Subaru Primal Quest
Ready to Go
SPQ/Rob / 05.09.2003
The team check-in and registration process, which began at SPQ headquarters in Harrah's Tuesday morning, ended yesterday nearly without a hitch. Though, unfortunately, one of the most beloved and well-respected racers in the entire field, Bernice Pierson of Team Night Train, was forced to withdraw after injuring her knee in a freak scooter accident only minutes after completing registration.
SPQ volunteer Pepjin Paap of Holland has stepped in to fill her place on the team. "It hurts more than anything," said Pierson, wiping tears from her eyes at SPQ headquarters Wednesday. "But in adventure racing, just making it to the start line is a big part of the battle. Unfortunately, I guess I lost that part." Pierson was not the only casualty, as 20 of the original 100 teams have already dropped from the field for various reasons.
All of the elite teams are here, however, and ready to battle for the $100,000 first-place prize. One of last year's winners, Danelle Ballangee of Team Nike ACG/Balance Bar, said tonight that this SPQ features an even tougher field than the last.
Team Montrail will be looking to move up one place from last year's second-best finish, while Team Seagate hopes to ride the momentum of its 2002 Eco-Challenge victory. Team Subaru, Team Buff, and Team Nokia Adventure are also expected to be at the front of the pack. When asked on whom they would have their eyes, Nokia captain Petri Forsman answered, "We don't have eyes on our backs."
Team Earthlink, whose Robin Benincasa suffered an untimely injury and was forced to drop out just before last year's race, is also highly motivated to split a share of the race's $250,000 prize purse.
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