Team Helly Hansen / MOMAR were going out for the win in this race. We had a solid team and knew we had what it takes.
It started Midnight Friday night June 2nd. There were 3 advanced sections that each team could choose to do or not to do, each worth 1 point each. This is the first thing that we didn’t agree on, as each were completely different, ie advanced sections 1 took maybe 1hr, advanced section 2 took like 6hrs +, but they were worth the same points, we did not agree to this at all.
Anyway, we hit it out hard, the first night we kept swapping leads with Wild Rose team, who had won this race the last 2 years and where a solid efficient team. We were for sure faster, but they were for sure smarter with fewer navigational mistakes so always got back in front when we made a mistake. It came to day break. We had what we thought was a 4-5 hr trek ahead. After climbing to a breathtaking peak with 360 degree views we descended through the forest of hours and hours of bush waking and crossing a freezing cold river endless times. We came in the next transition after a zipline across a waterfall 9hrs 30mins later. Only 5 teams decided to do this advanced section, and it destroyed us all, it seemed to be a very tedious un-needed too long of a trek. We were 18hrs into the race and all of which had been trekking except the 2-3hr ride. Our feet were a mess. We had the whitewater rafting next, but daylight wasn’t on our side, we were now back in 4th with 3rd in sight, we got on the water at 7pm, with the non self bailing boat, while the team ahead got the bailing boat. The rapids were out of control, we were all in complete shock of how crazy they were in the sense that we didn’t have a guide with us. There was not break to chill, it was constant go go go. We had to move fast as we had to be out of the water at 9.30pm on dark no matter how far we made it, and had to trek along the river what we didn’t make by sun down, so the further we paddled the less we had to trek. We had to stop and bail our boat every 10mins, with one small bailer !!
It started Midnight Friday night June 2nd. There were 3 advanced sections that each team could choose to do or not to do, each worth 1 point each. This is the first thing that we didn’t agree on, as each were completely different, ie advanced sections 1 took maybe 1hr, advanced section 2 took like 6hrs +, but they were worth the same points, we did not agree to this at all.
Anyway, we hit it out hard, the first night we kept swapping leads with Wild Rose team, who had won this race the last 2 years and where a solid efficient team. We were for sure faster, but they were for sure smarter with fewer navigational mistakes so always got back in front when we made a mistake. It came to day break. We had what we thought was a 4-5 hr trek ahead. After climbing to a breathtaking peak with 360 degree views we descended through the forest of hours and hours of bush waking and crossing a freezing cold river endless times. We came in the next transition after a zipline across a waterfall 9hrs 30mins later. Only 5 teams decided to do this advanced section, and it destroyed us all, it seemed to be a very tedious un-needed too long of a trek. We were 18hrs into the race and all of which had been trekking except the 2-3hr ride. Our feet were a mess. We had the whitewater rafting next, but daylight wasn’t on our side, we were now back in 4th with 3rd in sight, we got on the water at 7pm, with the non self bailing boat, while the team ahead got the bailing boat. The rapids were out of control, we were all in complete shock of how crazy they were in the sense that we didn’t have a guide with us. There was not break to chill, it was constant go go go. We had to move fast as we had to be out of the water at 9.30pm on dark no matter how far we made it, and had to trek along the river what we didn’t make by sun down, so the further we paddled the less we had to trek. We had to stop and bail our boat every 10mins, with one small bailer !!
After getting stuck on rocks, nearly falling out numerous times, and holding on for dear life many other times, we made it to the checkpoint just past the half way point by sundown 9.30pm. We had to be off the water, and then had a 12km trek with our paddles, wetsuits and PFD’s to the next Transition. We arrived about midnight. On to our bikes for a 5hr or so bike ride, we were in about 3rd we thought. We hit the ride hard, and then came into the last trek, the last of the advanced options. We hit the first checkpoint – and this was where the race was lost for us, but not knowing this at the time. We left this checkpoint having the option of heading straight to the finish line, or to do the last advanced. We had 2nd place in the bag if we did the last advanced. We soldiered on, up to 6700 feet yet again. Time was now not on our hands, we had 4 hours to make it back to the finish line for the 36hour cut-off. We hit it hard, we were all hurting big time, and we were counting down the clock as we bush waked our way back. We made it with 20mins to spare. We were so very proud of ourselves and all our team, we fort hard, and dug deep and came 2nd to a very well respected experienced team of Wild Rose.
We left to shower and come back for presentations only to find out they say we are not given 2nd place. They state we missed the last cut off to do the advanced. We had to leave to do the advanced by 7am, we left at 7.20am. The Checkpoint staff failed to tell us that we missed cut off, and the cut off made now sense anyway if we were physically able to make it back in the allocated time. We were furious. To then find out, if the checkpoint staff had of told us we missed cut-off, we would have proceeded to the finish line, with still 2 advanced sections completed and still would have finished 2nd. We were all devistated and very upset with the race staff. But at least the teams around us and we ourselves knew we truly finished in second place.
This race was held south of the Rocky Mountains; it had the most breathtaking views every minute of the race. We were fortunate enough to have my parents visiting from Australia and we had a motor home as our support crew, also along with Todd’s girlfriend Kim, and John’s girlfriend Colleen. Without these guys this race would have been a lot harder, they did and amazing job of providing up with food at transitions, having all our gear layed out, and helping in anyway possible. Thankyou so much guys, you don’t understand how much we appreciated it and we could not ever think of how to repay you guys.
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