Winning team adidasTERREX/Prunesco at the Closing Ceremony of the 2011 Wenger Patagonian Expedition Race (Photo: Valentino Saldivar)
Last night’s Closing Ceremony for the 2011 Wenger Patagonian Expedition Race was a welcome change of pace for racers and volunteers alike.
Forget wet sleeping bags and trail mix, hypothermia and broken limbs. Racers, volunteers, and staff members were treated to cocktails and hors d’ouvres after the presentation of team awards and a video of race highlights.
In his closing speech, Race Director and Creator Stejpan Pavicic said: “In this special environment we have brought together experiences which have marked us deeply, with anecdotes and stories that will fix the eyes of the world on the Chilean Patagonia, a natural heritage that must be preserved for future generations.
“During the last ten days, all those who have been directly involved in this ninth edition of the WPER – the athletes, the press, the TV production teams, photographers and the whole organization – have had an intense experience, each in their own area, but all of us pushing ourselves as far as we possibly could.”
Intense is an understatement; as crazy as some of the team’s experiences were – swimming through glacier-fed fjords and rock climbing up cliffs more than 200 meters tall – many racers say they plan to come back again in 2012.
