Vamos Chamos! All You Need Is Ecuador And Adventure Racing!

Sanne Elidsbo Hansen (Danish Team Adventure Explorers) / 25.11.2014

Ecuador a country full of love and joy! The World Championship in Adventure Race is over and done. But what made it a race we all will remember long into the future? Mud J Just kidding. No, what struck me, as a foreigner on a local team was the warmth and kindness we met everywhere, before, during and after the race. This article is not only a race report, but also view from a foreigner’s eyes and an experience of Ecuador.

Two Mentalities and Cultures Meet - Mañana, Mañana

I arrived in Ecuador 3 weeks before the raceto train with the team and acclimate to the altitude. And to do extreme team building which kicked off from the moment I put my foot in Ecuador.

I was met at the airport by my teammate Joaquin and a very ambitious schedule for before the race was quickly presented. It was their biggest goal, to participate in this World Championship in their home country! They were very proud! Their team and their families opened up their homes and hearts to me. During the weeks leading up to the race, I was a part of their families and felt very welcome.

But what is the difference between a Scandinavian and a South American? And what could we learn from each other? The fun thing that struck me - was the very relaxed approach to things, but also a kind of frustration over it. In the weeks leading up to the race the boys had made this very ambitious schedule for training and stuff to be done before the start. It was quickly reconsidered and as a Dane and Scandinavian I had to get used to this. Danes are brought up with efficiency and the faster you can complete a task the better.

The boys the approach to everything was like mañana, mañana. I had to get used to it.  Each morning I was ready with my stuff exactly at the time agreed. Ready for training! Where was the boys? Hehe. Every night I asked about a time and plan for the next day and Felipe almost looked strangely at me. All my race gear was packed and laid out in Felipe's parent’s house - the boys gear lay in big piles :)

But in the big picture, we achieved everything we needed even if we had cultural differences and the little Dane sometimes thought approaching our task was just a little too relaxed :) Soon we were ready at the start line to an adventure without equal.

All You Need Is Your Team And 177 Hours Of Racing!

Nervousness, excitement and a big bubble of national pride was started at 8:30 AM. And what scenery! Of course the start to the World Championship in Adventure Race had to be at the foot of Antisana volcano.

Antisana is the 4th highest volcano in this fascinating wild region of Ecuador. It is in fact one of the largest stratovolcano of the northern Andes. Antisana is completely covered with snow and glaciers which makes it one of the most daring climbing expeditions in the world.

Stage 1: Mountain Trek (29 km)

All the teams were full of enthusiasm and ready for this World Championship. All teams we met during the first trekking stage were full of happiness, but at the same time race mode was on and the competition was going on.

The first trek was my favourite with the start at an altitude of 4000m in the eastern area of the Andes highlands and a hike through the highest part in the entire course at 4500m. And then we ended up at 3400m in Papallacata a place known for its hot springs that are believed to “heal anything”. The Incas used the waters as a centre to heal wounded and tired soldiers. We had some minor navigation problems during the stage but we did good - race safe but steady!  In the TA we were greeted by families like we were kings and queens, what a welcome! It was almost overwhelming!

Stage 2: Mountain Bike (67 km)

Oh yeah, Dowhill Master! Yes Baby! 1800m downhill. We rocked it!  Every time we met the locals and they found out we were a local team we were almost cheered through the whole city. We experienced multiple ecosystems as we descended. We started in the mountains and descend quickly through what is known as “cloud forest” before reaching lower lands. And yes we had the first taste of mud! Adventure racing is sometimes a funny sport or passion. We like to carry our bikes through narrow muddy trails. Hm :) We do actually not mind and that was how the last part of this MTB stage went on.

In the TA we became kings and queens again cheered by families, friends and locals. And most of all there was lots of food. If you ever go to Ecuador - go try their food, it is pure and raw and I loved it!

Stage 3: Trek (44 km)

The first real big test and what a test!. Trekking through small narrow trails known as the El Chaco - Oyacachi trail in mud from head to toe. And yes - find a trail that does not look like a trail, but just a small whole. That was the challenge. And this trail is actually a travel route for indigenous people that travel from the highlands to access the Amazon area for trading potatoes for fish and yuca (also known as cassava or tapioca).

Whoa what a trading trail! We were passing hanging bridges where steps were missing and it rained like never before. Our rain clothes were put to the wildest test, but we did it, arriving a little bruised and in a big need for a little power nap in the TA :)

Stage 4: Mountain Bike (144 km)

A mountain bike leg up and over the Andes. Oh yeah! The leg began with a 10km ascent close to 800 metres and the tow-system was in full use. Up and down we went and what a stunning view when we entered the summits that are known as “Pucaras” (archaeological sites with rock circles that surround peaks). These summits were used to communicate over long distances of the indigenous people in the times before the Incas.

We were like monsters on our bikes. We caught team after team, crossed an abandoned railway and the Pan American Highway and finally took a picture at latitude zero, on the Equator – WOW!

Stage 5: Trek (45 km)

This stage was a wild stage! Wow the views … and the cold and mud :) It began among Clementine orchards and with a trip up a mountain back road to end with a local farmer who gave us shelter from the rain to change our clothes. I still remember the look on his face. And then it began!

The rain, the cold and fighting a sleep crisis and where was CP14? We ended up taking refuge in an abandoned house where we pitched up our tent. After several hours of searching and a giant sleep crisis we chose to seek shelter and wait for sunrise. Even in daylight we had trouble finding CP14 :( But after having climbed up by yet another muddy mountain ridge and more we found it! Yes, now we had to go down.

