A Tico Welcome

Rob Howard / 11.12.2013

One story that has been consistent throughout the race has been the friendly welcome the teams have received from the Costa Rican people – the Ticos.

It was no different this morning as I spoke to two of the finishing unranked teams from France, teams France Issy Aventure Withspirit.fr and Intersport McKinley Raid in France. (They are vying with the Eastern Europeans for the most unwieldy team names!)

Phillipe Chod of Issy Aventure told how his team had lost a paddle and been helped by a fisherman. “We lost the paddle quite early on the kayaking in Tortuguero and still had 50km to go, which was a problem with 3 paddles,” he said. “So we stopped and asked a fisherman if he had any wood or bamboo, something we could use as a paddle. He told us to wait and came back with a 1.5m wooden paddle which he insisted on giving to us, he wouldn’t take any money for it. I really hope we can get it on the plane as its going home as a souvenir of this race!”

His team and others had also been welcomed into family homes. Both teams told me how they’d been looked after. “We stopped last night at a house and they insisted on pulling the furniture out of the way and putting down a mattress,“ said Pascal Bahaud. “They gave us food and when we got up leave I am sure they were already in bed, but the lady got up to fetch water and see us on our way.”

Most teams have a similar story to tell from some point in the race and will go home with fond memories of the people of Costa Rica.

It was a different story with regards to the race as all of the French teams I’ve spoken to have been quite critical; of the communications with teams, muddled rules, the length of the course and the course design. Pascal Bahaud, last year’s ARWC Race Director felt there was a lack of consideration for the teams and after the welcome his team had received on the course was not so impressed with the welcome at the finish.

“There was nobody here to meet us,” he said, “The Race Director should welcome the teams and there should at least be some food and drink for teams. I don’t understand how that can be.” There was food available in the hotel the race is using just across the road, so it’s been more of an issue for teams finishing in the night, when the hotel and shops are shut. Last night Team Mountain Hardwear didn’t even have an inflated finish arch to run under either.

Bahaud added, “I think the winners time should be around 5 days otherwise it is too long for most of the teams to finish.”  That too has been a common theme, but it looks like the race will get around 20 full course finishers, which is a lot more than finished Raid in France last year, and a high percentage finish rate for a world championships.

Bruno Rey of Team SXM has completed all the Costa Rica adventure races and his team finished in 16^th place.  They were the top French team (not Canadian as the leaderboard flag says), and it’s the first time they have finished the full course at this race.

“We enjoy Costa Rica,” he said, “but I think I preferred the smaller races to this World Championship - it has been so much bigger it’s lost some of its character and that is inevitable. I think I was lucky to live through the days of Eco Challenge and Raid Gauloises, there was more interest and bigger budgets then and we had more fun. I don’t think it can be the same again.”

There will be many different opinions of course, on the race and the future of Expedition Adventure Racing, and perhaps it takes longer to come to terms with the achievement of finishing such a long race and the finish line is not the best place for reflection.

A more relaxed and positive came from Costa Rican racers who had finished today. “Pongo was right when he said it would be an old school adventure, it was hard and this experience will help us a lot for future races,” said Eric Cano of Toyota Adventure.

Verónica bravo of Banano de Costa Rica said that: "We as racers can’t plan the race, we should enjoy it on the way and try to finish them.”

There will be more finishers coming over the line, probably until tomorrow, as the final race cut off of 18.00 has been waived and all full course teams will be allowed to continue to finish. (This was always the plan.)

Those who arrive tonight will cross the line to a rousing reception as the race party is taking place on the finish field, rather than in the heat of the day tomorrow. The closing ceremony and presentations will be tomorrow at 11.00 and hopefully all the teams will be in by then – that really is the last deadline as after the ceremony the busses leave to take everyone back to San Jose.

Then it will be time to fly home to everyday life ... which may take a bit of readjustment after this epic adventure.

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