wonder how Pete and Anna will react to a less experienced captain. And I wonder how comfortable Keith will be if he has to make a descision which goes against their advice.
Keith\'s greatest strength is his boundless optimism, and he is a great motivator and a fantastic person to race with. However, when he hits the wall big time he retreats totally into himself, goes silent and withdraws from the decision making process. After 38-hours on the go at Ad Rush 2001 Keith went big time - and you can\'t afford to have a captain disappear off radar like that.
I don\'t know Norm, so I can\'t really comment there, but I have a feeling that inter-team comunication will make or break the race for the guys...
Next up, a full and frank assessment of the team\'s strengths and weaknesses!
SleepMonsters
