Ultimate White Mountain Adventure Race - July 2005

[ARReports]

Marty sent in the great recap from the Ultimate Whites Adventure Race:

Date:Saturday July 23
Time: 7:pm
Place: Attitash Grand Summitt Hotel
Event: Ultimate White Mountain Adventure Race

OK, so the Whites '04 started at 1am. The Ultimate Adirondacks Adventure Race started at 2am. What time will the Ultimate Whites '05 begin??? This was a major question on the top of everyone's mind and mouth and teams continually tried to slip up an eager volunteer. "What time will the post race breakfast be? OR will it be lunch or dinner?" Team Wicked NEARA even showed up at the race briefing in full gear in case the race started right after the meeting. Now this is getting ready to "Expect the Unexpected". Awesome! 1am is the start time. Teams are prepared to do a little road bike work and paddle as well as a lengthy portage, some of which in the dark. Four things not normally found in a 12 hour sprint race. "Expect the Unexpected"

At 12:45am teams are redistributed their maps and given last minute race instructions from Race Director Marty Rosenthal. It will be a "Monte Crisco" start according to JC of Team Long Trail as teams take off from an upper marina parking lot. A scramble to pick a canoe, put on the glow sticks and take off for the boat launch. Except most teams oddly chose to attempt to squeeze in between the boats docked in the marina instead of using the launch just 100ft further causing a funny bottle neck of sorts. And off they go for a 2 hour paddle, in the dark on Lake Ossippee. Open teams headed straight for CP1 as Championship teams had an additional 30 minutes of paddling by detouring to CP A. Open Team Bikerag.com/EMS had grandiose thoughts as they followed the Championship teams to CPA and were greeted with a few dozen drunken kids raving on an island. Team Long Trail loved the start so much that they returned to it after going to CP A. "You mean this is not CP !??" "The lake was SOOO nice we wanted to paddle it twice!!! " JC Team Long Trail. Paddling in the dark can certainly turn you around. Going into CP1 Open All Male Team Fat, Drunk & Stupid was first at 2:26am. Then came the 4.7 mile portage. Through woods, 4x4 trails and paved roads, all teams chose their best routes. "Great course. That paddle rocked. I loved the route choice options. The lake was amazing with the full moon and calm water. I loved the portaging." Mike Morris Championship Team Wicked NEARA , as they were the first to enter SIlver Lake. Just about another hour paddle and into TA1 the teams went. This is where the first time cut off was in place. Teams needed to leave TA1 by 6:00am or be asked to peddle an alternative course to CP 5. Three teams were on the verge of this cutoff, Open Team Bike Rag/EMS, and Championship Teams Long Trail and Berlin Bike. The next section of the race took teams on a 17 mile road bike ride on the beautiful Kankamungus Highway. "This is the prettiest landscaping course." in broken English stated French Speaking Bridgette Benoit from Canadian Team Endurance Adventures. There were some teams however who decided the quickest way to CP 5 was a straight line and hiked a bike over Chocorua Mountain. What is an extra 2,500 feet in a 12 hour race? After CP5 teams were back in the woods riding single track, double track and an amazing downhill stretch of 4x4 road. After finding CP5B teams were treated to a killer downhill of some technical, fast and fun riding single track before emerging from the woods and back on the road for a final 7 miles of road and TA2. First into TA 2 Open team of Fat, Drunk & Stupid, followed by Team Wicked NEARA, Bike Rag/EMS, Crank Racing and Endurance Adventures to round out the top five. Pack up the mandatory rope gear, cause we are bushwacking our way across the Saco River and up a the rock face to the rappel section. A nice exposed 80 foot rappel awaited. The cool part was from TA2 also the finish line support crews and racers could watch as teams rappelled down the face. This last section lasted a little over an hour as Team Wicked NEARA crossed the line in first place overall and the first Championship Division Team to cross and earn 100 points towards the series prize. 3:00pm rolled around the The Ultimate White Mountain Adventure Race officially was over and then the partying began! Thanks to supporter Magic Hat Brewery, $1 pints of Fat Angel were flowing, swag plentiful and stories of epic tales were rocking.

"You put on an awesome race. When we first did your Greens race last year I was hooked. Just finishing your races is reward enough!! I enjoy the whole vibe of your races from pre-race through post-race, you do an amazing job. Thanks for all your time and effort, and remember there a lot more racers like us, who enjoy your races where the big reward is to finish the course and have a good time.

The Whites was a great race The course was beautiful! Can't wait for the Greens race!" Tricia Pandolfo Team Bikerag.com/EMS

The Ultimate Adventure Race Series
www.ultimate-race.com
866-303-RACE
"Expect the Unexpected"