Daily Summary of Adventure Costa Rica Race

8/28 - Final Press release - At  the end of the day, a time charged with  emotions.  When and who would be the next  team to arrive. Every minute of the long anticipation has been worth while. A quick review of the  race´s results, to get a general picture, but which will be thoroughly analyzed once all the control points hand in their scores.

The teams have been classified in two categories: The ELITE and the ADVENTURE teams.

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8/27 - Update #3 - One by one, the remaining teams arrive to the finish line.  Colombia Zom Bossi arrives at Samara Beach in third place at 9:a.m.  A very hard race, in which each member has proven their team work.  Excellent job.

The Finnish team Multisport Omajakon , arrived during the early hours, followed by Brazil´s team, who arrived at 11 a.m.   Both teams have only two members each and cannot qualify.  They managed till the end thus  proving their great sportsmanship.

8/27 - Update #2 - El equipo # 12, QUECHUA, gana oficialmente el segundo lugar de este CR Adventure Race. Habiendo llegado al puesto de control en Punta Islita y dado a que el clima era favorable y los competidores querian seguir se les permitio continuar a la meta, salieron 1 am y arribaron en la meta a las 4:30 am.
Se espera la llegada del equipo #15, cuyo nombre completo es BOSI ZOOM RADIO, que salio a las 4:30 am de Punta Islita y se aproxima su llegada a las 7:30 am a la meta.

Team #12, QUECHUA, wins officially the second place of this CR Adventure race. They arrived to the Control Point in Punta islita with good weather conditions and wanted to advance to the finish line, so the organizers allowed them to, they left at 1 am and arrived 4:30 am.
The next team to cross the finish line will be team #15, BOSI ZOOM RADIO, they left at 4:30 from Punta Islita and are expected at 7:30 in the finish line.

8/27 - Update #1 - Tonight at 8:05pm our first team crossed the finish line, the Swedish team #17, Explore.  After 84 hours of racing, including 185km of mountain biking that ended just a few kilometers before the end, they entered Playa Samara where a big crowd of staff, media and other competitors who are no longer in the race greeted them with cheers, flashes and applause. Everybody wanted to witness the last steps of a team that set the race pace since the beginning and remained strong through it all, even despite Per Vestling’s very bad knee. At some point the paramedics recommended him to stop, but he inspired so many by walking through that finished line, doing what he did best, smiling big!

Helena Lindnord from the swedish media accompanying team Explore, was interviewing Jari Kirkland earlier today, and Jari said before resting or showering she wanted a juicy hamburger and french fries! And her wishes were granted, and her whole team got a share, as well as some ice cold beer that went with meal.

That closed the action for Playa Samara tonight. The remaining 4 teams that remain in elite competition have been neutralized at checkpoint 36 for safety reasons and will spend the night there once they arrive. Tomorrow at the crack of dawn team Quechua #12 will be released at 4am, then Bosi Zoom Radio #15 at 4:30am and all other teams and racers at 5am.

The second place is expected to arrive at the finish line at 7:30am.

We’ll keep you all posted tomorrow!

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8/26 - Update #3 - THE  FINAL  STRECH

Most of the remaining teams have already done the sky trek in Monteverde.  Still to finish the task are the teams Orosi, Costa Rica Spirit, Agricenter Caribe and Bimbache .  Its estimated that by 15:30 they will all accomplish this task.

Meanwhile the heavy rains have persisted; many teams have had to ensemble their bikes under the pouring water.  Now they have to face 171km on their bikes.

There are only five “elite teams”; those who have accomplished faultlessly all tasks and have qualified throughout the entire race, from first place downwards:  Sweden´s Explore, France´s Quechua, Bossi Colombia, Real Costa Rica Coastal Challenge and Tierra Viva.  The rest of the teams qualify as “adventure teams”.

Safety Smart Wear quit at control point 29, just before the Interamerican highway,  at Lagarto,  due to Ligia Madrigal´s physical condition.  This was the last team to quit.

Quecha are closing the distance between the leading team Explore, but the Swedish still set the pace.  Both teams are now in Nicoya peninsula. A choppy sea is awaiting the leaders of the race for their kayak task in Carrillo, the task before the final trek.

It is expected that Explore will arrive during the next hour or two, that is around 15.00 or 16.30 of today Thursday, if they keep up with their pace.

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8/26 - update #2 - THE HEADING TEAMS ARE INCHES BETWEEN THEM.

The two heading teams fighting for the first place, Explore and Quechua set off at the same time for the sky trek at 8.37 yesterday evening.

