Hello All!
What a year!! All of us at ESAR want to thank you for your incredible help at ESAR this year.
Without your help – we could never make this event work. and we can’t thank you enough.
I would like to take a moment to review some of the events that occurred and to let you know how each of you played a vital role in making the race go off without a hitch (at least to the racers!)
The Set-up Crew:
Friday is one of the busiest days at ESAR. I want to thank Ed and Mike for dragging themselves out to the river to run the lines in the feeding frenzy of mosquitoes.
Mike was also tasked with the unenviable job of carting 50 tables into the dome (only later to find that there was a ‘table dolly’) that would have made his life a million times easier. And then of course I asked him to fill up every giant water jug that needed to be carted out to the TA’s.
Patty was my right arm this year and managed to create new numbers on shirts, set up all the host site signs, and basically let me tell her what to do every ten seconds.
Sherry, Donna, Sarah, Petra were super stars at registration. Last year Donna suggested that we have all the waivers printed on 3-hole punch paper and I’m not sure why we didn’t do this 6 years ago!
Registration Morning:
After heavy artillery bombing the night before – it was a surprise that everyone made it to registration by 6:30 am!
After a lovely breakfast and some mess hall java we were all off to start a very hectic morning.
No body said it was pretty – but driving the gear trucks is probably the second most important thing that happens at ESAR. Mike, Jamie, Brent and Kris were trucking superstars – thank you. This seems like the never ending task (and ESAR 2009 didn’t prove to be any different), having to complete 9 trucks runs loading and off loading the bikes to get them to CP 3 – you guys were awesome. Now where would any good truck driver be without their handy-dandy loading friend? Except for Jamie – who apparently lost his loading partner in the heavy shelling the night before – Christina and Pam were great truck partners! (I’m not sure if I missed anyone on trucks – but let me know!
CP1TA1
What a ZOO!! Can you believe that we had 6 volunteers and staff at CP1 and it was still mayhem. Pat yourselves on the back if you were there for the craziness. Brenda, Wendy, Melissa, Patty and Don – all out as either CP staff or boat loaders on the water…300 racers converging on you at insane bike speeds…we know how un-nerving that can be. You guys did an awesome job of getting teams moving quickly in the right direction.
I’m sure if you had your radio on – you heard the bit of radio chatter that had ESAR staff wondering if 100 canoes had actually made it to CP 1 – but it appears the the canoe outfitters managed to get their trucks into the right spot and unload all the boats with out too much trouble. whew!
CP2 TA2
A bit calmer but still very busy! Sherry stayed dockside with Andrea – they guided teams off the river (and of course little puppy was there to cheers on the teams).
After a pain in the ass portage – racers checked in with Jennifer and Amy. Nice work ladies. That was a busy checkpoint and it seems like you got it all sorted out.
ESAR-Lite
Other than Mark starting the race – I think the ladies on Truck number four had this one nailed. Kris and Christina – helped me with the racer briefing and pretty much managed every little bit of ESAR -lite gear. Thank you for being so self-sufficient and timely!
CP3 /TA 3
Cool heads prevailed. My two seasoned volunteers Iris and Petra – managed one of the more urban friendly TA’s – but probably the most grumpy TA. With one truck load of bikes being delayed – there were about 12 time credits to manage. With time credits come very unhappy racers. Petra and Iris – have been around enough racers to keep heads calm and get things sorted out efficiently. Thanks ladies – never a position we want to put staff in – but sometimes s-happens!
CP3 /TA 3
Cool heads prevailed. My two seasoned volunteers Iris and Petra – managed one of the more urban friendly TA’s – but probably the most grumpy TA. With one truck load of bikes being delayed – there were about 12 time credits to manage. With time credits come very unhappy racers. Petra and Iris – have been around enough racers to keep heads calm and get things sorted out efficiently. Thanks ladies – never a position we want to put staff in – but sometimes s-happens!
River Crossing
What can I say – we save these very special tasks for people that we think can handle it! Patty and Don you went above and beyond – hanging out at the river crossing making sure everyone made it out of the water and ensuring that no one was carried away by the mosquitoes. A special thank you for making this part of the adventure safe for our racers.
CP4 (P31)
Christine – what a great help!! thank you – you made your way to Gate P31 – cleared everyone there and headed on over to CP 4 with Amy. You entertained the racers with your radio – uh-oh – then the dreaded phone call…your battery was dead:( I’m so glad you were able to get CAA to make it out to you. Thank you again – your enthusiasm was awesome!
