St Francis Bay residents, including Dune Daisies, have watched in awe as the best endurance athletes in the world have pushed their bodies, minds and souls to breaking point, all in the name of adventure racing. There have been tears, trench foot, torn muscles, technical issues and treacherous mountain traverses; not to mention sleep monsters, stormy nights and sodden equipment. Surely this cannot be ‘fun’? Which begs the question, why do they push themselves to such extremes?
It may be that adventure racers possess the ability to transform each of these challenges into life lessons. Or it could also be that many of the competitors we chatted to were remarkably humble. World-class competitors who have long since dropped their egos along a dusty road to make way for the incredible teamwork required to survive the elements. And let’s not forget the humour – wherever adventure racers are, you are bound to hear a joke or wry comment, using humour to uplift a tricky situation. Whatever the magic ingredient, it is something so vital, so alluring, that it can anoint mere mortals with the ability to go deeper, further and with more humility and wisdom than we would ever hope to possess.
Sometimes there are parameters that you cannot control in this type of race.
Chiara
Curious to gain a deeper understanding of this most unique of human species, we chatted to a team that grew close to our hearts during this event (and not only because the lone woman of the team, Chiara Casari must be the most glamourous, inspirational – read: aeronautical engineer – chick on the AR circuit!).
They first landed on our DD radar on Tuesday 26th October. The distress signal came into ARWC HQ at Cape St Francis Resort at around 14.35hrs on Day 6.
Team 77, Absoluraid Capganguise from Toulouse, France, were in trouble – 120 hours into the most gruelling adventure racing world championship. One of their teammates, Yannick Perrin, was vomiting and weak. They were unable to move from their position deep in the Kouga Mountain wilderness and were out of options. On a blustery, unforgiving windswept expanse of rock and fynbos, Team 77 made the heart-breaking decision to retire from the competition. Aiming for a top 5 podium finish, their hopes had crumbled.
Yannick told DD that by that stage, for him, it was actually a ‘really easy’ decision to stop. ‘I was ill,’ Yannick explained, ‘we waited almost 10 hours to sleep and we came back again into the race. The following night, Johann Thomas & Lionel Villeneuve also fell ill, but we still managed to ride for another 5/6 hours.’ But then, ‘Johann became really, really ill; he was shaking. We had to stop. You just cannot fight against this type of thing. When you are tired or when the track is difficult, you can handle it, you can fight, you can manage the mental toll. But when it is your health – it is too difficult.’ He joked that in the next race, they would, ‘have both an orienteerer and a doctor in the team!’
Back to the inhospitable mountain. Calls were made between emergency staff and nearby local landowners. Byron Le Roux from Baviaans Lodge headed out to their last logged location. He found Chiara, Yannick, Johann and Lionel and brought them back to the comfort we take for granted – food, shelter, safe drinking water. The next day, Anton (a Dune Daisies husband and dad), together with his three cows on their way to market, transported the team back to the Cape St Francis Resort.
The things that you remember after a trip are not standing on the summit but what went on while you were on the route.
Mo Anthoine, ‘To the summit.’
By 16.00hrs on Wednesday all three men had to be taken to a local doctor for emergency treatment. Chiara stayed behind to support Lionel’s daughter, who had flown out from France to welcome her father across the finish line. This dream was now replaced by the urgent wish that her dad would be okay.
Family back home were kept updated with pictures and reports from the doctor’s rooms. Chiara explained that they have a huge team of supporters, all on a Whatsapp group for this event. ‘Our relatives and even non-sporty friends follow the race closely. Teammates from our club in Toulouse (founded in 2016 by Lionel) who understand the topography, translate what is happening to our other supporters; why we sleep, why we have stopped and the benefits of different route choices.’
Chiara’s parents are ardent supporters, even joining the team when they competed in Croatia, whilst Yannick’s wife has faith that he, and his teammates, ‘can handle difficult situations.’ Clearly Team 77, and most other racing teams, could not manage this sport’s testing mental and physical tolls without unwavering help from friends and family.
Fortunately, by the following morning, all four team members were better, well-rested and recovered, and officially off our worry list. By that stage, they were already reminiscing about the high points of their adventure, which included spectacular sunrises and big tortoises (not often seen in and around Toulouse). One favourite was, ‘when we arrived in the dunes and saw the sea for the first time, and then ran in the sand dunes.’
They were all unanimous that the Eastern Cape had, ‘better scenery than Europe.’ They planned to end their time in South Africa enjoying the wildlife in Addo and various other game reserves. This tight-knit foursome, who not only race together but also party and holiday with each other, are clearly well-versed in making the most of every moment, race and adventure that comes their way. However, they were not quite yet ready to think about their next race. Give them a day or two and we are sure they will be back training, their sights set on yet another challenge.
You didn’t beat me. You merely finished in front of me. Hal Higdon, ‘To the summit.’