The Colombian team Bossi , who arrived at midnight set off at 2.50 early morning, with a 2 hours difference from the French, are in third place.  Safety Costa Rica set out at 5.p.m for the BTT.  The third and fourth places are being disputed by the Costarricans and Colombians.  Both teams are minutes apart, with a steady pace throughout the entire race, just as in the case of the first and second teams.  

The two members of the Finnish team Omjakon, who are still participating with no chance of qualifying, arrived to the sky trek at 5.10a.m. The Brazil Quasar team, also with only two members left and out of competition, arrived at 6.10 am to start the next task.  Despite their circumstances and keeping in with the spirit, these two teams keep fighting hard.

Yesterday, due to the time differences between the teams, several have been advanced from one point to the next, skipping some of the tasks, which will be penalized in the final results.  Many teams have been forwarded from point control 20 at the Fortuna sports center, to a point further ahead.  The team Genie (team 8) along with the Canadian team, were transferred from point control 20 to point control 25 at Carrillo beach, were they will continue with the kayak task.

The other French team, Wenger (team 3) was transferred from point control 20 to point control 28 in Monteverde.Today several teams have been sanctioned for skipping the last trekking section:  Bimbache ( team14) from Spain;  Costa Rica´s  Caribe (team 6 )  and  Orosi (team 7), who have been forwarded from point control 25, Carrillo beach, to point control 27, sky trek.   One of the members of Bimbache has managed the last few hours with medical care as his feet are totally in shatters.  

Meanwhile, Wenger team is waiting to start the sky trek in order to continue with the mountain bike task.  

The final hours will prove a real adventure race for all!!!

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8/26 - updated - EARLY START TOWARDS THE FINISH LINE

8/26 - New events have developed during the race, this time it is the withdrawal of one of the favourite teams, Multisport.fi (team2) from Finland.  The Finnish team quits at control point 22 at Mirador Cerro Chato, when they were heading towards the kayak section.  The team´s captain has suffered severe sun burns during the last few miles of the trekking section, prompting the team´s decision to quit the race.  He has received medical care at the Fortuna´s sports center, The Finnish have really had a hard time in this race.   Already they carried a 10 hour penalization for skipping a task. Maybe next time!

Bad news, again, this time  from USA (team 13) Checkpoint Zero, who quit the race today at 10 a.m.  One of the members has suffered excessively during the race and had to literally drag himself into the sports center at La Fortuna.  His feet totally shattered.

Few teams remain.  Time keeps flying. The next task is the sky trek followed by the 171 km mountain bike trail.  At the top of the race are the French Quechua and the Swedish Explore, who have left control point 22 and were heading towards the sky trek.  Continued by the kayak task, they remain very close to the Colombian team Bossi and the Costarrican team Safety, who are struggling for third and fourth positions.

The heat has been merciless throughout the day, which has not helped the teams during the long sections.  Lets see how our competitors face up to tonight´s tasks, which, once again, are not easy.  Don´t give up!!!

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8/25 - A VERY HOT TUESDAY... Hot!!!  Everybody agreed, as they ended their mountain bike task, in stage 6 at Pedacito de Cielo in San Carlos.  A remote place surrounded by mountains, and very hot.  At some points, the bikes had to be carried over the mud and the swamped trails.  Exhaustion is starting to set in.  The teams took between 30 minutes and an hour to complete this stage.  

The next stage is the longest trekking section of the race, under a merciless sun.  This must have weighed in Brazil´s decision to retire from the race, once they concluded the mountain bike section in control point 14.  This decision leaves Quasar Lontra, one of the favourite teams, to be out of the race. As with the Finnish Omjakon, the remaining members Rafael Campos and Sabrina Gobbor have decided to continue the challenge without Xuxa and Victor Lopes.

The race has been full of expectations.  The Swedish Explore has remained first throughout the day. When they crossed the San Juan river mouth, they were three hours ahead of the team Safety Smart Wear (team 16), that has had an amazing take over.  Although they have lost precious time due to navigation issues, they have been quick to overcome them and remain in second place.  Amongst the members of this team is Costarrican Ligia Madrigal, considered the best mountain bike cyclist of the country.

Along with team 16, the other Costarrican team Real Costa Rica Coastal Challenge, team 5, have stood up for Costa Rica. They have done a great job during the 8 stages of the race so far. Antonio de la Rosa has stated that although Safety Smart Wear are very powerful, the coastal Challenge team are very careful and faultless.

Night spread over bringing a much awaited fresh breeze.  On arrival at control point 16 in Cocobolo, the Swedish Explore took the strategic decision to rest and sleep for an hour.  But their 3 hour advantage was shortened to barely 3 minutes as the Safety Smart Wear team were treading at their heels.  Knowing that they were close to the Swedish team, the Finnish Multisport.fi (team 2) and the French Quechua ( team 12), speeded up and they managed to set a 30 minutes distance between them.

