Friday, October 12, 2007
Carrera Habagat: ‘Triathlon on steroids’
“TRIATHLON on steroids.”
This was how race director Jason Garrido described what is to be expected from this year’s Carrera Habagat, dubbed the Siargao-Bucas Grande Traverse, which will be on Oct. 22 to 25.
“This is like triathlon on steroids—bike, run and swim—magnified to extreme levels,” Garrido said during the press conference last Wednesday at the Outpost Restaurant.
Garrido added that Carrera is the oldest adventure race in Asia. There is another adventure race in Hong Kong but it is a stage race, finishing on a daily basis and starting again the following day.
On the other hand, the Carrera is a non-stop race and racers will have to decide whether to take a rest in the evening or continue to race at will.
This year’s Carrera will be the seventh staging of the country’s ‘toughest’ adventure race.
“This is the country’s toughest adventure racing. A four-day non-stop multi-event race, which includes disciplines such as kayaking, rappelling and special section tasks which incorporates mind and indigenous games into the race,” said event director Randy Su.
So tough is the race that most of those competing do not necessarily target to win but just to claim the bragging rights of having finished it.
The race goes back to Surigao, which was the venue for the race’s 2003 edition, Pacific Island Respite.
As the title suggests, a part of the race will be in an island called Bucas Grande. “We always hold the races in small islands to also promote eco-tourism of these islands,” Su added.
As of last Wednesday, 15 teams have already confirmed their participation. Set to protect its reign is Team Kalit composed of Ronnie Moring, Niño Abarquez, Rameses Urgel and Hazel Madamba.
Other than them, foreign nationals are also attracted to the challenge the race sets out in front of them. German national Jens Funk, a football player and triathlete and British David Hariis, who competes in rugby and sailing, will team up with Filipinos, including mountain racer Merlita Arias, to test their mettle against other adventure racers and even against the challenge itself.
Other teams include Davao, Ibaan, Iligan, Iloilo, Conquer, Bayantel, Nomad, Dumaguete, Simon, Blood Red, TNF, KIKKM and UTA.
Each team is composed of six members—four will be racing, where one should be of the opposite sex. The two will serve as the support crew. (MCB)
For Bisaya stories from Cebu. Click here. (October 12, 2007 issue)
Write letter to the editor.Click here.
Join the Sun.Star message board.Click here. |
