Coast to Coast Adventure Race
The teams
Jacqueline Windh / 28.02.2006
This year, there are eight teams entered in the Coast to Coast: four from Costa Rica, three from the USA, and one from England. I had a chance to chat with them this morning, at the welcome breakfast, before heading out to Adventure Racing Costa Rica’s new camp on the Pacuare River. From here, they will head out by kayak tomorrow morning to the Caribbean, and the north along the coast to the first Transition Area.
1. CARIBE-SYNGENTA (CR)
Lester Bermudez (Cap.)
Rosemary Lopez
Christian Cruz
Carlos Eduardo Jimenez
The guys have raced a few two- and three-day races, but this six-day event is Rosemary’s first adventure race ever! I asked her what she is thinking, why she is doing this. “Because I have bad friends!� she replied. “They are my friends, that’s why. Crazy!�
They admit that they are very new to this, but the four of them have spent the last four months training together. They say that their strengths are the mountain biking and the paddling.
2. THE GOPPERS (ENG)
William Stableforth
Nathaniel Spring
Christopher Royal
Zoe Haines
The Goppers tell me that the team’s history is shrouded in mystery. “We’ve done all of the activities and we’re proficient at them all – we’ve just never done them in a combined event�.
A few years ago, Bill and Nat rowed across the Atlantic Ocean, from the Canary Islands to Barbados in a 7 m boat. It took them 62 days. “So we know we can do endurance events,� says Bill. “We haven’t really got much experience, but all the right skills are there. We’re not really weak in anything... or maybe we are and we just don’t know it�.
3. POZO AZUL – MUNDO AVENTURA (CR)
Franklin Chavarria (Cap.)
Ismael Peraza
Marcela Madrigal
Eduardo Rodriguez
Franklin and Ismael have done many races together over the past four years, including C2C. They are just returning from Camdex in Mexico – a four-day, 300 km staged race, in which they placed sixth. “So we are a bit tired� says Franklin.
Marcela and Eduardo have somewhat less experience. “I’ve done all of the sports, just not all together,� says Marcela. “But I trust my team. And that’s the magic. If you don’t trust your team, that is really bad�.
4. AVENTURAS DE SARAPIQUI (CR)
Alexander Baker (aka “Pongo�, Cap.)
Maria Jose Marchant
Marco Gamboa
Maurice Mott
This very strong team has had a bit of bad luck. Maria Jose only found out two days ago that she would be racing here. Their original female member, Ligia Madrigal (probably Costa Rica’s strongest racer) is sick – after running the Coastal Challenge and then, this past weekend, the 34 km running race up and down Chirripo Mountain (elevation 3400 m).
I caught up with Maria Jose, a Chilena who has lived in Costa Rica for a year, as her triathlete friend Viviana Chavarria sorted through clothing and gear to lend her. “Yes, of course I am nervous, but I don’t even want to think about that right now. And don’t tell anyone that... not until after the race�.
5. BATTERY – NATURE AIR (CR)
Alvaro Saenz (Cap.)
Cintia Coto
Daniel Arguedas
Alejandro Nietzen
I spoke to Alejandro while he was still waiting for his team-mates to arrive for breakfast. He tells me that the whole team has expedition experience, and that Dani raced in EcoChallenge Fiji. “Our strength is the biking, but we are pretty good at everything�.
Alvaro and Dani have been racing together for two years, and Alejandro joined them eight months ago. “Cintia has been with us for four months. She is one of the top three in endurance mountain biking in Costa Rica – very strong�.
6. TEAM TOW (USA)
Jason MacMurphy (Cap.)
Dianna Brackeen
Maribel Reymundo
Dyfan Fletcher
All four hail from Dallas, Texas. This is their first expedition race. In general, they feel good, although a little nervous, especially about the long paddling sections.
Maribel is a vegetarian – doesn’t eat eggs, and for the most part doesn’t eat any dairy either. “So far I’ve never had a problem with my diet, but I am a bit concerned about it this time, getting enough protein for a six-day race�.
7. WHICKED NEAR/NEMO (USA)
David Darby (Cap.)
Julie Brenninkmeyer
Mike Morris
Jennifer Johnson
This American team has a lot of Costa Rica experience. Julie raced C2C in 2001 and 2002, and Dave was here in 2004 and 2005. Julie lived here for three years. “This is where I started adventure racing – mountain biking and rafting. And I know how to talk to people here, so we can navigate the right way. That’s what’s fun about this race. You come out of the woods wearing all of this crazy-looking gear, and you start to talk to people...�
Dave remembers a transition point near a school from C2C 2004. “We ran into all the school-kids in these clean uniforms, going into little thatched huts�. So this year the team has brought with them a pile of supplies to give to schoolkids along the way: toothbrushes, pens, stickers and tennis balls.
8. ROCK N’ROAD CYCLES (USA)
Tom Smith (Cap.)
Bill Butcher
Mary Misiaszek
Luther Papenfus
This group comes from all over the USA: Indiana, Connecticut, Florida and Massachusetts. I asked how they managed to meet one another. “We just met each other at various races. At the finish line, we each looked around to see who was still standing, and left our old teams behind, and having been racing together for a few years now�.
The three guys raced placed second here last year (as team EMS) and this year, with Mary on board, they are clearly looking for a win. Last year, they realized that knowing something of the language is an advantage when trying to find your way through the countryside. “My job this year is the Spanish,� says Tom. “I’ve got a bunch of laminated cards saying ‘Where is the church?’, ‘Where is the bridge?’. Being able to ask the question is one thing, though. Understanding the answer is something else...�
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