BASK-Russia team participates in Southern Traverse
BASK-Russia team takes part in a first-rate international extreme adventure racing Southern Traverse in New Zealand. It’s a debut of our multi-sport team in these world-famous competitions. This year the racing takes place in Dunedin (New Zealand) on the 10-15th of November.
Southern Traverse is one of the eight principal extreme World AR (Adventure Racings) and a part of World Multisport Cup. Southern Traverse is headlined in mass media all over the world. This time athletes are to surmount a 450 km route overfilled with various obstacles. All stages of the racing should be passed in a non-stop mode, what will take 5 or 6 days.
In accordance with international multisport rules each team should include at least one woman. In BASK—Russia team a `weaker sex’ is presented with a captain Anna Medvedeva (Saint-Petersburg), who is a master of sports in paddling and a participant of Camel Trophy – 2000 (Africa), Adrenalin Rush -2001 (Scotland), Arctic Team Challenge -2002 (Sweden), Raid Gauloises- 2003 (Kyrgyzia) and a number of other prestige competitions. The other members are Andrew Rostovcev (Moscow), Andrew Ivanov (Yekaterinburg) and J.D. Eskelson from USA. The latter is a very experienced multi-athlete, a captain of an American team. He is hoped to strengthen the crew. Anna thinks that Eskelson will help the Russian team to adapt to specific conditions of such competitions and refine tactics.
`Coastering’ sport is a new disciple for our team. It suggests swimming and racing along a coast and shoaling rocks. Individual outfit must include flippers and insulated dry suit. Anna says that she, as a captain, mostly is concerned with a `mountain bike’ stage as here are some technical aspects, like steep descents and downhills that can’t be practiced in Moscow suburbs. The rest laps, such as trekking, white-water kayak-paddling (of an average difficulty), sea-paddling, canyoning (New Zealand canyons are of 1200 m height), fixed ropes ascending, navigation and orienteering are well-known to our athletes.
The team also includes assistants who help to transport kayaks and bikes, shoot and film competitions, provide connection and contribute generally to members. Assistants help competition organizers to conduct a racing. There are two assistant and one of them should provide us with on-line news about the racing.
We can’t reckon chances of our team now as there is a keen rivalry between about 40 experienced teams for the award. But – we wish good luck to our athletes!
Coordinators of the racing – Geoff Hunt (race course designer) and Pascale Lorre.
General and supplier sponsor of the team – company BASK.
13.11.2003
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