Ready Steady …

Chris/Raid Gauloises / 28.04.2002

After a moonlit night spent checking and calibrating GPS readings against map co-ordinates and rehearsing in their imaginations the crucial ballet of manoeuvres that could well spell the difference between success and failure, the racers begin to rise… along with the mercury. Later, moments before the race, in the clamour for positions along the starting line, and while it’s still possible to prise a coherent response from the captains, we spoke to a number of them about the coming ordeal.

After your top 10 finish in South Africa and with a team that has yet to race as a unit, you must have mixed feelings about the next 1000km? Yes, we feel that the humidity, heat and most importantly the condition of our feet will be a decisive factor in the next 6 to 10 days. The landscape looks awesome and we will see how we cope with the sun once the clouds clear.

After competing in an impressive 3 raids, you must be eager for the race to get underway? Yes, eager and apprehensive at the prospect of completing the longest race ever with no dark zones and the fact we are using GPS instead of the human/compass partnership. I feel that there is more chance of error with this technology, however we are good navigators and look forward to this unique challenge.

Adventure racing has quite a strong presence in South Africa. Do you feel the weight of responsibility packed in your bag along with your kit? Well yes, we want to be the first South African team to finish the Raid Gauloises after being the first South African team to finish the Eco Challenge. We want to say “hi� to all our family and friends and to our sponsors.

Some teams have said that this trekking section could be riches to some and ruin to others. Which are you? We have absolutely no compunction about saying that this 120kms trek is, for us, totally insignificant as far as the overall race is concerned. I believe that the successful teams will be those comprising a wide range of general skills throughout the team reinforced by individuals with specific talents. Just like us.

You’re one of the “purpose built� teams on the Raid Gauloises this year. How is team cohesion? We have spent a lot of time together off the adventure-race circuit so we are familiar with each other’s character and have no doubts about our ability to perform. We feel very relaxed and will be taking it easy to begin with. The humid weather conditions suit us very well. The hotter the better.

You had some equipment worries during the technical verifications. Have these been resolved? Everything is fine now. The double lead on the harness is up to standard and our we bought an extra tent. Now nothing can stop us!

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