POST RACE UPDATE 2300 HRS 4-APRIL-2009

It ain’t over until it’s over, so the saying goes. It’s kind of the same with the Atacama Crossing.  The racing part ended today, but there was still the business of the awards to deal with before it could be said officially that the event was finished for this year. So it was that we found ourselves in an open air restaurant in San Pedro tonight. This was the point everyone who had crossed the Atacama over the past six days could come together with event staff – volunteers, doctors, media and the Chilean support team – for a night of celebration and reflection.

Powerful bonds are made through participation in this event and the atmosphere tonight was one of friendship, pure and simple. Like minded individuals sharing a very special moment.

Race director Zac Addorisio, from RacingThePlanet, welcomed everyone and introduced the many different teams that had played a vital support role in the event. All received rapturous applause and there was a genuine sense that the competitors felt a bond with the staff who had witnessed their lowest and highest moments. We in turn felt part of their lives.

But down to the all important business of the awards. There were no real surprises on this last day, but that’s not to say the competition hadn’t been an exciting one. Indeed, it was one of the most competitive and wide open Atacama Crossings in recent years. It was anyone’s to take.

Mehmet Danis of Canada reached out and grabbed it in the men’s division. A charger who had trained and trained and trained for this, he scorched the Atacama with his speed, but remained gracious and sportsmanlike in his clinical destruction of the opposition. He paid tribute to early rival Damon Goerke of Australia for pushing him hard and spoke for many when he said the humbling experience of participation in the Atacama Crossing 2009 had reminded him that comfort was not necessary for happiness.

Peter Osterwalder of Switzerland received the award for second place in the men’s division, with Javier Velasco Santamaria of Spain taking third.

In the women’s division, Fleur Grose of Australia had never really been in danger of being caught. Quiet and unassuming, she’d been touched by the fact everyone else who was running seemed to know who she was.

Mirjana Pellizzer of Croatia received her award for second place, with Tracy Simmons of the USA taking third.

The team competition had been harder to predict in the initial stages of the event. There were only three teams taking part, but that was just the right number to keep it interesting. Aranda Aventura of Spain came through the strongest in the end, but they were pushed all the way by second placed countrymen Lleidaextrem, with Andesgear Chile taking third.

There was no doubting who would receive the special Spirit award, given to the individual who demonstrates, well, the most guts and determination. Alastair Todd of the UK, who battled every inch of the course with excruciatingly painful feet, was the easy choice.

An equally straightforward choice for the Sportsmanship award was the UK’s David Smale who, despite competing himself, had continually helped out other competitors and had generally been a real gent around camp.

In the age group awards, Marc Miller of the USA was top finisher in the 20-29 category, with Damon Goerke of Australia the highest placed in the 30-39 group. Christian Schiester of Austria was first in the 40-49 category, with Marco Vola of Italy the leader in the 50-59 age group. Laurence Brophy of Wales naturally received the award in the 70-79 group.

Women’s division age group winners were: Karen Zacharias of the USA for the 20-29 category and Maria Malvestiti of Italy for the 50-59 group.

“It was an absolute gem of an event,” said Zac Addorisio, reflecting on the past six days. “We’ve had great stories, heroic efforts and the competition was really good. The great thing about these type of events is everybody always comes together. It doesn’t matter if you finish first, or if you’re at the end, everyone is so happy to see you complete it, or be involved in it and that’s one of the essences of the 4 Deserts. “

Adios Chile. Until the next time.