Agouti, Morocco (camp 2)— Sunday, Oct. 11, 1998 noon
|  Team NZ Women head for the climb [click for bio] |
|
[scroll down for this morning's report and audio]
Hear Team Wild South Adventure's Tane Humphrey talk about his team's overnight fall from 2nd place to 10th
 LISTEN [Real Audio]
[Windows Media]
[PC only Emblaze] |
| (You need a FREE media player to hear the audio) |
Last night we caught up with Team New Zealand Women, one of only two women's teams, at camp 2. This was a great insight into what the teams experience at this point — only two things on their minds FOOD and SLEEP and then a massive organize to plot a course and pack gear for the hell climb up to 13,000 feet.
The team arrived at 2pm extremely cold and tired after the horse leg. The camp resembles a M.A.S.H. unit and at night it's pretty confusing amongst the sprawl of tents, but after checking in the team headed straight to the food tents to feast.
|
|
|
|
| "We have just heard that the Spanish Team has reached the summit overnight and is now descending to reach the mountain bike leg and the 180km pedal to the finish..." |
|
|
|
|
Local food is on the menu, couscous, bread, rice and vegetables; after days of dried rations and Powerbars, it is a welcome change.
Next it's straight to the crash tents for definitely the best sleep of the entire race. Many of the leading teams opted to keep moving, but with such a huge trek awaiting them the New Zealand women's team decided a recharge was necessary and got a good five hours sleep.
|  Last chance for gear |
|
We have just heard that the Spanish Team has reached the summit
overnight and is now descending to reach the mountain bike leg and the
180km pedal to the finish.
— Chris Vile, Mountain Zone Correspondent
|
Agouti, Morocco — Sunday, Oct. 11, 1998 early
|  Teams sticking together |
|
Hear Team Wild South Adventure's Tane Humphrey's take on the rope section which media was unable to get to
| LISTEN [Real Audio]
[Windows Media]
[PC only Emblaze]
|
| (You need a FREE media player to hear the audio)[RealPlayer]
[Windows Media] |
At first light today, Team Germany member Ralf Schockmann was evacuated from the course (see photo on previous update) suffering from a badly sprained ankle.It was not Team Germany's day because not long after this his fellow team member Sabine Nuber was also heli-evac'd extremely ill with dehydration.
It was also not a good day for the New Zealander's with Team Kiwi captain Adam Fairmaid having to be evacuated suffering from severe dehydration and diarrhea. We spoke with him at camp 2 and after re hydration treatment, he is recovering well, though is very disappointed that his race would end this way "with a factor that is totally out of your control," he said.
|
|
|
|
| "A search was mounted for Team Rubicon after they had failed to arrive at a check point last night as scheduled..." |
|
|
|
|
Team Cepos from Spain remains in the lead after finishing the horse leg here at camp 2 at 9:30 this morning. The reaction from all that have seen this team is general amazement at how strong they are and how good they look considering the lack of sleep over the last 3 days.
They were followed into camp 2 by Team Adventure One and Team Vail of the USA..
|  Mgoun Range trek |
|
Up until this point competitors have not known the last section of the course and for many it will be a big shock...the mountains they have just traversed merely a warm up for this last leg. A very real threat will be altitude sickness at these elevations so teams will have to monitor each other closely for symptoms of what can be a fatal illness.
Today we had a chance to fly into the mountains and meet teams as they embarked on the 47km horse trek.
The Royal Moroccan Cavalry has supplied its finest stallions for this event. It was a spectacular sight to see their full cavalry camp set up in a remote valley surrounded by high barren peaks.
Many teams especially those less experienced with horses have encountered problems with these animals. Bob Foster(Team New Zealand) received a bad bash as his horse tried to kick another horse nearby..As if this wasn't bad enough later that day his horse stumbled and actually fell down a bank rolling on him..
Making it to camp 2 Bob was philosophical about his experience on the horses and although bruised and sore was eager to get on the road to chase the lead teams.
Other course news today
A search was mounted for Team Rubicon after they had failed to arrive at
a check point last night as scheduled.
The Team was sighted way off course after Team Eco-Italia reported that
they had provided Rubicon with warmth and support the previous night.
For there efforts team Eco Italia has been awarded a two hour time bonus.
Event Organizer Mark Burnett said "their assistance was in the true
spirit of Adventure racing." [click here for Team Rubicon's response to this report]
At the very tail end of the race, Team Namibia has withdrawn after they were told they would not make the cut off at PC10.
Mark Burnett also commented that most of the trailing teams were actually in very good shape. With, officially, a week left of the race most of these teams should be able to finish the course.
The first teams are expected to finish the course in Marrakech either late on Monday or early Tuesday morning.
Current placings Top-20.
1. Team Cepos
2. Team Adventure One
3. Team Vail
4. Team Aussie
5. Team Porelle
6. Team N.Z
7. Team Wild South Adventure
8. Team Mexico
9. Team Idaho
10. Team SCAR
11. Team Outback Canada
12. Epinephrine Adventure Racing
13. Team Finland
14. Team Navigator
15. Team Big Sky
16. Team Australian Edge
17. Team Argentina
18. Team Stray Dogs
19. Team N.Z Women
20. Dutch Adventure Racers
Unranked — teams have lost a member but will continue: Team Kiwi, Just do it France, Germany, Heart Fit, Evolution DMX, Les Normands and Gulfstream
Disqualified: Namibia, Urban Edge NYC, Team WA, and Morocco's Gendarmerie Royale 3
— Chris Vile, Mountain Zone Correspondent
 |  |  |
[Eco Home] [Daily Action Index] [MountainZone.com Home]
 © Copyright 1998 The Zone Networkall rights reserved |