Patagonian Expedition Race Ends

February 23, 2012



Ten days after the race began, teams in desperate need of showers and hot meals, the Patagonian Expedition Race has finished. With Adidas TERREX Prunesco taking the win for the fourth year in a row, this year's field was stronger than ever. Team EastWind took a very impressive second place with Gear Junkies close behind in third. Team total race times as follows:



1. Adidas TERREX Prunesco Time: 147h 39m

2. EastWind Time: 159h 25m

3. GearJunkie / Yogaslackers Time: 162h 31m

4. KAURI Time 163h 45m

5. Cyanosis Time:163h 59m

6. CUVA Time: 183h 13m

7. Ad Natura Time: 183h 48m

8. Selva Kailash Time: 185h 51m

9. Red Fox - Gore-Tex Time: 189h 44m

10. Dancing Pandas Time: 201h 44m


The race saw team ranking change several times with one exception: Adidas TERREX maintaining a vast gap between first and second place. While the team remains unchallenged as champion, it is clear that the competitors of this year's race were both well-prepared and well-informed. The 2012 race had the highest success rate thus far.



The high rate of finish is the result of two very determining factors: Excellent quality of teams and some of the best weather the race has ever seen. For days on end, the sun shone and the winds were a comparative pleasant breeze. With warmer weather and fewer competitors suffering the agonies of cold, incessant rain, teams were able to orienteer their way down Tierra del Fuego and across the Darwin Range.



Despite the beautiful weather during much of the race, the final days on the Beagle Channel proved to be too windy for safe passage into the Pia Fjord. Teams were held back from beginning their final kayak section as a matter of precaution. Warm and comfortable for the most part, they waited for the wind to die down while the rest of the world waited to hear about the finish. With the imminent arrival of the boat back to Punta Arenas, Stjepan Pavicic was forced to shorten the course.



The shortened course did not, however, lack the expected spectacular views of the Beagle Channel and the many glaciers pouring forth from the Darwin Range into the icy waters of the South American archipelago. Teams departed the Pia Fjord this morning and are making their leisurely way back to Punta Arenas where we await them with a closing ceremony and some hard-earned champagne.