Expedition Alaska
Expedition Alaska: The End
Pyro / 07.07.2015
So, the Alaskan expedition is over, and teams are now headed, if not having already arrived for some of the more local ones, home.
Dave Adlard wanted to create an epic. Early press releases and conversations, elements of the briefings and informal chats all spoke of wanting to draw comparison to a golden age of Adventure Racing, back to the days of the Raid Gaulloise and Eco Challenge. To follow in the footsteps of those classic races is a very hard act to follow.
The course itself was suitably monstrous. The first glacier stage favoured the experienced and the brave, the second trek and packraft pushed even the elite teams to the limits. There were few non-technical 'linking stages', everything on the course had a purpose and nothing was designed simply to get teams from one activity to another – that teams only picked up their bikes on Day 5 of the race is testament to that. There were the obligatory thrill ride and spectacle sections – the whitewater rafting and the Mount Marathon run – but the whole course was hugely photogenic, if the media were adventurous enough to take on exactly the same hardships as the racers. Many were, and the volume of film footage and images is vast.
Perhaps certain factors were made 'nicer' than those golden-age epics. Many teams were bussed forward to allow them to progress into the (relatively) easier later stages faster. A bail-out option was made available on section 2, though taking it early was an extremely brave decision.
The event also had that 'war of attrition' feel. Many team dropped one or even two teammates during the race. Most teams suffered the usual complement of bumps, bruises and damp, sore, damaged feet. Few crossed the line without at least one team member limping and grimacing. Most had taken vehicular transport at some point during the race. But no team completely cried 'uncle', and if they had, they'd probably have been allowed to rest and then gently encouraged to continue somehow, some way.
Whether the race will truly be mentioned in the same breath as Eco Challenge and Raid Gaulloise, it's too early to tell. For a first edition, though, it achieved a very good percentage of the director's aim.
As we wrap up from Expedition Alaska, a special mention needs to go to the small but perfectly formed volunteer team who kept the transitions running as smoothly as they could, and worked unbelievably hard ferrying bikes, boxes, boats and occasionally competitors around the various edges of the Kenai penisula. The racers were full of praise that the TAs were always a welcome place to be, with hot food and drink available whenever they arrived. Some may have even found them too welcoming, and didn't always want to leave so hurriedly.
And so to the prizes:
Paul Olsen from Traces of Nuts won the award for 'Best Race Beard'
JD Eskelson from SORB won the award for 'Most Time Spent Under a Packraft'
Ron Eaglin of Southern Exposure was awarded the 'Spirit of Adventure' prize.
1st place Pair: Team Orion
2nd place Pair: Boom Boom Pow
1st place Trio: Team Gung Ho
2nd place Trio: Soteria Moose Whisperers
15th equal: Everyday Adventures & Southern Exposure
14th: Columbia Vidaraid
13th: North Zealand Outdoors
12th: Team Cameltoes
11th: Equilibre - Highest ranked team that lost a team member
10th: Team Everest
9th: I Don't Remember
8th: Wandering Nannut
7th: Team NYARA
6th: Goals ARA
5th: Traces of Nuts – Highest ranked 'short course' team
4th: Team SORB
3rd: Team Rogue
2nd: Team Yogaslackers
1st: Team Tecnu
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