The race continues.  La Fortuna is next. All teams will have to rest for 2 hours, take a bath, be interviewed, or just, sleep.  Tonight everything can happen.

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8/24 - After a long and hard first day, already the teams are setting the pace differences between them.  Although during the rafting section, of the first stage, the teams were quite even, it was not until the biking task that timing became an import issue.  Once they came out of the river, the teams were struck  by the heat  and navigation dilemmas started to arise.

At the canopy La Linda of Sarapiqui, a great thunder storm broke out and although nobody was injured, the electrical lightning affected some of the members of the teams, who could feel small electrical discharges from the cables above the trees. 

For the next task,   the  teams took  hold of their bikes to get ready for the third stage, and head towards the daring nocturnal task of the descent of the Ravine of Caños, in Río Cuarto.  This task was a proof of team work, in which  they had to deliver between what was  safe and what was  risky and faster competition wise. This was undergone  during the night and in very harsh weather conditions.  Only one third of the teams managed to accomplish this task before the end of the day.  The rest of the teams arrived to the control post #12 early this Tuesday morning,  thus completing 10 miles of trekking.

Every aspect is taken into account.   The captain of the Swedish team, who leads the race, commented about how complicated and technical this task had been. The Argentinean team Tierra Viva, said that the team´s security was the main issue during the  river and canyon crossing without ropes.  The Finnish team Multisport Omjakon (team 2) were the only ones that decided not to cross the canyon and headed for their bikes at 9.45 p.m.  This will result in a penalty that will amount to twice the longest timing in this stage, probably 10, which will make it very difficult for the team to classify in the first places.

But still, anything can happen. 

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8/24 - Equipo Explore (SUECIA) heading since today's second stage. Colombian BOSI Zoom Radio Team is just 30 minutes behind the leader, crossing Hule lagoon canyon. Sweden´s Explore team (17) is heading the race followed 30 minutes behind by Costa Rica´s Bosi Zom Radio team, and barely a minute behind, is the Finnish team Multisport.fi., (team 2). Unfortunately the Finnish Omjakon multisport.fi (team 1) has been forced to withdraw from the race due to  captain Tekka´s unexpected physical indisposition. Even though the team will not be able to classify, the three remaining members will continue in the race.

After the rafting, mountain bike, and canopy sections all teams arrived at Lake Hule in Rio Cuarto. Tonight they will be travelling through the canon of Lake Hule Río Cuarto. This task is a very technical one which is made more difficult due to weather conditions.   The major obstacles being¸ rain and mud.

In tomorrow's early morning we will know if Sweden keeps the head of the race.

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8/23 - The long awaited moment has arrived, Costa Rica Adventure 2010 is about to start!

At 7.30.a.m. the 18 teams, a great number of members of the press and all the staff from ARCR were ready at La Virgen of Sarapiqui. Last minute preparations and details were being taken care off, instants before the race was due to begin.

Children from the neighbouring High school Claudio Lara Campos, from La Virgen of Sarapiqui attended the event in order to join the members in the first trekking stretch of 1.5 miles along the main road of this community.  A great entourage of vehicles escorted the team while the locals greeted them as they passed by.

Faithfully supporting their teams are the sponsors: Columbia, Red Bull, AeroDiva, Toyota and Toyota Car Rental.

The race was officially given the go, at the fire of the gun, in Sarapiqui´s bridge, at 8.a.m on the dot.  High anxiety mingled with smiles, even though a very tough and rough time lays ahead of each and every team during their different tasks.

At the start of their 27.5 mile rafting along the Sarapiqui river, the team QuasarLontra from Brazil  (team 18) were the first to embark, followed by Sweden (team 17) and France ( team 12) in the third place.

Four hours later, heading the race, the Finnish team (team 2, Multisport.fi) arrived at 12.5 p.m. local time, followed closely by the Swedish from Explore and the French Quechua.

A very exciting morning indeed! 

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8/22 - Today, all teams had breakfast in Sarapiqui. At 10 a.m. they will attend a symbolic event were they will be planting a tree, as a symbol for promoting sustainable tourism and reducing the greenhouse effect. By this, Costa Rica intends to be the first country in neutralizing carbon dioxide, therefore each team has planted a native tree in La Linda farm.

Amongst photographic sessions and a festive mood, the press and the teams have returned to the hotel to end the day attending to the briefings given by the organization, and check the last details before the race begins.

For more information, visit - www.arcostarica.com