Tecnu Extreme/StaphAseptic battles hard to 8th place finish at the Untamed Adventure

Tecnu Extreme/StaphAseptic battled hard in N.E this past weekend against the toughest competition in North America in 2010. It was the only World Championships qualifier in North America, and all the top teams had assembelled to do battle racing non stop for three days over 250 miles. The weather was perfect. The time was right. After coming out of the long 40 mile paddle in 3rd, the team maintained their placing through much of the race, but in the end, the race course proved tougher, and the challenging terrain, and the heat of the competition prevailed. The team finished 8th, albeit short of our goal of qualifying to go to Worlds, but we learned so much and are proud of finishing when so many teams faltered. This race was different in many ways from the races we typically do, and with some careful planning, next year we will be atop the podium. Thanks to the organizers for a kick butt race, and thank you to the 42 teams for providing a very competitive format that tested our resolve. We take away alot from this race, and are excited to see where the rest of 2010 takes us. We are learning. We are growing. When we put it all together, look out. See you at the next race. The Desertwinds expedition race in Nevada sept 26-29th awaits.

On the eve of Tecnu Extreme/StaphAseptics biggest race of 2010.. The untamed Adventure in N.H pits us against the best competition in North America.

Tecnu Extreme/StaphAseptic adventure racing has prevailed and endured much in 2010. This team is coming off a handful of wins as of late, and we are heading into our biggest race of the season with confidence, health, and the keen can get er done attitude. We like our chances at this race. It is a format that suits our strengths, and is long enough for us to put a hurting on the other teams if we control the vaiables. Tommorrow at noon in N.H at the 3 day Untamed Adventure race that will go through Maine, Vermont, and New Hampshire, 42 teams including some from Canada and Europe will all vie to win and receive a free full paid entry to the World Championships in Spain in October. We want the spot. We have peaked at the right time, and we will push the pace hard in the hopes of representing the United states at the Worlds as one of the top dogs in the U.S. The gun goes off tommorrow at noon with a paddle prologue that will be sure to start the race off with a fury as teams scramble for position early. Be sure to tune back in to hear all the awesome deets from this race which include conservation projects, a team waterfall climb,orienteering relay, a nice tyrolean and rapell, a bike and tie, and much, much more. We will do you proud. Thanks to Tecnu Extreme and staphAseptic for their continued killer support, and love of what we do. You guys rock! Thanks to our families for loving us enough to support what we do, and to all of our other partners/sponsors, you guys rock! Thanks for the continued support. Talk to you on sunday where hopefully, the top spot of the podium awaits. The air is good up there. : )

Tecnu Extreme/StaphAseptic presses hard and gets a big win in Va at the Equinox Traverse...

We finally we got ourselves a win under our race packs.......!!!

Charlie Kharsa, Matt Hayes, Mari Chandler, and Kyle Peter - Team Tecnu were off to Covington Virginia for the 2010 Equinox Traverse 2 day adventure race. Looking at the course layout and number of CP's (19 mandatory, 21 optional) the night before the race, Kyle predicted us to finish in 36 hours. We talked to the course director Chris Caul and he predicted the winning time to complete the entire course would be about 40 hours, we wanted to prove him wrong. This race was unsupported and with the exception of paddle gear, we had to carry everything we would need for the entire race from start to finish. We were a little concerned about the 83+ degree temperature and humidity, but it would be the first race this year that we would not be freezing cold and wet at any point.

