Archive for the '2012. Lake Baikal' Category
16 April 2012 at 08:00
We are very pleased to announce the final placings for the Siberian Black Ice Race 2012 competitors.
Remember though, wherever you came you all did an amazing job and made history on the World's First Siberian Black Ice Race!
SPRINT - overall
1st: Alexander Ulitin
2nd: Alexander Zhilinsky
3rd: Joey Kelly (*1st on foot)
4th: Team Health and Safety Gone Mad (*2nd on foot)
5th: Kevin McDonald (*3rd on foot)
MARATHON - overall
1st: Evgeny Glazunov
2nd: Maria Leijerstam, Mat Webb and Jez Heys
3rd: Tim Wilks (*1st on foot)
4th: Bruce Manning
5th: Gary Bullen
6th: Antonio de la Rosa (*2nd on foot)
7th: Neil Foote (*3rd on foot)
8th: Anastasia Kim
Posted in Siberian Ice Race | 2012. Lake Baikal | Press Releases | No Comments
05 April 2012 at 09:33
We have welcomed home our record-breaking pioneers!
Described as ‘Longer than England, colder than vodka and harder than granite’, competitors have completed the World’s First Multi-Discipline Race across Lake Baikal, Siberia.
Competitors from America to Russia, Kiters to Runners, took part in the Race across Lake Baikal; the World’s oldest and deepest ice lake and billed as ‘the World’s most terrifying lake’ with an eerily spooky covering of black tormented ice.
Competing in either the 155 mile ‘Sprint’ or 375 mile ‘Marathon’ the racers started in the ancient Cossack city of Irkutsk, Siberia and journeyed in one of the World’s most beautiful wildernesses.
But it was by no means an easy challenge despite being in a stunning part of the World. Extreme World Races pride themselves on the best safety network and quickly had to deal with the various challenges of the Race; dealing with hypothermia, frostbite, fractures, broken bones, sheer exhaustion and one team even burning down their tent.
Tony Martin, Race Organiser andCEO of Extreme World Races; “The participants didn’t realise how intense it would be. This is truly the toughest challenge. It is not to be taken lightly but offers some incredible rewards. This marvel of nature is truly a destination that everyone should visit, the race went well, the competitors are safely home and mother nature was kind to us.”
The three Russian locals took early leads and ultimately secured 1st places for the two disciplines and 2nd for the Sprint distance but the UK competitors certainly held their own.
Just one such competitor was Maria Leijerstam -the first female competitor to cross the line, second overall for the ‘Marathon’ distance. She completed the 379 miles on her specially constructed bike in an amazing 7 days – just 3 days after the 1st place competitor Evgeny; a member of the Russian Mountaineering Team, CycleCross Champion and Instructor who has lived in Irkutsk all his life.
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Maria says: “On a few days the wind was so fierce that I simply could not stay on the bike as it was blown from underneath me. On other days I was having to work really hard as I peddled through deep snow fields. Only occasionally I was able to enjoy a tail wind on pure unbroken ice. It was a race of massive extremes."
Equally a huge congratulations to all of our racers - no matter where you placed you all did an amazing job. You were all pioneers the moment you filled out the application form.
If you have a similar sense of adventure and are inspired to compete in one of our races applications are now being taken for the 2013 Siberian Black Ice Race. We have already got numerous applications but there is a cap on the amount of people so make sure you sign up asap to avoid disappointment!
Competitors will have to be self-sufficient on the ice with temperatures as low as -40 degrees C and winds of up to 100km/h. Travel categories include feasible non-motorised methods of travel: by foot, bike, ski’s and kite.
Extreme World Races (EWR) are holding an Open Day on Saturday 14th April, 2012 in Cirencester, Gloucestershire. This is a perfect way to learn more about EWR, the once-in-a-lifetime races that they offer and the staff that run them in an informal setting.
Visit our website to sign up or call one of the friendly team on +44 (0)1285 860440 for more information about anything to do with Extreme World Races and to start your journey and Achieve the Extraordinary.
Tags: congratulations | siberian black ice race | lake baikal | 2012 | world's first
Posted in 2012. Lake Baikal | Press Releases | No Comments
30 March 2012 at 10:00
Hello
The final day of the race and all the competitors are safe and on dry land. The sunrise this morning was stunning and a fitting end to another great race.
Neil and Anastasia crossed the line to conclude this years Black ice Race in Siberia so a huge congratulations to them and what an achievement.
This location of the World has been a wonderful experience and the team at EWR would like to thank everyone involved. In particular the Russian people and the officials who have made this event possible in one of the most idyllic places on Earth.
We look forward to running this event each year and growing our International relationship with the Russian Federation, allowing many more people to come and enjoy this amazing location.
Live your dreams and inspire others to push the boundaries of mankind to a new and exciting level; "Achieve The Extraordinary"
Tony Martin
CEO EWR
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Posted in 2012. Lake Baikal | Press Releases | No Comments
29 March 2012 at 08:35
Hello
Today we saw our first Spanish competitor, Antonio de la Rosa, cross the line and he is now safely on his way back to the airport and home. The first kite skier Gary Bullen has just crossed the line after tearing up the center of the lake.
Severobaiklask town is a rail head for the Trans Siberian Express system with now other commerce going on as well. The town’s people are looking to grow its Eco Tourism over the foreseeable future and try to attract International guests. Its history, like so many other Russian towns, is one of a military background and you can see many signs of this around the town. As with most of Russia, all towns have great and stunning churches to worship their most common religion, Russian Orthodox.
