Abu Dhabi Adventure Challenge
To the Heart of the Matter …
Chris Archer / 09.12.2007
The luxurious Royal Meridien Hotel transformed into HQ for the first Abu Dhabi Adventure Challenge… Workers in the process of mounting the stage next to the hotel’s swimming pool, athletes testing the sea- kayaks and the sails and keel system while, a few feet away, others climb the hotel’s al fresco bar to check gear beneath a sweltering sun… a combination that would perturb the majestic calm of any hotel complex.
This has all been going on since ten o'clock this morning as the 26 teams each go through the stringent technical checks required for the race: first aid box, compulsory equipment, various certificates, distress beacon and the final recommendations regarding any dangers, including the small desert animal population (scorpions, snakes and spiders oh my!). Scandinavians, Iberians, Americans, New Zealanders, French, Jordanians, Brazilians, Rumanians and Germans all came together warmly and took possession of the equipment provided by the organization. Namely the magnificent 2-seater sea-kayaks and the shiny red semi-rigid MTBs, purchased from Cannondale specifically for the event, thus saving the athletes the cost and bother of transporting their bikes to the UAE. Although some, like SPORT 2000 LAFUMA (FRA) or HALTI (SWE), have preferred to pay the charges and bring along their trusted, personal mounts.
The question most often heard is: what is likely to happen on the long run through the desert from the 3rd day of the race? The length of the stage, the heat, dehydration, orienteering through this kind of landscape are all issues that require addressing and seem to concern the majority of the teams, whether seasoned or less experienced like DUNKERQUE INEO SUEZ (FRA), a team from Northern France who have come here first and foremost to "Have a good race in a pleasant atmosphere". "It's going to be interesting rubbing shoulders with the discipline’s semi-pros, especially as only yesterday (Friday) we were working at our day jobs�, stresses Cedric Barez, a former highflying cyclist who has thus far only “dabbled� in serious adventure racing. This kind of raid is new to him. “We have some dunes nearby but nothing to compare with those of Abu Dahbi", joked Cedric. "Our only goal is to finish without glitches, whatever our ranking, even though we imagine we are more than likely to be at the rear of the race."
NIKE’s Mike Kloser insisted the team would go flat out for a win with the only unknown being the cooperation with the “camel�. Petri Forsman (AFOC-FINLAND), recovering from a recent injury, also expressed some concern while fellow Fin, Jukka PINOLA, racing with ADCO BUFF COOLMAX, has “only ever seen a camel once, in a zoo�… Hopefully the last night before the race start will bring counsel but it could well be a case of he who dromedarys wins ...
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