The race started with a 30k bike ride. Unfortunately after fixing a flat tire we over shot the 2nd CP and spent about 1.5 hours looking for it and re-attacking the point. The CP was 'optional', but knowing we needed every point to win it was not optional for us to skip. Kyle and Matt worked well together and were able to finally get us to the control and we were back on our bikes, slightly frustrated, and in last place. We did catch one team at the final CP before getting to our canoes for a 65k paddle. The first half of the paddle section was in Lake Moomaw followed by a 5k portage down a paved road to the Jackson River for the remaining 28k. While we were at the boat takeout we were told we were 1 hour and 53 min behind the lead teams, ouch. We entered the river at 9:30 pm and the warm air mixing with the cold river water created a thick layer of fog over the water. We had been told earlier that there were class I rapids down the length of the river. What would normally be tiny little 'ripples' in the water during the day time sounded like raging white water to us in the dark and our headlamps were almost useless in the fog. But after we 'survived' the first few rapids we got comfortable running the river 'blind' and learned to navigate the small rocks. Earlier while on the bikes we had crossed a bridge over the same river and Matt had noticed that there were 2 gnarly strainers on opposite sides of the river hanging out over the water where the water was moving fast. He reminded us of this which was very helpful and we were able to maneuver around the strainers in the darkness without any trouble. Unfortunately 2 teams did not do so well. We saw a team standing on shore and we asked them if they were ok, they said they could not find their boat. A few seconds later we saw their boat upside down with another team's boat also upside down and pinned against it into a large rock. We immediately pulled over to the shore to help them. 20 minutes later we had both boats on shore, made sure they had all of their gear and we were back into our boats and continued on our way. Shortly after 1 a.m. we left the river and were off for a 25k trek. We knew we had our work cut out for us as we were still 2 hours behind. We set a strong pace and by day light we had passed several teams and at the next TA we were told we were only 25 minutes behind EMS and ImOnPoint, the 2 lead teams. After fixing another flat tire, we were back on the bikes and with our spirits high we hammered out the next 25k bike section. We caught sight of EMS on an out and back section and knew we had closed the gap a bit more. At the next TA we were able to unload some weight out of our packs as the this section was a 10 point optional orienteering section and would be returning to the same area to pick up our bikes and gear again. With the heat of the day coming on strong we took off on the O course about 10 minutes behind EMS and ImOnPoint had not checked in yet. Kyle's spot on nav and good route choice brought us back to our bikes with all 10 points and into the lead. We were in the home stretch but it wasn't over yet and we transitioned quickly and were off on our bikes. We had 28k with 3 CP's and a monster 3000' foot climb ahead of us to the last CP at a look-out tower high up on the ridge and then a short rappel right as the sun was setting. Once we finished the rappel we had a short hike back up to our bikes and were off for the final 25 k to the finish. We finished the race at 10:13 pm, with a race time of just over 36 hours (as predicted by Kyle.....) and our first win of the season. Yeah team. 2nd place went to EMS who finished over 2 hours behind us. We had a great time and take pride in our ability to work well together as a team and despite having a terrible start we were able to push on for the win. Thanks to Doug and Chris Caul for putting on a great race.

Tecnu Extreme/StaphAseptic travelling to VA to take on the 2.5 day Equinox Traverse Adventure Race...

Kyle, Matt, Mari and Charlie of Tecnu Extreme/StaphAseptic adventure racing have been traveling all day today converging on the showdown in VA at the Equinox Traverse 135 mile adventure race. This race is put on by Chris Caul the ex race director of the PrimalQuest one of the biggest expedition races in the world, and should be fiercely contested by several teams including us. We are due for a win after having danced around it all season. I don't think any team has ever shown more consistency than we have this season, but the top rung of the podium still eludes us. Will this weekend finally end the Tecnu curse? I believe it will, but lets chant it softly as the team is preparing to win this puppy against such teams as EMS, Berlin Bike, Sog and NYARA1. It looks to be a great battle in Covington, VA. The weather looks to be hot and humid, just what us Californians love.

This adventure race is Rogaine style which means you clear the course checkpoints in whatever order you like, so strategy is key. Good thing we have our stud navigators on board with Kyle just having raced at the North American Championships in Oregon this past weekend and getting 4th place, just missing 2nd by the slimmest of margins. Matt Hayes is joining us from Nuun for a couple of races this year, and is the North America Rogaine Champion from a couple years ago, and knows and loves this format, so we should be super strong on the nav end of it. Now it just comes down to Mari dragging the boys around the course. I hope they can keep up.