Tony
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Posted in 2012. Lake Baikal | Press Releases | No Comments
28 March 2012 at 09:00
Hello
It is day 10 and we are at the finish line receiving and sending people back to Irkutsk. A huge congratulations to Maria for being the first women to finish the Black Ice Race on Lake Baikal. Herself and her bike are now safely on the Trans Siberian Express on her way back.
Tim arrived late last night and came in as the first on foot. We are expecting Gary Bullen and Bruce Manning to arrive later today closely followed by Antonio and Anastasia. This will leave Neil to arrive latest Thursday lunchtime. That will conclude all the racers that have made it to the finish of the marathon. As a pioneering event these individuals have achieved some extraordinary results and have opened the field for those to follow in future races.
We have almost finished the planning for next years’ race to accommodate 200 people from around the World. Racers will have an option to fly back to Irkutsk or go by train. We are in such a remote part of the World it seems to have been locked in time and whilst the local people are friendly and interested in what we are doing they do not quite understand why!
It is once again a privilege to visit such a location and both mother nature and the man of Lake Baikal have been good to us.
To find out more about these fantastic races and great journeys come along to the Open Day on the 14th of April to listen to those that have completed the events and the organisers. Find all the details on our website or contact +44 (0)1285 860440.
Tony
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Posted in 2012. Lake Baikal | Press Releases | 1 Comments »
27 March 2012 at 09:00
Hello
It is race day 9 and the support team are now located at Severbaikalsk awaiting the competitors to complete the first Siberian Black Ice Race.
Today we travelled past some breath taking scenery with beautiful ice formations as we made our way up the lake. Changing every day we pass some stunning arrangements of deep blue ice with a stunning background of vast mountains.
Early after leaving our overnight stay we came across Bruce Manning who is competing in the mountain bike Marathon category. Slightly frustrated at having to 'pull' his mountain bike on his sledge due to the challenging terrain he continues forward in good spirits and hoping to finish within 48hrs.
En route to the finish we passed Tim Wilks who is doing incredibly well and looks to be on track to setting an impressive race record for the Marathon walking category and is hoping to finish later this evening.
On arrival in Severabaikalsk we meet up with Mat, Jez and Maria who completed the race several days ago and have been enjoying the cultural delights of a truly Russian experience in Severobajkalsk. They have all enjoyed the experience and are very happy to have taken part in the inaugural 'Black Ice Race' and especially to have finished the race all in one piece with no injuries!
Tony
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Posted in 2012. Lake Baikal | Press Releases | 1 Comments »
26 March 2012 at 13:00
A Huge Congratulations from all at Extreme World Races to our Sprint competitors
Kevin McDonald, Team Health and Safety Gone Mad, Joey Kelly, Alexander Ulitin and Alexander Zhilinsky have all completed the sprint distance of 155 miles to become the first ever competitors to take part in a Multi-Discipline race across Lake Baikal, Siberia.
We are so very proud of you and look forward to catching up with you all upon your return.
1839.jpg "Health and Safety Gone Mad")
Posted in 2012. Lake Baikal | Press Releases | 6 Comments »
26 March 2012 at 10:00
Hello
It is day 8. The racers are moving fast and it looks like it should all be over in 3 days. David had a crash with his machine today and thanks to his helmet he is fine and has no injuries; another testament to safe travel.
We passed Neil, Antonio, Anastasia and Gary today. They were all well and enjoying this vast expanse of pure delight - Mother Natures’ private canvas. Her battle with the man Lake Baikal leaves impressions in the ice that are simply un-explainable.
Our support from the Russian Mountain rescue team is working well and we have learn't a lot about this region and the local people. We will move up to the finish line today and capture the final competitors arriving and finishing their journey.
Tony
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Posted in 2012. Lake Baikal | Press Releases | No Comments
25 March 2012 at 08:10
Hello
It is day 7 of the race and we are still waiting at the mid way point for the marathon and end of the sprint. There is one more competitor to come in and then we will be off to follow up the other guys and move towards the Marathon finish line.
The weather came in today and it snowed last night so the whole area is now white again. We have been busy planning next years’ race and have decided to have three categories: mountain bikes, assisted (kites, skis, buggies) and unassisted (running, walking, skates). This will be looked at in more detail once we return to the UK. The most popular seems to be the mountain bike so we will see what happens. We will only be accepting 200 persons for the 2013 race.
Tony
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Posted in 2012. Lake Baikal | Press Releases | 3 Comments »
24 March 2012 at 08:10
Hello
It is day six and we have had team Health and Safety Gone Mad, Antonio and Team Deutschland arrive at the check point. After 4 days of searching for our Spanish competitor he strolled into the checkpoint to explain that his phone has not worked since the start. We checked his phone and can confirm that it was faulty. He has decided to continue and accepts that he will not officially qualify for a place and we have loaned him a phone so he can continue forward. He simply wishes to finish what he has started.
Gary Bullen and Benn arrived last night and Gary has continued but Benn has withdrawn.
This location is simply stunning and it is a pleasure to be here, now we are not worrying about our Spanish friend and I have stood down the search team, we may even be able to relax and celebrate David's birthday (soft drinks only).
We are half way through this journey and time is running fast. It is once again a pleasure and privilege to spend time with such great people and I am looking forward to meeting a lot more like minded people on next years’ race.
Tony
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Posted in 2012. Lake Baikal | Press Releases | No Comments
