Explore Sweden (June 2004) - Local Adventure Racing Team Survives Arctic Race
June may seem like an unlikely time of the year for mountaineering in knee deep snow, or ice climbing ...unless you are into adventure racing.
Local adventure athletes Paul Romero and Karen Lundgren racing for SOLE Custom Footbeds have recently returned from taking their veteran team to the north of Sweden for an extraordinary multi-day 500 mile event, Explore Sweden Expedition Race.
The foursome, consisting of the two Big Bear locals and two Australians (Darren Clarke and Gary Sutherland), battled the amazing landscape of Northern Sweden traveling 200 kilometers north of the artic circle. The frozen tundra, swamps, glaciers, and steep majestic peaks provided all the drama and action that the team expected in this race. The competition was intense, with most top international squads present and having a run at the large cash purse and bragging rights.
Team Epi/SOLE Custom Footbeds landed in 8th place in a field where only only 60% of the teams were able to finish the grueling event. Disciplines ranged from mountaineering, white water rafting, ice climbing, canoeing, trekking, mountain biking, in line skating, and orienteering.
Karen Lundgren tells of the phenomenal landscape and conditions - "We started the race with a three hour swim in 44 degree waters, then onto massive biking and skating sections." Continuing about the mid race sections- " We did technical ice climbing and glacier sections that were as majestic as anything we've seen anywhere". Teammate and navigator Paul Romero adds, "The 24 hours of daylight was actually tough on the mind. There are strange mental things that happen staying awake for days with no darkness, things that we'd never expected." Standing on top of Sweden's tallest peak with the midnight sun and sight of the very north of the world was a highlight for all of the teams. "We took in the view for about 20 seconds, then continued hammering towards the base camp," says Romero.
A unique aspect of this event, was the incorporation of a large Boeing passenger airplane used to transport teams to different sections of the course. There were tight deadlines to make or teams risked missing the flight and being disqualified.
On the way home, the team took in some rest and recovery during a nine day stop in Doha, Qatar (in the Middle East). Paul said "This was one of the most amazing cultural experiences we've encountered. Things were quite tense with the chaos going on just over the boarder in Saudi Arabia, but we were treated with respect and dignity."
"People are just people, no matter where you go, the culture is quite different but they love life as we do. It was good to visit there before it becomes off limits, as it might soon," said Karen.
Team Sole Custom Footbeds (Team Epinephrine) will stay in North America for most of the year, tackling a few of the important domestic events. To stay tuned with their happenings, check out www.teamsole.com.