The AR World Championships - Costa Rica
South and Central American Teams Aiming For Top Positions
Alex Carrijo / 01.12.2013
With the briefing finished, teams now know what to expect from the long 815km race course of the AR World Champs in Costa Rica.
The time calculated by the organization for fastest teams in each of the disciplines sums up to at least 127 hours of racing. Not included is the mandatory rest of 4 hours at mid camp (TA5) and sleeping times along the course. If a team sleeps at least 2 hours a day for 5 days you can add another 14 hours and the total time will reach 141h in the outdoors. However, it will be more than that as there are dark zones to be enforced. The winners time will probably be over 6 days.
After the briefing we spoke to some of the South and Central America teams that are likely to do well. Ecuador Explorer' s Santiago Mino said that it was the teams 6th participation in a World Champs and because of its profile and win at the last ARWS in Ecuador they are aiming a top 10 finish. The team looks strong and focused on performance.
Another very experienced team comes from Argentina. Tierra Viva is comprised of three friends for a long time that used to race on Raid Gauloises and Eco Challenge. Guri Aznarez considers that experience is going to be more important than physical power on this race as it comes back to the origins of expedition adventure race: long course, lots of logistics and just a little information before the start. The team is completed by Brazilian Sabrina Gobbo. Guri said that although there are a lots of female racers at his own country they couldn't manage to find one who could cover her own expenses to the race.
From the host country, Toyota Adventure Racing Team is looking to be among the first 25 teams and the best Costa Rican squad at the Worlds. They have been racing together for a while and have assembled a synergic team where kayaking is the greatestteam skill.
Captain Melida Barbee points out navigator Eric Cano as the best in Costa Rica and even though their mountain biking is not that strong they will push as hard as they can on their brand new Specialized 29ers. Eric says their advantage is to we'll know the country and its secrets. All of teh team are in certain way involved to tourism industry and the backcountry is their field of work. He plans to push hard up to mid race and be on a good position for the Caribbean part of the race. "In Costa Rica there are remote places with just a few tracks and it doesn't pay off to go bush walking ... better to stick to the the track".
There are four Brazilian teams and while Enigma will try to finish the full course as their goal, the other three are more ambitious. Selva will have to deal with a last minute team mate who is not used to their nutrition strategy that has developed since Tasmania ARWC. In their favour is a second place at last year Costa Rica ARWS and a bit of better knowledge about the country.
QuasarLontra and BMS Multisport have been collecting the best results in Brazil's races and look strong for this Champs. Quasar came with a strong all Brazilian formation while BMS invested on Kiwi experience. After finishing among the only three teams on full course at the last Ecomotion (other teams were winner sVidaraid and Seagate) they have the company of well know racer Neil Jones.
Lot of racers are surprised and happy to meet him at this race as since Brazil's 2008 ARWC he was not been at the Series final. For sure he is a great addition for an expedition race like this. Gui Pahl mentioned that since 2005 on Neil's visits in Brazil they have been talking and his desire of racing together is now accomplished.
SleepMonsters
