Série Salomon Adventure Challenge

Championnat Canadien 2004 - Calabogie Peaks

(Par Alain Beaudry)

Le championnat canadien 2004 de la série Salomon Adventure Challenge a eu lieu à Calabogie Peaks la fin de semaine du 17 septembre 2004.  La série Salomon se distingue par des courses d'une durée de 6 à 12 heures en équipes de 3 personnes.   

Continuant notre domination sur le circuit canadien des courses aventure, nous avons remporté de justesse, ex-aequo avec nos amis de EAS Hammer, le premier championnat de cette série.  

Voici le texte que m'a inspiré cette course mémorable:

Un p'tit trip à trois quelqu'un?

 Isn’t it everyone’s fantasy to get in a threesome adventure?  No? (Don’t read this then…) OK so, isn’t it every adventure racer’s dream to be involved in a threesome?  Of course it is!!  That is why we love racing the Salomon Adventure Challenge race series.  It involves teams of three and we think that is extremely cool.  Also, the Salomon Adventure Challenge is different of other grueling races as it requires minimal gear preparation, short briefings, no long term commitment, you can change teams every time, it lasts only a day, no metaphysical questions asked, anything can happen, there is always a nice dinner and party afterwards, well you got it, it is pretty much the one night stand of adventure racing!! And it’s all in threesomes.  Exciting isn’t it?  That is our opinion!  

Some teams chose to do it in the all men threesome category, well that really isn’t our thing, not that we have anything against it, no no.  Some go with an all female team, which is fine with us especially if we can be their support team and if they stay at the party afterwards.  But our thing really is in the co-ed category, the real thing above all, if not a bit conservative some will say.  

So please, remind me what is rule number one when it comes to threesomes?  Oups, I mean rule number one for success in adventure racing?  Yes, you are right!  Rule number one for success is choosing the right partners.  We all know that! 

Those who read our web sit race stories may remember our Mattawa Canadian Championships race story.  I related that upon reaching a checkpoint, tired and exhausted, the (female) volunteer that greeted us there had the nicest smile one could imagine.  Ok, ok, I admit we said she was very attractive and we all commented on how lucky her checkpoint partner was and that next time, we’ll be volunteering instead of mountain biking, running and crawling in the mud.  Even Melissa was envious since the guy was a military and we all know by now that Melissa, a military herself, has a thing for army guys, in fact we think that is why she is being sent (as a punishment) to Afghanistan. All that to say that we won’t be volunteering next time (sorry race organizers).  Liza is now racing with us, we “threesomed” with her at the last S.A.C. race of the season, the Calabogie Championships and she carried her smile all throughout the course. 

And a nice threesome we did!  But first we had to get to know each other.  That is why we all shared bed the night before at the luxurious Dickson Manor, for a quick nap before race start.  What a hot night it was!!  Well, I mean, it was pretty warm outside. So I turned the air conditioning system to it’s lowest setting in hope that we would all end up spooning, as all racers know, that is a very effective method of heat conservation and mastering this technique can become essential to survival in some race situations. Hence some practice in a controlled environment.  Well believe it or not, the air conditioning trick really worked!!  When I woke up at three in the morning to get to the start line, I was very tightly enlaced … in Benoît’s arms – he was drooling I think - while Liza was wrapped in a warm blanket.  Guess the technique needs some more refinement… 

And yes, we did race too!  S.A.C. races provides reasonable challenge to all, experienced teams and newbies alike. It makes for an extremely fast paced race with lots of rebounds where great teamwork is essential.  And while on that subject, threesome racing in a 2 person canoe with kayak paddles requires good strategy and perfect team harmony.   Our strategy is quite simple.  Just as in the bed the night before, we put “our girl” in the middle.  And gentleman that we are, I brought my personal pillow for Liza’s added comfort (there is no middle seat). With strong headwinds that day and water splashing us all over, we were all soaked and freezing. And despite the temptation, it’s no time for spooning, too bad.  Paddling in perfect sync is the key.  Well, that is the moment that Liza chose to whisper in my ear: “…you know Alain, tonight you are really going to have wet dreams…”  Wow, this  is more like my idea of a threesome.    You think I exaggerate and that isn’t true?  OK, I agree, that isn’t true, she didn’t whisper it in my ear, she said it out loud!!!!  Wow, I said to myself, she really likes my paddling, I was very flattered and I said to myself, ya man, the Salomon Adventure Challenge truly is a great race, and threesomes are the best. I really like such a display of team spirit.  Wow! But just as I was still day dreaming, I couldn’t help hearing the rest of the sentence:  “… yes, your pillow is really soaked in water now…”    

So many good things to say about SAC races.  But the best is, it ends when other races start to be painful, a mere 4 to 12 hours.  The idea after all is not suffer too much, to make you tired enough for the hot tub,  hungry for the post-race meal and very thirsty for the party…  

Simon River Sports Adventure Team totally supports the concept of SAC and threesome adventure racing...