Time for a race report!
Raid Del Viento 2018, what an absolutely crazy adventure into Patagonia! A lot of highs, some sweet teammates, amazing vistas, and some really solid challenges that this time got the better of us but give us a bit of recovery and watch out next time!
I arrived 5 days before the race, and speaking no Spanish, just went with the flow, and stayed with team Paradofobia (a fear of stopping) who spoke little English, so my Spanish naturally got better in leaps and bounds, though they spoke Portuguese to each other so I was thoroughly confused by the end of that, but it was great to chill and explore the terrain with some great guys!
The girls and Lars arrived before the race, and we spent the day hurriedly packing and going through the pre-race checks, practicing jumaring (ascending on ropes) and selecting kayaks from a very heterogeneous pool. The kayaks we ended up with did the job well, but we did find then quite tippy when the waves got up!
We drove to the start the next morning very early and were greeted with amazing mountains with no wind, which was remarkable given that every day thus far had been extremely windy. After getting a lot of last-minute instructions in Spanish, which we think we managed to get translated correctly by other teams, we were ready!
Raid Del Viento 2018, what an absolutely crazy adventure into Patagonia! A lot of highs, some sweet teammates, amazing vistas, and some really solid challenges that this time got the better of us but give us a bit of recovery and watch out next time!
I arrived 5 days before the race, and speaking no Spanish, just went with the flow, and stayed with team Paradofobia (a fear of stopping) who spoke little English, so my Spanish naturally got better in leaps and bounds, though they spoke Portuguese to each other so I was thoroughly confused by the end of that, but it was great to chill and explore the terrain with some great guys!
The girls and Lars arrived before the race, and we spent the day hurriedly packing and going through the pre-race checks, practicing jumaring (ascending on ropes) and selecting kayaks from a very heterogeneous pool. The kayaks we ended up with did the job well, but we did find then quite tippy when the waves got up!
We drove to the start the next morning very early and were greeted with amazing mountains with no wind, which was remarkable given that every day thus far had been extremely windy. After getting a lot of last-minute instructions in Spanish, which we think we managed to get translated correctly by other teams, we were ready!
Stage 1: 5km orienteering
We started with a bunch, moving steadily but not over-enthusiastically, and picked up all the controls with not much drama. A good route meant that we arrived at transition first and got out on the water a few minutes ahead of everyone else.
We started with a bunch, moving steadily but not over-enthusiastically, and picked up all the controls with not much drama. A good route meant that we arrived at transition first and got out on the water a few minutes ahead of everyone else.
Stage 2-4: 25km kayak, 5km run, 15km kayak
The kayak started off as a dream, we were in the lead, paddling on the glassy water, spiking the navigation, chatting away to each other. On paper we were never a strong paddling team, so we accepted that we would be happy with the kayak if we were not too far behind. Teams slowly began to reel us in, but we just kept moving consistently. As we finished the first part of the leg on the southern lake, we paddled towards the second lake, here it began to hail like nothing I've ever seen before. We heard it at first, a thunderous roar approaching, then ice the size of grapes began to pelt us from above, then as soon as it began, it was over. We struggled through a portage upriver to the next lake and got quite cold. When we got there, we were greeted with big rolling waves and confusing safety directions in Spanish, but there was no way we were crossing the lake, as it would be too dangerous. We paddled around the side and got to the transition to a wee trek out to a waterfall and back which was very cool. At this point, we were in 4th place, behind the leaders by about 5-10 minutes, which we held onto for the next paddle back down the river to the southern lake.
The kayak started off as a dream, we were in the lead, paddling on the glassy water, spiking the navigation, chatting away to each other. On paper we were never a strong paddling team, so we accepted that we would be happy with the kayak if we were not too far behind. Teams slowly began to reel us in, but we just kept moving consistently. As we finished the first part of the leg on the southern lake, we paddled towards the second lake, here it began to hail like nothing I've ever seen before. We heard it at first, a thunderous roar approaching, then ice the size of grapes began to pelt us from above, then as soon as it began, it was over. We struggled through a portage upriver to the next lake and got quite cold. When we got there, we were greeted with big rolling waves and confusing safety directions in Spanish, but there was no way we were crossing the lake, as it would be too dangerous. We paddled around the side and got to the transition to a wee trek out to a waterfall and back which was very cool. At this point, we were in 4th place, behind the leaders by about 5-10 minutes, which we held onto for the next paddle back down the river to the southern lake.
