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A Stormy Terra Incognita

Simum Cimerman (Race Director) / 02.10.2006

The 7th Terra Incognita in Croatia was very different from previous races as we decided to change the team format form the traditional 4 member teams to pairs. The aim was to make it easier to get a team to the race, but for those who still wanted to race as a four the option was there to enter two pairs and race together. So TI 2006 was going to be the first expedition race for 2 member teams in the world!

We were aware that if one member dropped out the second would not easily be able to continue (it is really hard to paddle alone in double sea kayak alone). So, we gave 3 choices. Teams could bring a reserve to race only if one member withdrew and the team would be ranked after the last team to complete entire course, or the remaining racer could continue alone or join another solo racer.

Yet the course kept its hardness and “no mercy“ terrain and length. It was a course for highly prepared athletes but those who came to Croatia and wanted to enjoy the race and landscape as much as possible would be ranked on how far they made it around the course.

The pairs version of the race meant less competitors taking part but the quality was improved! X-adventure Raid winners Alain Berger and Jan Beguin from ‘Salomon Suisse’ were taking part and racing against ‘TientoEnator Adventure’ of Sweden (Ola Olsson and John Anders) and the Dutch team ‘Nike ACG Holland’ (Raymond Beeren and Peter Hollerbrand). Austrian team ‘ATT 360’ with Marcus Gartner and Stefan Juen were also taking part as were several Croatian teams such as ‘Adnatura.hr’, who had won TI 3 times in the past.

The 7th edition of Terra Incognita started in a very unusual way for adventure racing – with rappelling! Teams from 12 countries (Australia, Singapore, Denmark, Sweden, Latvia, Italy, Belgium, France, Austria, Germany, Switzerland and Croatia) started the race with a short 5k sprint to 100m high cliffs and the first to arrive had the advantage in the 400km long race. (There were 2 ropes, 1 per team).

The first day was the most dynamic part of the race. In just 12 hours teams were running, rappelling, mountain biking, trekking, sea and river kayaking! The rappelling section caused some problems for the teams that completed the sprint slowly, forcing them to wait their turn in line. However, they knew there would be a wait and it was not so long it decide this race.

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