Eco-Challenge
Onwards and Up the Waterfalls
Rob / 14.10.2002
The field at Eco-Challenge is now incredibly spread out with teams almost 2 days apart only 4 days into the race. It must be stretching the race organisation, especially in such tough terrain, but it seems competitors are being left to fend for themselves. One team were out of contact for 35 hours before they turned up at a control point!
The first cut-off point will reduce this spread by taking the back teams out of the race, but as yet the Eco-Challenge web site and press releases have not confirmed when that will be. Our earlier unofficial report that it was 09.00 Tuesday, which would have threatened 2 of the UK teams, have now been followed by another (still unofficial) deadline of 13.00 Wednesday. This sounds more likely, otherwise half the teams would be taken out at the first cut-off and it’s much better news for A-Tek (now 34th) and XL-Lupus UK (40th).
While they are still on the kayaking to CP5 the leading teams have moved along ‘The Trail of Fire’ and completed an amazing rappel up two waterfalls to CP6. Having trekked in over the Naitaradamu Pass, which is the only way to reach these remote and spectacular falls, they first scrambled over very slippery boulders before starting the climb up the 120m high Vuwa falls. Then they moved on to the 100m high Gaganaura (or Poison Prawn) falls before topping out high above the jungle canopy. It must have been am amazing experience – and one the British and Irish still have to come.
Once again the lead positions have shifted. Montrail/Parallax remain in front, but during the day both Buff AXN and Golite/Balance Bar (last years winners) have joined them and all 3 left CP7 together to start the next stage which will involve ‘packrafting’. Use of these inflatable and portable rafts adds yet another unpredictable element to this amazing race and Race Director Mark Burnett has said that from CP6 to CP7 is the most difficult navigational stage of all, and the leading positions could easily change. If the lead pack get lost it could be all change.
There may yet be penalty decisions as well. My comment yesterday about the lack of rules on exactly what help teams could get was spot on. O.K. – the idea of them jumping a truck was a joke, but it turns out French team Spie borrowed pack mules from some locals for a while and now the organisers have to decide if they should be penalised. As they’ve been encouraging everyone to ‘tap local resources’ and ‘think on their feet’ perhaps they should let them get away with it. But then maybe someone will hitch a lift on a truck on a later mountain bike leg ….
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