Adventure Team Challenge Race

Last weekend, members of the Men's and Women's teams participated in an adventure race for disabled athletes called the Adventure Team Challenge Race. This is a two day race takes place in the mountains of Colorado. Participants compete in a rugged adventure race that consists of mountain biking, orienteering, running, rafting and climbing. Teams consist of five persons, two which must be disabled and one of them has to be wheelchair bound. Seven teams participated in the race this year. Competing in the race were members of numerous military branches, para-olympians, and athletes of all kinds.

We were lucky enough to assist in the rafting legs of the race which included navigating a braided channel into a lake, sailing across a pair of lakes in a raft using tarps and tent poles (not sure how many times that's been done before), and rafting down a class III+ section of whitewater on the Arkansas River. Check out the link below for more information:

Team Adventure Challenge Race

We all had a blast meeting and racing with such an incredible group of people. We hope we are invited back next year.

Worlds is coming up fast!

These are the last two weeks of preparation. The worlds in the Netherlands is coming up fast and both teams are fine tuning.

Fibark

Both the men and women cleaned up at this weekends Fibark sprint races in Salida. The men took the top spot and the women finished 3rd overall which was terrific because there was no womens division!

Slalom Practice in Denver

We (the U.S. Women) practiced slalom today at the whitewater course in Denver on the Platte River. The waves were big, the eddies were strong, and the surfing was superb. We set ropes across the river for upstream and downstream gates. Practice was successful, and we feel more confident on our way to worlds. Now it's time for some warming up after 5 hours in the rain.

Sunday water events cancelled

Sunday- last day of the Teva Mountain Games. As we suspected all whitewater events on Gore Creek had to be cancelled today due to the high water. Between all of the trees and debris coming down, the bridges in the village being too low and the take out below the finish disappearing. It was an easy call for the safety team and one they had to make. Both teams made the best of it though. The Women headed out in the morning for some downriver practice on the Eagle River at 9ft. Not only was it great training, but spectacular fun at this level too! The Men grabbed a few film crews and headed out to have some high water fun in Dowd Chute this afternoon. Check it out at http://teva.mobilerider.com/flash/osmf/MobileRiderOSMF.swf?mediaID=30938&vendorID=1985&serviceID=1&bgcolor=000000

There is a short clip following the slopestyle and road race coverage.

Saturday at the Teva Mountain Games

Today was pure energy in Vail Village. While neither teams have any official races until Sunday, some of us took part in the kayak sprint race, the mud run and a lot of just roaming around checking out vendors and people watching. The highlight of the day was definitely the Teva House Party overlooking the Marley concert. Not only were they the best seats in the house but the party was a veritable who's who of Teva athletes competing this weekend. We kept being drawn to the back of the Teva House however where Gore creek was putting on a show of it's own. Due to the absolutely perfect weather this week all the snow is coming down in a torrent and much of the Gore Creek promenade is under water. We are all wondering what affect this will have on tomorrows races when the water is even higher and you will not be able to get under the bridges.

Teva games kick off

The Teva mountain games kicked off today with the homestake steep creek race. Myself and several other members of the US Rafting team helped provide safety for the event. The event went off without a hitch and Sam Hutton from New Zealand took the top spot.