CP5/TA4
Donna and Sarah again – this time scaling a fence to get into their CP! We were coming – to open the gate but you beat us to it! Some of my favourite radio calls include:
Heather to CP5: Donns did you enter through gate P22 or P23 OVER
Donna to HQ: I see Gate 23 but we climbed the fence – don’t worry about bringing the key. OVER
SEAN to HQ: I can’t move forward on the course because I am stuck in the mud OVER
HQ to Sean: Silence – do you mean you have fallen In the mud and are stuck?
Sean to HQ: No – I’m not stuck in the mud – my van is stuck
HQ to Sean – Okay that’s not so bad…OVER
CP8 TA4
By this time, Brenda, Wendy and Melissa are old hat at being CP staff and have everything under control. (except for one missing team – Team 12 spends about 2.5 hours looking for CP 6 and 7)
River Crossing
What can I say – we save these very special tasks for people that we think can handle it! Patty and Don you went above and beyond – hanging out at the river crossing making sure everyone made it out of the water and ensuring that no one was carried away by the mosquitoes. A special thank you for making this part of the adventure safe for our racers.
CP4 (P31)
Christine – what a great help!! thank you – you made your way to Gate P31 – cleared everyone there and headed on over to CP 4 with Amy. You entertained the racers with your radio – uh-oh – then the dreaded phone call…your battery was dead:( I’m so glad you were able to get CAA to make it out to you. Thank you again – your enthusiasm was awesome!
GATE P22
The oh-so important entry point! Thank you Adam and Linda for managing this area. What a busy gate – but you guys were superb! Hopefully Adam is hooked and will want to become and adventure racer!
CP5/TA4
Donna and Sarah again – this time scaling a fence to get into their CP! We were coming – to open the gate but you beat us to it! Some of my favourite radio calls include:
Heather to CP5: Donns did you enter through gate P22 or P23 OVER
Donna to HQ: I see Gate 23 but we climbed the fence – don’t worry about bringing the key. OVER
SEAN to HQ: I can’t move forward on the course because I am stuck in the mud OVER
HQ to Sean: Silence – do you mean you have fallen In the mud and are stuck?
Sean to HQ: No – I’m not stuck in the mud – my van is stuck
HQ to Sean – Okay that’s not so bad…OVER
CP8 TA4
By this time, Brenda, Wendy and Melissa are old hat at being CP staff and have everything under control. (except for one missing team – Team 12 spends about 2.5 hours looking for CP 6 and 7).
CP9 TA5
I can honestly say that I don’t know who ended up as the CP9 staff. I know I started there and then Sean took over and then it ended up in some very capable hands because everyone got the right map and cut off times were attended to – so let me know who was there and I can thank you as well.
Obstacle Course:
Christina and Kris once again ran a Military operation and this fun race section. Cousin Brian was a super help getting ahead of the racers to set up the special task. I know the Big Brother and Big Sisters crew was down there and all into the sling shot – thanks guys!
Another special thanks to Mike – who ended up at the obstacle course for something like 4 hours – cooking in the sun (waiting for that oh so elusive TEAM 12!) damn them – they went home without telling anyone…
Sweep Team:
The longest job of the day! Barb and Owen renewed their wedding vows on the course – okay not really…but they spent a day helping teams that needed it and following the last racers. Kind of like the United Way for racers – a bit of relief and help when teams need it most:) They fixed flat tires, helped lost souls find their way and kept everyone at the back safe. Our sweep team has to be self-sufficient, level headed and fit! These two made our job 10 times easier by keeping track of the last people through the race course. Thank you to you both!
Finish line:
Thank you to all those that came back to the finish line and kept me from crying! Jamie, Patty, Jennifer, Iris and anyone else that took over from me for the last couple of hours. Jamie helping set up our make-shift finish chute, Jennifer getting people to take off their dirty jerseys, Patty getting passports marked and posted and of course Iris setting up camp right at the finish line. You guys were great!
Photographers:
I want to thank Mike and Luis for snapping photos all day. Getting eaten alive to get the “good” pics. We will have your photos posted and links up shortly. The photos will capture teams memories in the moment!
ESAR Staff:
Mark, Sean, Vin, Andrea – once again another great year. ESAR is only as great as it’s bit and pieces and you guys are the glue that holds all the work and planning together. Thank you again – for your tireless efforts to make this day great.
I’m sure I have missed someone – please forgive me if I have – once again this race couldn’t happen without all of your help. I hope you will join us again – or perhaps even at RockstAR coming up in July. We welcome your comments and suggestions so that each year we can make it better for both racers and volunteers.
Sincerely
Heather and Mark Arnold.
