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Team Sabah 2000
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The local Malaysian team may be the only ones comfortable in the jungle, their "home town," and they plan on using the sky as their compass.
By David Thomsen, Quokka Sports |
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The members of Team Sabah 2000 all reside in Kota Kinabalu (race start headquarters), but according to Kona Liau, that's not where they're from. "The forest is our hometown," said the 28-year-old, who grew up hunting in the jungle with her father. "We're not worried about the leeches or jungle."
The scrappy local team has never raced in an Eco-Challenge before. Ahmadul Tahir, an enthusiastic and gregarious river guide who once walked 1135 km in 54 days, says that he and his wife have seen past Eco-Challenge races on television. He's not sure how she feels about his participation. "Maybe she thinks I'm crazy," he said, beaming.
One thing 30-year-old Tahir is sure about is the solidarity of his team. "We are all friends," he said. "I think we have a lot of confidence."
Several veteran competitors, including Ian Adamson (Salomon/Eco-Internet) and John Howard (Fairydown Fleet CookieTime) have also expressed confidence in the Sabahan team. Howard raced against Liau and Team Sabah 2000 member Guianus Salagan in the Elf Authentic Adventure Race last year in the Philippines.
"They're very very fit, they're very very good in their own environment. I raced with them in the Philippines and I was most impressed."
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"I think the team from Sabah could be a factor," said Howard. "They're very very fit, they're very very good in their own environment. I raced with them in the Philippines and I was most impressed."
The primary navigator from the Malaysian team that did so well in the Philippine jungle, however, is not racing with Team Sabah 2000 in the Eco-Challenge. Taking up the navigating responsibilities are Liau and 48-year-old expedition racing rookie, Cowboy Miala. The stocky ex-army commando and father of two earned his name when an English settler arrived unexpectedly at his parents' door on horseback on the day that Cowboy was born.
Though they admit that navigation is not their strength, the Sabahans claim they will use more then a map and compass to find their way through the jungle. "The sky is our compass if we can see the sun or the moon or the stars," said Liau.
Adventure racing is not particularly popular in the region, but the members of Team Sabah 2000 are all experienced endurance athletes. They started training together for the Eco-Challenge five months ago, but have been on the national triathlon team for nearly a decade, winning various mountain bike races, foot races and triathlons.
The team has struggled to assemble the gear necessary to compete in the race. To comply with strict requirements, they have had to borrow many crucial pieces of equipment. Several items have been shipped from abroad, including Miala's mountain bike, which was scheduled to arrive from Hong Kong on the day before the race starts.
They credit their sponsor Datok Chong Kah Kiat, the Minister of Tourism, with enabling their participation. "Without him, we wouldn't be here," said Salagan, a 33-year-old shop keeper and the number-one ranked mountain runner in Malaysia.
A six-time winner of the race up Mount Kinabalu, Salagan is also married to teammate Liau. He's won several races up the stairs of skyscrapers, including the Kuala Lumpur Tower, the New Zealand Sky Tower and the Empire State Building. "So big," he said of New York City. "I like here better."
One thing is clear: this team is enjoying their moment in the spotlight. "We are very happy to take part in such a big competition," said Tahir. "We're not worried because this is new to us. We will give our best shot."
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