Explore Sweden
The First Day of Explore Sweden
Mia Renz / 05.09.2008
First team to arrive at the registration this morning was Speleo Salomon, the Polish team. Their Russian team mate started his race two days ago when he missed the ferry to Sweden and decided to drive up through Finland and down to Örnsköldsvik. A detour of more than 2500 km...
During the day all teams have passed gear checks and rope skill tests at the HQ by the ski jumping tower overlooking the city. The rope skills will be neded in tomorrow’s brand new Via Ferrata course, which was opened only a few days ago.
The course will include island traversing, mountain biking, running, ropeworks, inline skating, kayaking and much more.
Tonight the race started with a short sprint up the summer green downhill slope. A cheering crowd and fireworks gave the teams a great start and the teams answered by making the climb uphill at high speed. Lundhags Adventure took the first sprint prize followed by Multitude Salomon and FJS.
Back down on the downhill MTB track, the racers entered the city of Örnsköldsvik on a short bike run. At the transition in the centre of the city the teams went out on this nights technical orienteering where their navigating skills will come to the test. Lundhags, who had a couple of minutes lead during the bike section was soon passed by FJS in the first CPs of the orienteering section. FJS has opened really strongly and are going fast in the woods.
As the clock here in Sweden strikes midnight we follow the teams on our GPS tracking site as they progress through the more technical parts of the night orienteering. We are looking forward to a great race and we will keep you updated.
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