YIKES!

Elite racers perish in kayak tragedy

The Province
Published: Tuesday, October 09, 2007

HOWE SOUND -- Two North Vancouver adventure racers are dead after a kayak flipped in heavy seas on the weekend and set off a tragic chain of events.

"We shouldn't have gone out," survivor Bob Faulkner, 60, said yesterday. "I miss my friends terribly."

Denis Fontaine, 40, a representative for a sporting-goods company, and Richard Juryn, 50, who worked in the mountain-bike industry, perished.

Faulkner, Fontaine, Juryn and five other elite multisport racers set out Sunday morning on an epic journey, to kayak from Porteau Cove in Howe Sound, run up to Anvil Island's peak, paddle back, then mountain bike to Whistler.

But already-poor weather disintegrated while the seven men and one woman were on Anvil Island. Fierce winds and waves higher than two metres lashed the shore.

They decided Fontaine and his girlfriend, Cheryl Beatty, would "sweep" from behind, to help any of the group who got into trouble.

Their boat was the only racing kayak, less stable than the others. Shortly after launching, a wave hit them sideways during a turn and they capsized.

Beatty was able to grab on to the rear of the kayak belonging to Troy Dalton and John Bula, and in a "superhuman effort," the two men paddled her ashore, Faulkner said.

Fontaine remained in the frigid ocean for 50 minutes, before Juryn and Graham Tutti got him into the cargo hatch of their kayak.

Opening the hatch was a last resort and brought catastrophe. Waves swept in and sank the boat.
"All three of them set out to swim," Faulkner said. "Richard was not a strong swimmer."

Meanwhile, Faulkner and Brent Martin paddled ferociously for Porteau Cove, where they called for rescue.

The coast guard dispatched their Osprey vessel and hovercraft, plus two helicopters and two auxiliary vessels.

Tutti was pulled nearly dead from the water. Fontaine and Juryn were found floating face-down, unconscious.

The paddlers wore life-jackets, but "were not appropriately dressed" for the conditions, said Officer Marc Proulx of the Joint Rescue Co-ordination Centre in Victoria.

"They were in light nylon shells," he said. "No wetsuits."
ebaron@png.canwest.com

© The Vancouver Province 2007

TWRS Note: Our thoughts are with their families and friends.

A Very Interesting Untamed Development...

So, we've discuss the Untamed New England 60 hour adventure race before. But, someone just pointed out to me that GMARA's own Chris Yager, is captaining a team in the Untamed.

Chris is maintaining a blog chronicling his, and his team's, preparation for the race.

If TWRS decides to get in on the action, we might have at least two teams composed of members from GMARA--wild. I hope we see you at the finish line, Chris.

Like I said, this is very interesting.

Fallen Leaves 5K Race Series

In a some what desperate attempt to regain my 5K cred, I've been searching around for some local races. Found the Fallen Leaves 5K Series in Montpelier.

I'm thinking that I'll try to do the Nov. 3 and Nov. 17 races--unless something cooler comes along. Something cooler like, say, scouting routes for the March 1, 2008 Frigid Infliction Winter Adventure Race--the largest USARA sanctioned winter race in the country--which Grambo and I are helping to design. Very cool. Of course, we can't tell you anything about it except that it's going to be wicked awesome again this year.

Anyway, here are the details for the 5Ks. If you're interested in running with me, just drop a line.

DETAILS: Saturdays: November 3, 10, 17 — 9 AM
Montpelier High School track
This low-key, three-race series presented by the Central Vermont Runners club is on a flat and fast 5K race course that begins and finishes on the Montpelier High School track, and incorporates the Montpelier bike path.
REGISTRATION: Race-day registration only from 8:15-8:45 AM.
FEE: $5 for the entire series (runners pay a total of $5 whether they run one, two or three races.)

THIS JUST IN: Autumn Onion Results

Here are the results for the Autumn Onion 5K at Morse Farm in East Montpelier.

I finished in the top half--not too bad for getting there at the last minute and starting dead last. But, I gotta tell you, there is NO way that this course was only 5K. It was easily an extra .5 mile longer--easily. Nevertheless, it was on some beautiful trails with great foliage.

Let the heckling begin.

JG

USARA National Championships and the Points Race

The USARA National Championships are just 18 days away and a look at the point leaders board shows a couple of teams that we've raced with--or rather started with--in our March and June races. Most notably, Berlin Bikes, Team EMS (they have two teams) and ARFE/Smartwool.

And while we haven't raced with them this year, GOALS ARA is also in the points race.


It's fun to see teams that we've raced with do well.


To see the entire list of teams racing in nationals click here. The best name? Thermonuclear Ninja Monkeys. But Team Runs with Scissors it ain't.


Maybe we should start a nationals pool?

And remember, you can hurt yourself if you run with scissors.

jg

WEEKEND UPDATE

The Autumn Onion went well this morning. Although, I rolled into the parking lot about 1 minute before the race started. The lady doing registration was kind enough to take my name at the start and actually registered me after the race. It was a nice, hilly 5K--definitely some nice trails. And a nice cool morning for a run. I'll post the results once they're up on the Onion River Sports site.

After the run, Mrs. G, AMG and I decided to hit the Toll Road on Mansfield and try to take AMG to the summit for the first time. When we got to the top parking area we discovered that it was colder--much colder--than we had anticipated. It was also snowing. It was awesome. There was a good layer of ice on the coniferous trees near the summit. We made it out to the first clearing after the summit station and the wind was too brisk for AMG--whose checks were getting wind burn--so we returned to the car. We did take a few pictures and I'll get those up soon too. Despite the wind, she seemed to enjoy being up there. I can't wait to bring her back.

Now, back to the Sox game...

jg

Onion River Sports Sponsors Autumn Onion 5K Trail Run

WHEN: Saturday, October 13th, 9:30 am

WHERE: The Morse Farm, 1168 County Road, Montpelier

COURSE: Tread the Morse Farm Trails this fall in Foliage season’s best 5k trail run. This varied course takes you through XC ski trails, a sugar maple grove, single track, hills, open fields, with great views of the Green Mountains.

INFO: Registration is $5 for everyone, and opens at 8:30am. Race starts at 9:30am. Prizes and creemees for overall and age group winners! Call Caroline or Carrie at Onion River Sports 802-229-9409 for more information.

Count me in! Biz? Grambo? Turtle?

JG

CAN TRWS TAME THE UNTAMED?

So, there's clearly a correlation between the frequency of posting, the frequency of training and racing and the frequency (as in the band width) of my waist. All day long today I was uncomfortable because the waist on a favorite pair of pants was too tight. Enough is enough! And it was enough to make me go run after work.

But I digest...I mean digress.

You may recall that Grambo mentioned The Untamed New England race awhile back when it was still under consideration by the race director as a more affordable--much more affordable--and more local alternative to Primal Quest. Well, registration opened a few weeks ago and it's already looking more and more like it will happen. Seems pretty cool.

Although the location is top secret for awhile, the race directors seem to suggest that it would be in the NH/ME/MA area. Even going so far as to note that the airport in Manchester, NH is the most convenient to the starting line.

There's no doubt about it, it's the kind of expedition length race that we've dreamed about doing over the last few years. With it being so close to home, it will be really hard to pass up. We definitely need to talk about it. And as Grambo also noted in an e-mail to us recently, if we're going to do The Untamed New England, we might have to do this Check Point Zero 24hr to be sure we're ready.

One things for sure: I'd have to squeeze in more training time than I am these days! Because I can't keep squeezing into those frickin' pants.

JG