BARILOCHE, Nov 30 (Hina) - Four Croatians, who are to participate in the world's most difficult expedition race, the "Discovery Channel Eco-Challenge", in the trackless expanse of Patagonia, Argentina, between December 1 and 12 have
successfully completed the necessary tests and are ready for the beginning of the race.
BARILOCHE, Nov 30 (Hina) - Four Croatians, who are to participate in
the world's most difficult expedition race, the "Discovery Channel
Eco-Challenge", in the trackless expanse of Patagonia, Argentina,
between December 1 and 12 have successfully completed the necessary
tests and are ready for the beginning of the race. #L#
"Team Croatia" includes captain Simun Cimerman, a waterpolo
player; Irena Palosek, a climber; Abdulah Selimovic, an officer
with the 1st Croatian Guard Corps; and Josko Bozic, a rock climber
and paraglider.
The Croatian team has already taken part in similar races, the last
one being the 1998 Morocco race, when the team was one of the
surprises of the event, reaching the winning post as the 18th team
and the 11th nation.
According to the organisers of the "Discovery Channel", the
upcoming race will be the most difficult and the most uncertain race
so far. Fifty-one teams from 31 countries will face the challenge of
traversing 400 km of Patagonia's exciting, intimidating and
stunningly beautiful wilderness.
According to "Eco-Challenge" rules, teams must have four members,
of whom at least one must be female. Their task is to cross the
wilderness using exclusively man-powered means. The race is not
time-limited and lasts 24 hours a day. The contesters are required
to carry with them all the necessary equipment and food, and decide
for themselves how much and if at all they will sleep. In case a team
member gives up the race due to injuries, exhaustion or illness, the
whole team is disqualified.
The Patagonia race will be take place mostly in a mountainous region
and will require disciplines such as ice-climbing, glacier-
trekking, traversing, climbing down alpinist cordage, and
conquering the 3,480-metre high Tronador summit in the Andes.
Participants are also expected to cover 90 km by kayaking in
mountain lakes, and will have to use their skills in rafting,
horseback riding, and long-lasting and in navigation terms
demanding trekking.
(hina) rml