The 2006 Quest for Fire started out with a background of Rock’n Star Spangled Banner music as the racers grabbed their inner tubes, PFD’s and paddles, and plunged into the Lake for the paddle course. Solo’s struck out on their own and Teams began to formulate strategies to make the paddle easier. Some teams had canoe paddles and bound their inner tubes to best use the paddles. Some had Kayak paddles and duct taped their inner tubes in a row to look like a centipede of paddlers. They quickly learned that space was at a premium and all paddlers had to synchronize well to achieve results. The water was warm but there was a cool misty fog that covered the lake. Team Backside experience showed early as they tied their tubes together and were one of the first into the water. Team Santa Fe, the defending champions, chose to spend time to build their four person tube boat using duct tape. All teams were required to paddle across the lake, run into the woods, find a CP and return. Soloist Jan Nesset came out of the water first, with Soloist Druce Finley one second behind. Team Backside came out first and Team Santa Fe arrived 51 seconds later.
At the transition, all racers were given their coordinates to plot (maps had been given out the night before) and began the trek portion. Again, Team Backside came out of the transition early and set out to navigate through the 11 mile trek. They smoothly went through the first two checkpoints. Team Santa Fe made an early error and passed the first trek CP. By the time they had recovered and found the CP, Team Backside had a 25 minute advantage on them. Clearly, Team Santa Fe had dug themselves a hole and needed pick up the pace. Likewise, two Soloist were showing themselves has fore runners for the race – Jan Nesset and Druce Finley - by going fast and almost error free.
At CP4 racer had to make a choice between two routes, one route was an old logging road and the climb was gradual, but longer. The other route was steeper, more of a trail, but shorter. Team Backside chose the road, Team Santa Fe chose the trail. By CP5 Team Santa Fe had closed the gap on Team Backside to 7 minutes. Their choice had helped them. By the end of the trek Team Backside was leading by 2 minutes, and Druce Finley managed to pull ahead of Jan Nesset by 4 minutes.
At the trek to bike transition, racers were asked to bring their bike gear and bike to a maize for a mystery event. Again, Team Backside maneuvered through the maize in record time and off they went to complete the mountain bike section. Other teams struggled with this event as they thought through how to do the maize.
Racers were told at the beginning of the race that if they completed the bike section before 3:15pm they were given a bonus bike section and CP. The bonus bike section was a free pass on the Angel Fire chairlift with bike to the top of the Chili Express and down again to the finish. Team Santa Fe had a terrific bike section as they came in ahead of Team Backside by 1 minute and were eligible for the bonus bike. Like wise Jan Nesset, of Team Inside/Outside Magazine blasted the bike section, coming in 21 minutes ahead of now second place Druce Finley. Only, Team Santa Fe, Team Backside, Jan Nesset, and Druce Finley made the 3:15pm cutoff and were eligible for the bonus bike.
Team Santa Fe managed to hold off Team Backside to win the four person team by 2 minute, 7 seconds. Jan Nesset finished in record time of 6:53:00 almost 24 minutes ahead of Druce. Unfortunately, it was determined that Jan missed punching CP8 and first place was awarded to Druce.
It was an exciting race and fun was had by racers and spectators. Everyone looked forward to coming back next year.
1st Quad Coed: Team Santa Fe: Jan Bear, Deb Werenko, Gary Johnson, Clinton Hobart
Click here for the official results.
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