| After completing the jungle
run, teams began their first of two mountain biking segments. As
the race course is a complete secret to all competitors, they must
be prepared for everything. The mountain biking segments turned
out to be one of the easiest parts of the race, with all riding
happening on the road. However, there were no shortage of challenges
for the racers.
After their first bike segment had been completed, the field was
beginning to stretch out. Racers had two paddling events, one with
kayaks and the other with inflatable rafts. These rafts were less
than streamlined, making things difficult for even the most experienced
paddlers. Another run through the jungle followed, leading the racers
up to a high point on the trail. Soon after reaching that they were
forced to climb a cargo-net ladder, clip in and jump off the platform
riding a zip line back down into the lake. The delays caused by
racers and organizers needing to ensure that all harnesses and carabiners
were functioning properly served as a bottleneck; early teams through
were given a tremendous advantage while at least affording some
of the slower teams a chance to rest before resuming the race.
More jungle running led the racers to the second biking segment.
Though technically considered road riding, the road was in such
poor condition that mountain bikes were absolutely necessary. This
ride, much longer than the first featured some long climbs and fast
descents, eventually into a rocky, mostly dry river bed. The most
treacherous of the jungle scrambling was still ahead of the racers.
High ridgelines, sheer vertical drops, rope sections and more challenged
even the most accomplished teams, though those who still had higher
energy levels didn't seem phased by the rugged course.
Approximately fifteen river crossings led the teams along the final
stretch to the finish. Again, as racers did not have prior knowledge
of the course, they could not have anticipated this. The strong
current and cold water necessitated clipping into the ropes every
time. This certainly slowed down the pace of the race, but helped
ensure that the racers didn't overheat, or get pulled away.
In the end, an international team of three from Switzerland, Portugal
and England won the event with a time of 4 hours and 41 minutes,
only one minute ahead of the second place team. More than two hundred
competitors from dozens of countries competed.
Back to the First Page of the 2002
Taiwan Action Asia Challenge Report
|
