Two of this year’s most competitive teams were reunited in Germany when race sponsors Wenger invited them to attend the live premier of the 2010 race film at the OutDoor show in Friedrichshafen – and race director Stjepan Pavicic was there to give them a hint of what to expect next year. (Image: Wenger CEO, Peter Hug).
German Mark Pschebizin, captain of third-placed Team Herbertz, joined three members of the Swiss team on the stage at the biggest outdoors show in Europe to answer questions – but they had one of their own for Pavicic.
“I want to know where it’s going to go next year,” said Pschebizin when asked if he will return. “If it goes anywhere near those beaver ponds again, I’m definitely not coming! They were extremely tough! Next year I want lots of glaciers and whales!” (Image: Mark Pschebizin, captain of Team Herbertz, standing with members of Team Switzerland).
Pavicic was candid with his response, as the race route is never announced until just one day before the event, but it appears Pschebizin may yet get what he wants. “We are still looking hard at the edge of the Southern Continental Ice field,” said Pavicic.
“We think we can make it work, and if we do, it will be mind-blowing. That area is hardly visited, and the glaciers are incredible.Located at the Southern Patagonic Andes, it is the second largest contiguous extrapolar extent of ice in the world - after Greenland. It is the biggest remaining part of the Patagonian Ice Sheet, which covered all of southern Chile during the last glacial period.” (Image: Mark Pschebizin).
If that drew a few smiles, so too did the race film, as memories came flooding back for the four athletes who were in the 50 percent of the field that completed the spectacular 550-plus kilometre journey from the top of Tierra del Fuego to the Isla Navarino in Chilean Patagonia in February.
Check out the 2010 Wenger Patagonian Expedition Race Movie on our Videos page, or head to the official Wenger YouTube Channel. (Image: Alex Gasser of Team Switzerland).