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Getting it Together

David Ogden - International Adventurers / 16.09.2003

Getting an International team to the start is an challenge itself. When Anna from Russia broke her arm a week before departure, she found a replacement, Elena from Kirghistan, so in the end both travelled to Paris as Anna had some team equipment as well as gear for Anna. The team was due to depart from Orly, but Elena’s flight was delayed and there was a crash on the autoroute, so the team set up a fastrack system to get Elena and gear loaded as fast as possible.

Final call was announced so the team commenced delaying tactics and at last she arrived. All was well until passport control where her visa, issued by the German consul in Kirghistan who represents France, was not accepted. After much discussion it was agreed she could travel and the flight depaerted one hour late with Elena upgraded to First Class !

Noon the next next day I meet up with them outside the hotel so we had beer and sandwiches to celebrate getting to the race! We gathered our equipment for checking and were in fact the first to to complete all the procedures and get our passport. After supper we went for a walk along the seashore and visited a funfair before turning in.

Saturday morning started with a rollerblading session and a quick swim in the warm sea, followed by breakfast. We then drove to the next town to purchse provisions and extra maps. The race briefing was held mid afternoon all in French, but at least the race book was in English. The race was to start in the East, then head South along the coast before ascending to the Volcano at 2000m and passing through the Bras Rouge canyon. Then would come Piton de Neige at over 3000m before entering the Fleur Jeane canyon.

In this area there is also a 250m wall which will be climbed in 30m pitches. Teams then head Northwest, the extreme teams following a ridge path on foot whilst other teams take a shorter decent on foot, followed by the final mountain bike to the coast and a swim to finish.

Jamie and Primus set about marking up the maps, whilst our support crew Wayne and Tanya prepared the van which was to be our support vehicle. Elena and myself started work on the team equipment. We had a break for dinner then finished off packing before retiring in preparation for a very early start at 0300.

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