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 The Salomon X-Adventure race was the first of its kind to seriously incorporate inline skating in a grueling, multi-event oddysey at altitude. 46 mixed, three person teams from around the globe mountain-biked, inline skated, rock climbed and rappelled, orienteered, river kayaked, and ran with horses. In spite of the brutally steep climb up Castle Creek into the glacially carved cirque basin of Mount Hayden, some of the biggest smiles from the competitors came during the inline skating portion of the race. Teams pushed, pulled, and coaxed themselves up the mountain, sometimes hooked up trunk to tail with the aid of climbing ropes, bungee cords, and wind-breakers. Many times it was the woman who stoked the train or pulled like a locomotive. Less than three minutes separated the top three teams after over 22 and a half hours of vigorous racing. Some raced to place, others simply to finish. The last X-Adventure team arrived nearly 33 hours after the winners in a total time of 54 hours and 54 minutes. Asked how they enjoyed the incorporation of inline skating into the X-Adventure race, one competitor responded that although he wished they could have used poles for the skate climb, he saw it as a portion of the competition that was "pure fun." See official results of the X-Adventure race. News Home |