Go big or go home I say. Be sure to tune into and watch the race unfold at the Equinox Traverse. Winner gets both USARA and CP Tracker bragging rights with 200 points going to the victor. Will that be us this time? Shhhhh.... Lets not jinx us shall we, but just between you and me, I wouldn't count us out as we hope to paddle 35, mt.bike 85 and run 45 miles around the course faster than anyone. tune back in for all the mondo deets. Till then, live large....

Tecnu Extreme/StaphAseptic back racing again this time in VA at the 3 day Equinox Traverse...

Kyle, Matt, Mari and Charlie of Tecnu Extreme/StaphAseptic adventure racing have been traveling all day today converging on the showdown in VA at the Equinox Traverse 135 mile adventure race. This race is put on by Chris Caul the ex race director of the PrimalQuest one of the biggest expedition races in the world, and should be fiercely contested by several teams including us. We are due for a win after having danced around it all season. I don't think any team has ever shown more consistency than we have this season, but the top rung of the podium still eludes us. Will this weekend finally end the Tecnu curse? I believe it will, but lets chant it softly as the team is preparing to win this puppy against such teams as EMS, Berlin Bike, Sog and NYARA1. It looks to be a great battle in Covington, VA. The weather looks to be hot and humid, just what us Californians love.

This adventure race is Rogaine style which means you clear the course checkpoints in whatever order you like, so strategy is key. Good thing we have our stud navigators on board with Kyle just having raced at the North American Championships in Oregon this past weekend and getting 4th place, just missing 2nd by the slimmest of margins. Matt Hayes is joining us from Nuun for a couple of races this year, and is the North America Rogaine Champion from a couple years ago, and knows and loves this format, so we should be super strong on the nav end of it. Now it just comes down to Mari dragging the boys around the course. I hope they can keep up.

Go big or go home I say. Be sure to tune into and watch the race unfold at the Equinox Traverse. Winner gets both USARA and CP Tracker bragging rights with 200 points going to the victor. Will that be us this time? Shhhhh.... Lets not jinx us shall we, but just between you and me, I wouldn't count us out as we hope to paddle 35, mt.bike 85 and run 45 miles around the course faster than anyone. tune back in for all the mondo deets. Till then, live large....

Tecnu Extreme/StaphAseptic adventure racing gets 2nd at the USARA National Sprint Championships in TX...

Racing hard in Texas at the USARA Sprint National Championships, Tecnu Extreme/StaphAseptic falls to one of our own, getting 2nd place in a time of 1'36, only 40 seconds behind team-mate and mt.bike speed demon Leslie Reuter, racing on her other team, iMOAt. Congrats to her and Nathan for their win. It was a fun, hard fought race with iMOAT coming out on top of the 60 team field. Looking forward to next year, and a rematch. Good job teamie! Congrats! We are proving to be a VERY versatile team and contenders at any distance we show up at. We are starting to really gel as a team! Next up, trying to win the Equinox Traverse in VA June 5th. Good luck to Kyle, Mari, Charlie and Matt as they go there to push the pace, and shoot for the podium.

Tecnu Extreme/StaphAseptic vies to become the USARA National Sprint Champions this weekend in TX...

Heading to Texas this weekend, Mari Chandler and Kyle Peter of Tecnu Extreme/StaphAseptic adventure racing hope that after three hours of intense racing to be crowned the USARA National Sprint champions. This race is put on by Terra Firma and will be held about an hour outside of Austin. To add a little drama, one of our team-mates Leslie Reuter will be toeing the line AGAINST us racing with one of her team-mates from IMOAT. May the best man, er woman, win. When the dust settles, we hope that's us.

Go Team! National Champiionships await!