Tourism Yellowknife almost over, Let’s race!

Your probably by now getting sick of my morning weather report but it gives me comfort to share my pain with you, it’s minus 27 but it looks like the sun is going to be out for the entire day. Looks like another Parka day.

Here’s some quick bits about Yellowknife, since it’s so cold here they rarely salt their roads which means many of the vehicles you see driving around town have no rust no matter the year it was made. Most of the buildings are very bland, either square or rectangular but I have noticed a set of townhouses under construction which look quite modern from the outside. The welcome sign to Yellowknife is very interesting because of the actual airplane frame they have behind it which is the first airplane that landed on the North Pole. There is a beautiful monument to Bush Pilots that lost their lives while flying. It overlooks the entire Yellowknife area from every direction.

We spent a considerable part of our day at the Aurora Village (www.auroravillage.com) where we enjoyed dog sledding, snowmobiling and a 3 story tube ride. We returned later in the night to enjoy the Aurora Borealis show. It was awesome! I will honestly say this was a 5 star experience and the staff were outstanding. I suggest to anyone that visits Yellowknife they make this part of their holiday schedule.

Okay, that’s it about Yellowknife folks and what it has to offer, it’s time to talk about the race.

Participation has grown from 5 in year one to 82 two years later. More numbers means more volunteers and even more airplanes, helicopters and snowmobiles to transport support gear. Race Director Scott Smith has everything under control.

Today was the final warm up day for the athletes and for them to test their gear. Two Ultra athletes from Spain were testing out their harnesses for their ski pulk. You need to be an engineer to understand the rope rigging attaching bamboo sticks to plastic.

Some athletes were still in the city purchasing final pieces of equipment and food.

You could hear the nervous laughter from the Rock and Ice rookies attempting any of the distances during the safety talk provided by the Arctic Response medical crew. So if you break through the ice you need to just hold onto the edge until we come and rescue you and we will! The frostbite photos had everyone re-evaluate their footwear choice since foot problems seem to be the number one cause for an athlete pulling out of the race.

Solidarity among the athletes is forming as final photos were taken. I had the pleasure of being the photographer for a group composed of athletes from Japan, Korea, Spain, Canada and France who were staying in the same quansi hut.

During the final race talk to all the athletes during the pasta dinner, you could see the focus on their faces, a bit of nervous tension and as one aussie said “let’s get this bloody race on, I’m getting antsy.”

If anyone reading this has a specific athlete I can find information about let me know his / her name their race number and e-mail me at hmblogger@gmail.com .