Series A Race 3- Sunday June 18, 2006,

Eagles Nest Lake State Park, New Mexico

This was the third race of Series A, and the 2006 New Mexico State Championship Sprint Series.  This event consisted of a longer paddling section and more difficult mountain biking section, while the trekking section consisted of sprinting and rough navigation with map and compass. Participants were responsible to bring a canoe/ 2-person kayak, PFDs & paddles, mountain bikes and approved helmets, and running gear.

We had seven teams at this event!! The first event of the day was the mountain biking section. The teams were instructed that their was going to be one checkpoint along the flagged section, and one along the single-track section, but they were not given the exact location or coordinates. The teams started from the staging/ transition area and headed off through some tall grass to a jeeep trail, which then took a steep turn uphill. All the teams pushed their bike uphill, and I am sure the race director's name was used in the context of one or two curses. Upon reaching the crest of the hill the racers followed a course that had been designated with marking paint and yellow flags. Checkpont one was found by every team in this section. The yellow flags gave way to a single-track area, which then led them back to the original jeep trail, at which point the racers returned to the transition area. None of the teams were able to find the second checkpoint, as it was facing away from the single-track at the Jeep trail. The first three teams to the transition area were within second of each other: Team Skandia 38:38, and Team D&K and Team TapOut were at 38:39.

Next the racers paddled from near the parking area to the right of the nearest boat ramp. They then beached their boat to punch at the checkpoint concealed at the edge of the grass. After paddling back to where they began they transitioned to the trekking section. First in from the paddle at 1:14:05 (one hour - thirteen minutes and five seconds) was team Red or Green, followed by Team Tapout (1:14:13) and Team Skandia (1:15:37).

For the final trekking leg the teams were provided with 1:24,000 maps of the lake and written coordinates for three checkpoint, an they were pointed down a trail which led them to the first checkpoint. The second and third checkpoints were found by everyone, although somone had to splash in the water to get the third checkpoint, which was out in calf deep part of the lake. The first team in was Team Skandia at 1:52:52, followed by Team Red or Green (1:55:35), Team TapOut and Team D&K at 2:14:53, our returning champ from last year Ryan with Team Ditch Bank Cougars at 2:32:54, Team Howling Dogs (2:36:21) and Team Alonso at 2:38:43.

After the event we enjoyed lunch served by Katie Lou (thank you Jeff for letting us use your grill), and awards were issued.

Results:

 Pictures:

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