Keen Adventure Race - Alps to the Ocean
Stage 3: Some pretty paddling...
Jacqueline Windh / 10.04.2008
A different race seems to be going on at the front of the pack – with the same six or seven players. Adventuresportsnz and Orionhealth Mixed continue to remain close together, Chris and Gordon working hard to maintain their advantage. The Orionhealth Boys continue in second, but they are gradually slipping away from the leaders. Then the next four are chasing hard: Peak Adventure, AtenahMerrell, SILVA Stingers, and BLASTERS. The rest of the field seems to have little chance to keep up with these seven teams.
I saw these teams arrive at the river to collect their kayaks. Water levels are low, so it is a very bumpy ride – a shallow river with lots of rapids. They are not dangerous or deep rapids – just the kind where you keep getting knocked against boulders, and getting out to drag your boat a lot. Organizers recommended plastic boats, but a couple of teams have chosen double glass or kevlar surf-skis, including BLASTERS and APEX. Teams have the option of using singles or a double – but they just must use the same boats for the entire race, rather than swap between boats for the different lake, river and ocean sections.
SleepMonsters
