Patagonian Expedition Race
The Brazilian Teams - Back For The Finish Line
Wladimir Togumi / 13.02.2012
Wladimir Togumi is the SleepMonsters Editor in Brazil and runs the national Brazilian AR website www.adventuremag.com.br. Here he profiles the 3 Brazilian teams in this years race.
Lontra Tapuia
The team includes several Brazilian athletes already experienced in the Patagonian Expedition Race. This will be the 4th participation of captain Victor Teixeira and 3rd of Pietro Carlo. The team is completed by Patrick Freire and Marcia Blanes, both in their first PER Race. Marcia recently returned from Desafio Aysen, where she was on the team which got 4th place.
"Our goal is to finish the race, because we see it as an expedition and not as a competition," said Victor Teixeira. "The team did a training event in late 2011 and built the logistics of equipment and food. At the moment our biggest difficulty is to submit all required certificates: ropes, canoeing, 1st aid, and get the insurance for adventure sports. The organization of the Patagonian Expedition Race is very demanding about the documentation!"
Selva Kailash
In their second participation, Selva returns to the Patagonian Expedition Race to reverse the result of 2011, when they were forced to leave the race early. With a greater knowledge of the region, climate and especially the mindset of the organizer, the team will seek the finish line this time around.
"It will be a difficult test, challenging as ever, but we have had better preparation and we’re conscious on what we’ll face," said Caco Fonseca, captain of the team that will be complemented by Marcelo Sinoca, João Bellini and Mariza Helena. It’s the first PER for João and Mariza.
Marcelo Sinoca was in PER 2011 and told me this story. In one section of trekking the team had to cross a river using one kayak supplied by the organization. In the middle of the river, the kayak flipped and he and other athlete (Ricardo) went into the cold water and thought they would die.
The river flow took them hundreds of meters away, but they managed to swim and recover from the shock.
"The team work will be an important point in PER. I believed in this team formation all year and they were aware that were going to this event since March 2011. This was done to prepare all of us psychologically and to build team work during 2011. Another important point was my participation in the ARWC Tasmania with Oskalunga, because I learned a lot from them and I hope I have contributed something to them. That is, the team goes to complete 100% of course in 2012, we plan to reach the end of the world to do100 push-ups and scream: “SELVVVAAAA”
ps: Selva means Jungle. Kailash is a gear brand and their sponsor.
Selva is a battle-cry used by some divisions of brazilian army. Caco Fonseca is a retired lieutenant.
GoCrazy
Felipe Fuentes and Fernando Nazario will also be in their second participation in the Patagonian Expedition Race. Like Selva Kailash, the team was withdrawn early in the race and the members return in order to cross the finish line. The team is completed by Leonardo Guerra and Carla Goulart, ultrarunner winner of the Jungle Marathon 2011, and recent participation in the BR135 (ultrarunning with 217 miles = 315 km).
"Because it is an Expedition Race, the PER requires a different preparation and logistics and nutrition! The focus is to lose as little time as possible and we think about it since February 2011 when we were forced to leave the race. This year the contest promises a stronger pace and we know that the first three days are crucial! Prayers and positive thoughts complete our preparation, "said Felipe Fuentes.
SleepMonsters
