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Team Vail/PacketVideo
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Team Profile
By David Thomsen, Quokka Sports |
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Team Vail surprised everybody, perhaps even themselves, when they won the
Eco-Challenge in 1998. After edging out Team Aussie in Morocco, they became
the first American team to win the race, vaulting from unknown to
one of the most respected squads in the sport.
"It didn't really change my personal life. I'm still a ski patrolman in the
winter and a raft guide in the summer," said Team Vail's captain, Billy
Mattison. "But it kind of rationalized my whole lifestyle. It kind of gave me a reason to keep doing what I've been doing for the last 20 years."
In those 20 years, the 42-year-old Mattison, somewhat of a celebrity in his
hometown of Vail, Colo., has earned a legendary reputation in paddling
circles for his river and leadership skills. As co-owner of a whitewater
rafting company, he leads dozens of trips each summer through some of the
state's most demanding and dangerous rapids. During the winter, he's foreman
and avalanche director of the Vail Ski Patrol.
"He can just stride through
anything. We'll tie a rope onto him and he'll pull us through the
jungle."
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"Unfortunately, the rest of my team doesn't have the same paddling background
that I do," admitted Mattison, who says his teammates have been kayaking four
days a week to train for Borneo. "The paddling is probably our weak point."
Team Vail is going into Borneo with only half of its winning Morocco
squad, Mattison and 49-year-old triathlete Andreas Boesel. One former
teammate is having a baby. The other, veteran endurance athlete Mike Kloser,
was recruited away by the formidable Team Salomon/Eco-Internet after Team
Vail finished ninth at the Raid Gauloises earlier this year.
The swap has spurred a friendly rivalry between the two teams, which still
train together on occasion. "We want to kick his ass and he wants to kick
ours," said Mattison with a laugh.
"We miss Mike," Mattison continued. "He's probably the strongest guy in this
entire race. He's unbelievable. But Andy Lapkass took his place."
The 6-foot-4 Lapkass, a world-class mountaineer with 27 Himalayan expeditions
on his climbing resume, brings valuable orienteering and trekking experience
to Team Vail. "Andy is, I think, just as strong as Mike," said Mattison.
"He's summited Everest twice. He's climbed Lhotse and Nuptse and Ama Dablam."
Mattison, enthusiastic and friendly but also intensely competitive, is
banking on Lapkass' strength in the jungle. "He can just stride through
anything," he said. "We'll tie a rope onto him and he'll pull us through the
jungle."
With 41-year-old Ellen Miller, a three-time summiter of Mount McKinley,
filling the fourth spot, Team Vail's strength is at altitude. Last year in
Argentina, Team Vail led the first mountain leg by two hours.
But the team remains untested in the jungle. "This jungle thing has us a little sketched," Mattison admitted. "None of us have ever really spent any time ever in our lives in the jungle, so it'll be very challenging for us."
In preparation for Borneo, they've been focusing on preventing injuries.
"We've been testing different types of treatments for our feet, trying to
keep our skin dry," said Mattison. "The foot problems that go with a jungle
race, from what we hear, are extremely difficult. You can't keep your feet
from chafing and blistering in your shoes because they're wet so much."
"As far as heat and humidity goes, we haven't done a thing," he continued.
"We live at 8,000 feet, and it's cool and clear here. It's like the exact
opposite," he said, chuckling.
Nevertheless, Mattison is confident in Team Vail's chances. "We
understand how to pace ourselves and just really concentrate on not making a
single mistake," he said. "I think we'll be right in there."
After the victory in Morocco, according to Mattison, it became easier for
Team Vail to secure high-profile sponsorships. "We're pretty well sponsored
now, and so that pressure's been taken off of us and we can concentrate more
on training," he said. "That's definitely given us a little bit of an
advantage."
All of the members of Team Vail are in their 40s, but Mattison shows no signs
of slowing down. "I just want to push it while I can while I'm still young
and strong," he said. "And when I'm done and I build my cabin up in the
mountains and sit out on the deck, I can have great memories."
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