Rss/XmlARWC
My upload last night didn't take so i'll try to summarize before I head out to intercept the team.
A brutal day yesterday, heavy weather pounded all teams. The mountain bike section at Laggan Wolftrax was a blast, lot's of fast singletrack and wooden challenges. The wood was a bit slippery in the bad weather so those weren't appreciated as much. The Ascent and descent at Binnein Shuas was painful, howling winds at the top froze the athletes as they waited for their individual turns on the rope. Once they got down off the rock they started to warm up, but the squalling conditions on the rock took a toll on many racers. Jari Kirkland of Crested Butte was full body shaking as she was reppelling down the last pitch, she said that she had been unable to get warm in any way for the last 6 hours, several hours later in the TA the race doctor directed her to warm up indoors at the hotel.
Robyn and Team Merrell/Wigwam were doing well coming off the Shuas, warm enough under the circumstances. Upon arriving at the TA they decided to sleep and not chance a hypothermic problem on the loch Ericht. Unlike Merrell/Wigwam Balance Vector left fairly quickly out of the TA and had to stop twice on the Loch Ericht to warm up Richar Ussher. Nathan Fa'arve of Balance Vector used the manditory cell phone to e-mail back to Steve Knowles in New Zealand informing him that they may need to medevac Richard. Steve then e-mailed a New Zealand media person here at the race and she in turn told the race organization. All that and Balance Vector moved on, apparantly able to warm Richard enough to move on.
The next brought more indications of carnage, Sole pulled out of the race. Aberdeen Asset Management has an injury that will probably take them out of the race. Helen Jackson has a butt injury from landing on a rock during the 3 meter water jump. She's been unable to sit on the bike during the entire last ride and it's doubtful that she'll be able to paddle.
Rumors are flying that only 2 teams are going to be able to complete the full course, all teams need to be off of the paddle section by 1pm local time in order to continue on the full course, Merrell/Wigwam is in danger of not making that cut off. There are also rumors of cutting out Ben Nevis at the end, to date although Ben Nevis has been in every ARC race it's been cut out every time. The race HQ is in turmoil right trying to figure out penalties and decided what to do with the course. Many things are going to happen in the next few hours.
The weather has brightened a little although the weather report is saying periodic heavy rain....well there's a friggin surprise. Ironically participants in last years race have said that the weather this year is pretty good in comparison...so that's a relief.