Stage 5: trek 15km
This trek was probably the highlight of the race for me. We moved at a consistent pace through the rolling hills and wondered at the splendour of the show covered Patagonian mountains around us. We passed a team and got passed by team buff reaching transition 5 minutes behind the leaders.
Stage 6: 2km paddle
This was a short stage back to where we began the race and involved us dragging the kayaks to avoid going across the rising waves, then paddling very fast downwind when we went with them.
This trek was probably the highlight of the race for me. We moved at a consistent pace through the rolling hills and wondered at the splendour of the show covered Patagonian mountains around us. We passed a team and got passed by team buff reaching transition 5 minutes behind the leaders.
Stage 6: 2km paddle
This was a short stage back to where we began the race and involved us dragging the kayaks to avoid going across the rising waves, then paddling very fast downwind when we went with them.
Stage 7: 65km bike
Stoked to get out of the freezing water and wind, we got into warm clothes and steamed out of transition on the bikes. A beautiful sunset and a tailwind were great friends to us at this point. As the night grew darker, the temperature began to plummet below zero, the river crossings became freezing until we were all wearing all of our mandatory gear and still shivering. Our gears became clogged with mud and as this froze, changing gears was not possible. We pushed onwards and ended the leg with a long downhill which brought us to transition very cold, led there by one of the many police cars on the course!
Stoked to get out of the freezing water and wind, we got into warm clothes and steamed out of transition on the bikes. A beautiful sunset and a tailwind were great friends to us at this point. As the night grew darker, the temperature began to plummet below zero, the river crossings became freezing until we were all wearing all of our mandatory gear and still shivering. Our gears became clogged with mud and as this froze, changing gears was not possible. We pushed onwards and ended the leg with a long downhill which brought us to transition very cold, led there by one of the many police cars on the course!
Stage 8: 15km Rogaine
This was another great stage. We set off back up the hill we had just spent so long descending, opting to take the fast road and then a short distance through the forest than the direct route, which proved the best route. We then moved quickly through the day of the controls without much issue until the last one which was tricky, but with the rising sun Sanna spotted it and sent us on our way back to transition. By this time the girls had both begun to feel quite sick in their guts, and we were having to stop more frequently to attend to this. We took medication and continued, hoping their bodies would resolve themselves.
Stage 9: 55km bike
This stage was a mixed bag. We started off well, moving swiftly downriver and picking up controls easily. The day grew hotter, but exposed amazing views of the surrounding rocks as we climbed. We opted for a risky route choice that cut out 3 sides if a square but was marked as a small dirt road. This road didn't exist, and it turned into a bush bash with the bikes. It Is hard to tell but I estimate we lost somewhere between 20 and 30 minutes here. Nothing race-breaking, but frustrating all the same. Following this, we realised our camera was missing, it must have fallen out of a bag, so the controls where we had to take photos of the location became a job for the good old pen and paper drawing. On our way back to transition, we were still in good spirits, biking in single file when the unthinkable happened. We passed a farm, and immediately some dogs ran out at us, barking. Instinctively I slowed down, but to my horror, Sanna, who was right behind me, hit my back wheel and went down. We salvaged the situation as best we could, but she came away from this with a nasty injury to her arm that made biking downhill agony. The rest of the bike was not long but we all felt for Sanna who now had one more element of suffering.
This was another great stage. We set off back up the hill we had just spent so long descending, opting to take the fast road and then a short distance through the forest than the direct route, which proved the best route. We then moved quickly through the day of the controls without much issue until the last one which was tricky, but with the rising sun Sanna spotted it and sent us on our way back to transition. By this time the girls had both begun to feel quite sick in their guts, and we were having to stop more frequently to attend to this. We took medication and continued, hoping their bodies would resolve themselves.
Stage 9: 55km bike
This stage was a mixed bag. We started off well, moving swiftly downriver and picking up controls easily. The day grew hotter, but exposed amazing views of the surrounding rocks as we climbed. We opted for a risky route choice that cut out 3 sides if a square but was marked as a small dirt road. This road didn't exist, and it turned into a bush bash with the bikes. It Is hard to tell but I estimate we lost somewhere between 20 and 30 minutes here. Nothing race-breaking, but frustrating all the same. Following this, we realised our camera was missing, it must have fallen out of a bag, so the controls where we had to take photos of the location became a job for the good old pen and paper drawing. On our way back to transition, we were still in good spirits, biking in single file when the unthinkable happened. We passed a farm, and immediately some dogs ran out at us, barking. Instinctively I slowed down, but to my horror, Sanna, who was right behind me, hit my back wheel and went down. We salvaged the situation as best we could, but she came away from this with a nasty injury to her arm that made biking downhill agony. The rest of the bike was not long but we all felt for Sanna who now had one more element of suffering.
