Eco-Challenge Fiji 04 - Three-Two-One GO!!!
Eco-Challenge Fiji:
World’s Toughest Race
Tuesday, September 10th
Spoilers: Team Peak Traverse
If Amazon had wished for an eventful start to the race, they certainly got it. Instant chaos erupted as the conch shell sounded, with teams quickly attempting to vie for position on the narrow river. Like many others, Team US Military immediately had issues with steering the boat and instead of turning to the right to go downriver, careened almost immediately into the opposite bank. They were not alone--the majority of teams realized seconds too late in the narrow river the Camakaus would not turn on a dime. In the chaos, boats flipped over and Spangler immediately saw the need to get someone on the outrigger to balance the boat.
Team US Military Practicing on Camakau
Joshua looked down and confirmed the worst—Team 16’s outrigger had completely penetrated the boat—Joshua contemplated the 9-inch L-shaped gash through the port side of the bow of the boat.
As Team US Military made their way upriver, it was everything they could do to steer clear of the other teams. After about fifteen minutes of paddling, Spangler turned the boat to the left in an attempt to pass another team on the inside of a river bend. Team 16 was coming up from the military team’s back left. As they saw Team 16’s approach angled for them on the narrow river, Team US Military could not act quickly enough and they braced for the inevitable collision. CRUNCH. Too scared to look, Caitlin was first convinced that the other boat was damaged, not her own. Joshua looked down and confirmed the worst—Team 16’s outrigger had completely penetrated the boat—Joshua contemplated the 9-inch L-shaped gash through the port side of the bow of the boat. With no words exchanged, Team 16 simply backed out and paddled on.
In disbelief, Team US Military also continued to paddle while assessing the damage. Their Camakau was not immediately taking on water as the gash was above the water line, but it would not survive the ocean once the team got there. Joshua made a quick decision, “Guys, in the 2002 Eco-Challenge Fiji, Team Playboy Extreme fixed their boat with wood and nails. We are going to pull over and ask the locals for the supplies before we get on the ocean." Caitlin considered the idea. This was the only thing to do if the boat was going to make it the twenty-four hours they would be on the water, so they paddled on until not long later they saw hundreds of local Fijians lining the riverbank next to their village, cheering on the competitors.
After pulling up to the bank, the camera crew on a nearby boat saw what was going on and honed in. Joshua got out and told the locals the team needed wood, hammer, and nails. It was incredible—within a few minutes the Fijians had supplied Team US Military with the requested supplies.
The mass Camakau Eco-Challenge Fiji start.
Within a few minutes, the team would pass another boat and her crew who were suffering a similar misfortune. They would not be as lucky, and their race would end before it really even started.
The team quickly set to work on the boat while the locals cheered them on. Chants of, “USA, USA, USA!" rang out from the villagers as Jesse nailed the boards to the inside and outside of the Camakau. The camera crew asked questions about what happened as the team worked. Joshua summed it up with, “Well, Team 16 just speared us and then paddled away! They gave us nine inches of love." The pun was not lost on his teammates. Eye rolls ensued.
As the team finished up the boat, Caitlin went over to the kids and passed out a few American flag/Fijian flag lapel pins she had brought with her for trade. As Jesse was doing the same, instant chaos erupted over who would get the pins. Caitlin left the kids to fight over them (and Jesse’s offering), jumped back in the boat and the team was off.
The boat was still taking on some water, but nothing that could not be handled. The game was on again for Team US Military. As Team US Military paddled now in dead last, they had a renewed sense of urgency. Crisis averted--time to catch up.
Within a few minutes, the team would pass another boat and her crew--Team Peak Traverse--who were suffering a similar misfortune. They would not be as lucky, and their race would end before it really even started.
Caitlin Thorn is a guest blogger here. Caitlin Thorn is an accomplished endurance athlete, with numerous accolades as a distance runner, Olympic and half-Ironman distance triathlete, and adventure racer. Caitlin is a Track and Field Division I NCAA All-American, with numerous finishes in the half-marathon and marathon distances. She has been adventure racing for three years and has earned podium finishes at over 6 races and qualified for the 2019 USARA National Championship. Caitlin enjoys world travel and hiking, and when not pursuing outdoor adventure she serves as an active duty officer and engineer in the U.S. Air Force.
Caitlin can be followed via Facebook @caitlin.aub
Eco-Challenge Fiji never promised to be an adventure race. Its claim was “The World’s Toughest Race”. Despite the lack of navigational challenges and jungle whacking (which was anticipated to be the hardest part of the race), Eco-Challenge Fiji was still the hardest race the members of Team US Military had ever done. The biking was tough, with incredible elevation gains and losses, and the weather added to the suck factor. This course tested the limits of racers’ mental capacity and their will to finish. Traveling across and along rocky rivers was tedious and broke some of the hardest people down. Continually slipping on rocks and banging up shins and feet tested the bounds of human fortitude and willpower.