Posted: August 3, 2004

Adventure Racing: Merrell Zanfel (USA) Takes the Lead at Adventure Racing World Championship 2004

Adventure Racing World Championship 2004 -Port aux Basques, Newfoundland & Labrador, Canada

Race Update

As dawn breaks over Newfoundland teams are on the move again. During the night the pace slowed down as teams began to tire, many heading in to the 2nd night without any sleep.

Nike ACG/Balance Bar (USA) have served a 2 hour time penalty at CP12. Following a gear check it came to light that they had left some their compulsory equipment, radio and emergency blanket, back at CP4. However, this may not hinder the teams as it will allow them a timely opportunity to sleep.

This made way for Merrell Zanfel (USA) to take the lead. Having checked in to CP11 one minute after Nike, they moved on to CP12 where they also caught some shut eye. Re-energized they were on their way at 05.20. Whilst Nike ACG/Balance Bar is being held at CP12, both Nokia Adventure (Fin) and Team Cross Sportswear (Swe) have passed through CP12.

Sierra International (NZ) completed their first kayak section in good time. Their fast paddle around the south coast pushed them up the rankings from 33rd position to 15th. They came off the water with 4 minutes to spare before the enforcement of the dark zone. They were quite tired after their effort and headed of on their bikes 5 hours and 3 minutes later.

Team EADS (France) were not as fortunate as Sierra International (NZ) and did not make it off the water by 9pm, the start of the dark zone. They paddled in to TA1 at 9.10pm. The ten extra minutes on the water has meant they will be serving an 150 minute penalty at the next checkpoint. This may have been a tactical decision as the teams would have remained on shore until the lift of the dark zone at 4.45 am. The team served their penalty at CP 8 and continued on their way, trekking in to the Long Range Mountains.

A lack of sleep is causing trouble for teams throughout the field. Tim Pearson from Team Bridgedale (NZ) fell asleep while descending a hill on mountain bike. In a moment of sleepiness he steered off course and was thrown from his bike causing whiplash. Taken to hospital and kept overnight for evaluation, he will be released today. The team are disappointed and have withdrawn from the race.

Other teams that have withdrawn include IRLUSCAN (IRL/CAN/USA), and Discovery/The North Face (USA), while Teams Wild Rose (CAN) and Necky (USA) are continuing unranked.

The leading teams are due to reach Flat Bay for the Dory paddle this morning. They must transport their team members and bikes across the bay before a mountain bike ride along the edge of the Lewis Hills.

The race can be followed on www.arworldchampionship.com and also on www.sleepmonsters.com.

Background information
The 2004 ADVENTURE RACING WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP is the championship event for the Adventure Racing World Series of eight premier international races, including the Beast of the East (USA), Raid the North Extreme (Canada), Ecomotion /Pro (Brazil), Explore Sweden (Sweden), Appalachian Extreme (USA), Southern Traverse (New Zealand), European Championship Adventure Race (Austria), and Adventure Quest Africa (South Africa). The world's top teams were invited to compete in the 2004 ADVENTURE RACING WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP based on winning placements and qualifying criteria of the Adventure Racing World Series races, with the remainder of the 50 teams selected via an application process.

About Frontier Adventure Racing Inc.:
Frontier Adventure Racing Inc. (FAR Inc.) is the leading adventure racing company in Canada, operating the popular Raid the North and Salomon Adventure Challenge series. Now in its seventh year of operation, FAR Inc. has established an international reputation for solid logistics and challenging race courses. Providing traditional wilderness adventure race experiences has been FAR Inc.'s focus since day one. Often building courses around the history and traditions of the regions competitors travel through, FAR Inc. remains true to its slogan: Real Wilderness. Real Navigation. Real Adventure.