Stage 10: 17km trek
This trek was when we began to really struggle as a team. Injuries and sickness began to really take their toll, and we moved slowly over what was very rough terrain. In spite of this, we did a great time for this leg through being consistent with the navigation and not stopping much. The terrain was pretty epic, and felt like we were in somewhere like Utah, with giant red towers of rock and cactuses everywhere.
This trek was when we began to really struggle as a team. Injuries and sickness began to really take their toll, and we moved slowly over what was very rough terrain. In spite of this, we did a great time for this leg through being consistent with the navigation and not stopping much. The terrain was pretty epic, and felt like we were in somewhere like Utah, with giant red towers of rock and cactuses everywhere.
Stage 11: 20km bike and ropes
The girls shot off up the hill at a pace which I struggled to match, but managed to hold onto. When we left the road we had to stop for a break not from fatigue, but it was clear that the girls were in a lot of pain from being sick. I was amazed at how bad things had got, as they had been pushing on like nothing was wrong just by sheer determination. We rehydrated and began moving forward, but it began to become clear that things were deteriorating. When we reached the ropes, we were greeted to a great sunset, but we came to the realisation that the girls needed urgent medical support, and continuing was no longer an option for us, so after passing through the ropes course we began our descent back down the mountain to the road.
We reached the road and fortunately one of the race crew arrived in a car. We explained to him that we needed hospital attention and he took the girls away to seek help. This was a really gutting moment for the team, who until this had been doing really well, and at this point were in second place with a margin of over 3 hours on the next team. However, these things happen when the body is pushed to its limits in unfamiliar environments and is just the reality of racing.
The girls spent the night in hospital in Andocollo receiving intravenous antibiotics to fight the infections well as fluids to rehydrate.
Lars and I spent the night at one if the transitions and biked the rest of the way to the finish in the morning. Other racers said that It was an absolute sufferfest on straight roads in the early morning in negative temperatures, but for Lars and I it was a beautiful ride in the mountains to the orienteering and finish at Chos Malal.
The girls shot off up the hill at a pace which I struggled to match, but managed to hold onto. When we left the road we had to stop for a break not from fatigue, but it was clear that the girls were in a lot of pain from being sick. I was amazed at how bad things had got, as they had been pushing on like nothing was wrong just by sheer determination. We rehydrated and began moving forward, but it began to become clear that things were deteriorating. When we reached the ropes, we were greeted to a great sunset, but we came to the realisation that the girls needed urgent medical support, and continuing was no longer an option for us, so after passing through the ropes course we began our descent back down the mountain to the road.
We reached the road and fortunately one of the race crew arrived in a car. We explained to him that we needed hospital attention and he took the girls away to seek help. This was a really gutting moment for the team, who until this had been doing really well, and at this point were in second place with a margin of over 3 hours on the next team. However, these things happen when the body is pushed to its limits in unfamiliar environments and is just the reality of racing.
The girls spent the night in hospital in Andocollo receiving intravenous antibiotics to fight the infections well as fluids to rehydrate.
Lars and I spent the night at one if the transitions and biked the rest of the way to the finish in the morning. Other racers said that It was an absolute sufferfest on straight roads in the early morning in negative temperatures, but for Lars and I it was a beautiful ride in the mountains to the orienteering and finish at Chos Malal.
Overall the race was an epic adventure in some truly amazing terrain, against some great competition. While it was a shame not to finish, it was a splendid expedition and I am so glad to have had the opportunity to have raced here, and would love to come back. A huge thanks to my team-mates for putting up with me and sharing a solid mix of suffering and sweet times.
Of course, a massive thanks must go out to Merrell who were amazing in supporting us for this event.
Tom Spencer and Team Merrell
After the race we travelled to San Martin De Los Andes with a race marshal; Gustavo who very generously allowed us to stay at his house, and over the next few days proceeded to show us all the best local spots, so here are the photos!