With two days left to go before the start of the 2011 Wenger Patagonian Expedition Race race organisers have revealed the full list of teams taking part in the event – unveiling an extremely competitive field that features a mix of past racers and newcomers.
The reigning champions, last year named Helly Hansen Prunesco, return with a changed line-up as Team AdidasTERREX, while competitors come from 13 different nations to Southern Chile to compete this year.
Adidas TERREX/Prunesco (UK)
Bruce Duncan, Mark Humphrey, Nick Gracie, Fiona Spotswood
Previously known as Helly Hansen-Prunesco, Bruce Duncan and Mark Humphrey return to Patagonia to defend their 2009 and 2010 titles. They are joined by new members Nick Gracie and Fiona Spotswood, the latter being the partner of former team member Andy Wilson.
East Wind (Japan)
Masato Tanaka, Yoki Tanaka, Fumihiro Kurata, Kaori Waki
Team East Wind returns after their debut at the WPER last year with new team member, Kaori Waki. The team finished seventh in 2010, after a taking a measured approach on their first outing. Masato Tanaka, a professional adventure racer, leads as team captain.
Ad Natura (Croatia)
Elvir Sulic, Darija Bostjancic, Dario Rocco, Stiven Vunic
This is the first Croatian team to compete in the WPER. Members have experience in rock climbing, mountaineering, mountain biking and even kickboxing – in fact, Darija Bostjancic, a nurse, reached the summit of Mount Everest less than two years ago.
Vaucluse Adventure Evasions (France)
Vincent Bouchut, Thierry Cunibil, Pascal Raymond, Josiane Seguier
Vincent Bouchut leads a team whose members met through the French adventure racing circuit. They will be hoping to follow in the footsteps of the French team led by Bruno Rey that won the race in 2008, the year before the British team began their two-year reign.
Xingu (Brazil/Argentina)
Marcelo Catalán, Felipe Fuentes, Fernando Nazario de Rezende, Nora Acuña
The Brazilian trio of Catalán, Fuentes and Nazario, may face their biggest threat from the unrelenting cold climate of Patagonia, which is a far cry from the beaches of Sao Paolo where they have been kayak practicing. They met Argentinean Acuña, who competed in the 2005 edition, through the race Facebook page.
Perdido en el Turbal (US/UK)
Tim Kuenster, Melissa Griffiths, Jason Urckfitz, Peter Jolles
Kuenster and Griffiths return on a mission to make up for disappointment in last year’s event, when they were unable to complete the 2010 edition of race due to injury. They are back this year with more experience – but they did not meet their new teammates Urckfitz and Jolles until they stepped on the plane to Punta Arenas.
Gearjunkie.com (US)
Stephen Regenold, Jason Magness, Chelsey Gribbon, Daniel Staudigel
Magness and Gribbon left Patagonia last year a newly engaged couple after Magness proposed at the closing ceremony. After placing fifth in last year’s race, they’re returning with more experience as individuals and as a team.
Joshiken (Chile)
Daniel Rivas, Carlos Troncoso, Ricardo Urtubia, Vanesa Guzmán
One of three Chilean teams to participate in this year’s WPER, members of Joshiken have an advantage with their knowledge of Patagonian climate and terrain. No Chilean team has ever finished, however, so they will be hoping to be the first.
Four Continents (Kazakhstan/Australia/Czech Republic/US)
Tasman Lawrie, Pavel Poloncy, Andre Vogel, Paulette Kirby
American Paulette Kirby, who competed in 2010 but failed to finish, joins a team of true international descent. Team captain Lawrie, an Australian-born pilot who now lives in Kazakhstan, met Vogel hiking the Indian Himalaya but the rest of the team had not met until they all arrived in Punta Arenas.
Selva Kailash (Brazil)
Carlos Fonseca, Marcelo Sinoca, Ricardo da Silva, Rose Hoeppner
Team members met in the Brazilian adventure racing scene and will now test their skills in the harsh and unpredictable climate of Chilean Patagonia. Da Silva is a veteran of four Brazilian firefighting Olympics and a former Ironman. Ex Army man and team captain Fonseca will be calling on his jungle simulation experience for this race.
Todo Aventura - La Segunda (Chile/Argentina)
Jaime Valenzuela, Jorge Cifuentes, Soledad Cristiano, Jorge del Río Gallardo
Hoping to be the first team with Chilean racers to cross the finish line, members will try to gain a strong lead in the trekking sections. Cifuentes won the 2010 H21A South American Guidance Championship.
Dancing Pandas (Canada/US/NZ)
Masha Glanville, Mark Lattanzi, Peter Spagnoli, Noel Duffy
Led by Glanville, the team has decades of experience in adventure racing. Lattanzi competed in the 2009 event, during which his team took a short cut and were stuck in the wilderness for three days, swimming in the Magellan Strait and being airlifted 2km from the finish line. He will be hoping for an easier run this time around.
Dap Antartica (Chile)
Nicolas Pivcevic, Pablo Fernandez, Makarena Vasquez, Felipe Tafra
With all members based in Punta Arenas, team Dap Antartica is a truly local team. They will be well prepared for the harsh climate and untamed landscape of Patagonia. Pivcevic is a pilot and Vasquez a fitness instructor.
Roadrunners Adventure Team (Denmark)
Tobias Bering, Niels Torp, Emil Rye, Christa Molberg Nielsen
Representing Denmark, Roadrunners is back after having to withdraw from the race in 2008. The team consists of seasoned adventure racers and exciting new talents. Molberg Nielsen admits having journeyed from a pizza loving couch potato with little interest in the outdoors to an extremely active adventurer.
