Nomadas 2 during registrationHuairasinchi's Registration flowed easily as teams arrived to the Centro de Convenciones Eugenio Espejo starting at 7am. The 52 teams arrived according to their assigned schedule and passed by every table to complete the registration procedure. They had to sign the release forms and complete their support crew information, go through a security and communications control and seal an emergency GPS and cell phone.<p> All teams had to go through the paramedic station and prove their rescue abilities. They then learned that they could find poisonous snakes and insects in Huairasinchi’s route so they were advised about the emergency procedure. Teams’ obligatory equipment and gear was revised, official pictures taken and the official race materials like T-shirts, car stickers and personal insurance was handed. <P>This year, Huairasinchi has a recycling project with Fundación Pachamama that handed all teams two bags made by a group of rural women where the support crew needs to separate plastic, paper and carton and hand it in to a track that will then take the material to recycle. That way, part of Huairasinchi’s environmental objective will be achieved, and no trash will be left in the communities that so eagerly receive racers. <br />
<br />At the final stages of Registration, all teams needed to have their official picture taken, and listen to a short talk about river security and emergency flags and prove their skills on rope systems. Teams spent some times in this section since they were then notified that they will have to use rope systems while swimming down a river and pass a hard Tyrolean traverse on fixed cable. <br />
<br />During Huairasinchi’s briefing which started at 5pm in the same place, all teams gathered for the first time at the same point and were impatient to discover the route that was going to be revealed. Santiago, the Race Director welcomed all teams. He was followed by an environmental talk focused on the 4 Years Go.com campaign and the need to change the unsustainable model of development we currently live aiming for a change of direction. It was highlighted that this year’s race is particularly important because it is going to happen in the Ecuadorian Amazonian Region, the rainforest.<P> An anxious chitchat started among the crowd when discovering they had to traverse the high Andes, the Papallacta páramo hopefully enjoying the view of Antisana volcano, to descend into the cloud forest and then to the rainforest, rapidly descending various ecosystems and climate levels. <P>It was also noted that this year’s route will show various contradictions, the beauty of the primary highly biodiverse forest passing through one of the most popular bird watching places in the country, and the devastation caused by logging deforestation, the clear cut forest paths due to the oil pipeline construction over which teams will be trekking. <P>The organization highlighted the importance of Initiatives such as Yasuní-ITT that aims to keep 20% of the country’s oil permanently underground to conserve the biodiversity and the indigenous people who live in that territory. Team Ateneas Colombia Yasuní composed of 3 Colombian women and the Spanish Antonio de la Rosa are promoting Yasuní through their participation at Huairasinchi 2011.<br />
<br />All 52 teams were presented with cheers, pictures and clamor. A competition of cheers started upon shouting Ecuador, followed by Colombia. All teams are very excited to be in Ecuador, and be about to start the Huairasinchi 2011 adventure, especially this year having such a competitive group of teams aiming for the first place.<br />
<br />Head of the Rescue Team, Mathias Dammer gave the security considerations, bulls and snakes got on the nerves of some teams, although the situation will be controlled with horses and fast emergency response. He explained that for security reasons entering the water between 6h30 pm and 5h30 am will be prohibited. Route Director, Rodolfo Peralta further explained the route, noting that the first day will be in the highlands, a tough day for international teams, reaching as much as 4300m, twice. Then the route goes down to Cosanga, to finish in Campococha, close to Misahualli, in the heart of the Amazon. <P>He explained details concerning trekking in the jungle and security precautions on the short paved road biking legs, followed by their support crew. Huairasinchi 2011 is the Water Route, Yaku Ñamby in kichwa, since racers will see how water develops, starting as water sponges in the highlands, to high waterfalls while descending, finishing up in amazingly rapid and strong rivers at an altitude of 300m. <br />
<br />52 teams recovered their maps, and race book and in a few seconds the whole mass of people disappeared into their hotels and homes to study the maps, eat the final good meal and rest a few hours before waking up at 3am. <br />
<br />Huairasinchi’s start is Saturday at 6h30 am in Pintag town.
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