Czech Adventure Race 2013
Orienteering Challenges at the Finish of the Czech Adventure Race
Jan Smolik (Czech Adventure Race) / 24.08.2013
On Thursday afternoon teams left plains of the Morava River for good. The return to the race center was once again, but not for the last time, across the Chřiby Mountains. As in previous passes there was special task, this time it was rope ascent and descent on a sandstone tower.
Back in race center teams switched to running shoes and continued to another trekking stage. Teams first went to Velehrad, which is a pilgrimage site dedicated to memory of St. Cyril and St. Method, Christian missionaries from the tenth century who first introduced writing among the Czech population. In Velehrad teams changed to in-line skates and skated uphill to a saddle in the Chřiby Mountains.
This stage was different than other in-line stages. While the previous two stages were on nice new asphalt in open and completely flat landscape, this lead up a difficult climb on a curvy road with lots of switchbacks through a beech forest. It is dark there even during daylight. As descending on the skates would be dangerous, teams returned to the race center on foot.
During these stages Czech team Salomon-Suunto/Nutrend kept their lead over a bunch of pursuers composed of Estonian ACE Adventure Team and two Czech teams Adidas/OpavaNet/Elvac and Salomon-Suunto/Accom/OpavaNet. Russian team Red-Fox started to lose on this group.
The next stage started with a little game that required thinking, which might be difficult on the second night of the race. The game was called graveyard orienteering. Four rows of orienteering flags were built in the race center. Teams had a map with some flags marked with a number and they had to punch these controls in correct order. After a correct completion teams received maps for the next stage.
During one of transitions the Estonian team ACE got unlucky. One of them swallowed a wasp and was rushed into hospital. The doctor gave him an injection but he was released on his own responsibility and was able to continue in race. However the team has lost at least an hour.
The next stage was made interesting by a slight complication. Four areas of the general map were marked and contained on a more detailed orienteering map. Each such area contained four or five checkpoints. Teams had to correctly enter such area, locate it on orienteering map and then leave to the general map.
Another map teams had to gain first waited for them at the end of biking section. Every member had to dive into a natural swimming pool and read a letter at the bottom. As it was a warm and sunny day, everyone enjoyed that. But there was no time for long enjoyment – the race was really close.
The leading team Salomon-Suunto was able to complete the final orienteering section fairly quickly and won the whole race. They had Radka Brožková, who is a bronze medalist from World Orienteering Championships to navigate them. “Somebody told us we only had 15 minutes advantage, so we gave a map to Radka and everything was black for me until we arrived to the finish line,” Pavel Štryncl from the team commented.
Adidas and Salomon-Suunto/Accom arrived with only minimal gap, the Estonians were further back, but they were fresh and this was their discipline. They are excellent rogainers. Finally Adidas/Elvac/Opavanet appeared second on the finish line.
The third team to arrive was the Estonian ACE Adventure Team. They gained 45 on fourth places Salomon-Suunto/Accom/Merida during final stage. Teams in second to fourth place finished within 20 minutes of each other.
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