---

Only six teams make the Malbaie dark zone

Susan McKenzie / 12.09.2006

The sun was setting and the temperature was plummeting as Les Arcs Quechua came off the water at the Clermont dam. The team was pushing hard to catch up to the Wilsa Sport Helly Hansen and elected to get on the bikes and go, rather than sleep at the transition area, a dusty noisy gravel parking lot popular with 18-wheelers.

“We will sleep soon, and a lot,� Yves Billodeau says as he eats hot food and hunts for warm clothing to wear. “It got very cold last night, and tonight too.�

Nike Powerblast arrived about half an hour behind Les Arcs.

“Well, I’ve certainly improved my paddling skills,� Mike Kloser said as he headed towards the transition area set up by the team’s support crew who had hot chili and peanut butter and nutella sandwiches ready to be eaten.

“You rock,� Kloser told them.

“That was some three and half hour paddle,� Richard Ussher – he of the very sunburned nose - noted. “It took us seven hours.�

“We were in and out of the boat so much, so the paddle went by quickly. We tipped though, and Richard went in the water,� Sari Anderson added. “Okay guys let’s get moving or we’ll freeze.�

“It’s cold up in the mountains, minus seven today,� Dan Weiland, the racer turned support crew told the team as he moved from backpack to backpack, stitching and tying the bits and pieces together.cutoff.

See All Stories On This Race