Baise Outdoor Quest
Thule Adventure Team Preparing for Baise
Fredrik Ölmqvist (For Thule Adventure Team) / 25.04.2013
Baise Outdoor Quest is a stage race for teams of 4 over 3 days with multiple sections and a few surprise challenges. Other than fierce competition the teams can expect very hot and humid conditions and a race course with multiple climbs and descents, with 2000m as the highest altitude. We met up with Martin Flinta, team captain of the international Thule Adventure Team, a few days prior the race.
When we meet it’s Monday April 22. Martin Flinta is looking calm and confident. An elite athlete in triathlon and multisport for more than 10 years his loose fitting clothes can’t hide the superfit body underneath. Nor his movements. The next day he will return to China for Baise Outdoor Quest which takes place in south-east China April 26-28.
"Baise is one of four important Chinese multisport races", he explains. "The others being Wulong Mountain Quest, Ordos Outdoor Challenge and Wenzhuo Outdoor Challenge, where he and Marcel Hagener finished 4th in the men's category just a week earlier (April 12-15). Thule’s mixed team with Mimi and Jacky won their class, beating the Usshers among others. In other words, the season of 2013 has begun for Captain Flinta and his team. Thule Adventure Team, ranked No 1 according to the last AR ranking, usually performs well in stage races and the team won this race last year. But they can expect plenty of challengers.
"The ARWC is considered the world championship but I regard the races in China as very competitive as well. Some of the best teams in the world show up for the Chinese races, even though they might not race the ARWC", says Flinta.
The formula used to attract the best teams to China is significant prize money (paid cash on location), good race organisation, affordable entry fees and a huge public interest with spectacular opening and closing ceremonies. This has been the case for the high profile Chinese multisport races ever since the days of the MSOQ (Mild Seven Outdoor Quest).
"We also really like the fast races. Compared with 6 day long non-stop adventure races, a stage race over 3-4 days don’t wear you down in the same way," says Martin and downs a vitamin-C drink, trying to fight off a sore throat.
He has been racing in China more than 10 times and has acquired some valuable experience. "To avoid stomach problems I always eat heated food. I wipe my plate and cutlery with Xinix Aquacare (a water purifier) and I always drink from my own bottle," he said.
This season Marcel Hagener will substitute for Per Vestling, who’s awaiting his second child. Marcel, who suffered from a calf injury in the Wenzhou race, is no stranger to the team. He has lots of experience and is very strong. He knows how to estimate his capacity, which is valuable for any team.
As we speak Martin receives a text message from Marcel in Hong Kong, who writes: ”Calf not good. I will suffer, and the one towing me will suffer too.”
"Of course this is not good news, but what can we do? We will have to do our best and if we do our best it’s not going to be easy to beat us," he comments.
Martin knows about suffering. In the AR World Championship 2012 he had to borrow a pair of (too small) shoes for the very first trail running section, which destroyed his feet. Even though he had to hobble through the remaining trekking sections of the race course, his team still managed to claim 2nd place.
"Great teamwork is one of the keys to our success," says Martin. "In China all teams use the same kayaks. The boats are quite heavy and have a certain maximum speed. But you need to be a very strong paddler to be able to keep this speed all the way, and make sure that the second team boat can ride the wave."
Optimal recovery between the daily stages is another key to a successful race in China. "After every day we take a cool bath. You also need the right kind of food for recovery and compression clothes. I use to make a superfood shake with protein-rich hemp powder and Acai for its antioxidants. Day 2 and 3 you’ll notice the difference. I believe that more teams have become more aware about these things the past few years."
The race course for Baise Outdoor Quest 2013 will be announced Thursday, but a typical race day can look like this:
1. Swimming 500 meters
2. Kayak 12 km (estimated fastest time 90 min)
3. MTB 32 km with an elevation of 2500 meter (estim. fastest time 150 min)
4. Rest 15 min
5. Stair running 7.5 km (estimated fastest time 80 min)
6. Adventure skills (estimated fastest time 10 min)
7. Running 2.5 km.
Read more about Thule Adventure Team at:
www.facebook.com/thuleadventureteam
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