And what a downhill run. A trail - I do not know what you call it, and I've never seen anything like this before! But the Brazilian team had and they came almost leaping past us! YEAAAHH!! In the mud yeah! and down we went covered in mud from head to toe. We almost slid 1800m down and were shot out into a village and what a joy when we met a stream and we could wash the mud off. Then to meet Anne-Marie at a kiosk and see her happy smile when we almost bought the whole store. What a stage!

We had to serve a penalty as all teams had to in this TA - 4 hours. Only 2-3 teams had not received this punishment, but it was fun to serve this behind an altar in a church. I’d not seen this before :) What a joy and upliftment I got before we went on the MTB stage. I was allowed to read all our trail mails. Manykind  thoughts and cheers! It was nice to know that people followed us and it warmed our hearts.

Stage 6: Mountain Bike (159 km)

What I remember most from this stage was the difference in temperature and the downhills. All of a sudden it was just hot and humid! It's actually the last part that has made the most impression on me. Cycling perched on a plateau looking down at the jungle and then afterwards to bike downhill om the most stony roads. Why do they put stones there? At last I had so much pain in my wrist that I almost could not hold on to my handlebars. The rope section in this stage was fun and a good time to relax. The mood and motivation went a little bit down of when we ended up being in the dark zone from 5 o'clock pm to 2:30 am when we were allowed to go down to the kayaks.

Stage 7: River Kayak (69 km)

Wuhu! White water kayak! The River Grande was a beautiful river which had many class two rapids and one class three rapid. And it was fun!  At least I thought so - I’m a Dane and I love kayaking. We have water all over! It brought back memories back Expedition Africa, where we went through a similar kayak stage but this one was much harder. Off we went and then flip and flop and back in the kayak! The three men on the team had not shown nearly as great joy at this stage as me. It was their weakest discipline as they don’t have many training opportunities for kayaking in Ecuador.

At each rapid we could hear the volume whether it was great or not. Down Class 2 and ups Class 3 came, damn! It was fun, but we lost a GoPro and broke a paddle … and we lost something very important which would later prove to have a major impact.

We paddled along shores where indigenous communities known as the Chachi lived. It was a fun and beautiful kayak stage.

Stage 8: Mountain Bike (42 km)

The start of this stage was a bit sad and confusing when we found out that we had lost both GPS and radio! What to do? The boys were very frustrated, but what could we do? Nothing more than to have a chat with the Race Directors!  We had come so far!  Emotions were raw and we all agreed that we would finish even if we were disqualified!  Fortunately, we were allowed to continue in the competition and we would receive our punishment in the next TA. Lets go MTB! Yeah!

I had been sunburned during the kayak stage. I’m a gringo :) and we were dehydrated. So even though it was the shortest MTB stage it was the toughest for me. The heat and humidity really did test this small Dane and the boys tried hard to help me. But again we made it and families, crew and friends welcomed us to the TA. I got medical attention for my sunburn and dehydration.

Our penalty for losing GPS and radio was 4 hours. That was fair - we thought.

Stage 9: Trek (40 km)

My life's toughest trek and I found out that time is relative and not something they can figure out how to calculate in Ecuador :-)  Every time someone said 1 km then you could multiply it by 5 and I could see this trek would be long!  We asked for directions and they said: 6 hours away from here ….and remember to add 5! Then you would not be disappointed, but only surprised and delighted if it is shorter.

I thought I was done with mud, but I was wrong! When the mud started I jumped, like a little sweet Dane, from side to side to avoid it! My teammates knew that what awaited us - 15 hours in mud from head to toe and laughed at my very strenuous attempts to avoid it. Oh yeah, we will enter the heart of the jungle totally covered in mud!

The boys were excited the course had actually managed to get us into the heart of Ecuador’s jungle. I must honestly admit that my excitement was not nearly as big and mentally, I had to use all my energy to get through this stage.

Stage 10: Sea Kayak (59 km)

Mentally I was completely done after the trekking stage and our language differences were hard to handle at times especially when you were tired and it all culminated as I had forgotten my Danish flag in the TA.  Fatigue, feelings and tears could no longer be held back. (But thank heaven Felipe’s mom and dad would pick up my flag.) I was now ready for the last kayak stage but it came as a surprise that we had to paddle with 3 paddles and against the tide ...

We tied the two kayaks with the tow system and the one who was sitting in the middle had the opportunity to sleep. I fell fast asleep and the boys have subsequently said that I have had fish on my head and more. They thought it was funny that I could be so fast asleep not to notice a fish on my head.

We were all completely done at a time that we took shelter with a fisherman. He had nothing but opened his heart and home to give us shelter. We lay around on the floor among his children and his very humble home. His wife even wanted even to cook for us! I tell you they had nothing and yet they were so hospitable and opened their home to us.

On the last part of the stage we had the tide with us!  We were so close to the fininsh line now! Only 3km - haha - remember 7 km :-) It felt like that :-)

Finish Line! All you need is Ecuador and Adventure Racing!

Feelings, impressions, hospitality … WOW it all came up in the last km’s. I do not know if we understood what it was we had finished!

The feelings cannot be described, nor can the warm heart space we met all along the route from family, crew, and locals. It was almost overwhelming at times. It is what Adventure Race is all about. It's not just a sport, it’s life!

And we did it!

The Terra Aventura team for the World Championships was Sanne Elidsbo Hansen, Felipe Münchmeyer, Joaquin Lopez and Gonzalo Espinosa MB. They finished 20^th in the race and were the 5^th Ecuadorian team to get to the finish line.

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