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Racing on Ice, With a TwistRock and Ice Ultra-The Other Desert RaceStory and photos by Rob HowardAdventure World Magazine June 2008 22
Racing on Ice, With a TwistRock and Ice Ultra-The Other Desert RaceEvery now and again a race comesalong that is a bit different and has aunique appeal. It might offer a newvariant of a familiar challenge, bein a place you’d love to go to, or forthe elite racers the attraction couldbe an amazing prize. It’s very rareto get all three of these things inone package, but that’s what RaceDirector Scott Smith has achievedwith the BHP Billiton Rock and IceUltra.There are other winter ultra raceson the calendar, but none that takeplace entirely on frozen lakes, or in aplace that can boast as many severeweather records as Yellowknife,the capital of Northwest Territoriesin Canada. Ultra racers are by naturelooking for a challenge and thefollowing list is a siren call for anylooking for a bit of snow and ice action.“The coldest Winter, ColdestSpring, Coldest Year-Round, MostCold Days, Most Deep Snow CoverDays, Extreme Wind Chill, MostHigh Wind Chill Days and DriestWinter Air.” It’s this mix of dry andcold weather that gives the race itslegend as ‘The Other Desert Race’,a smart marketing move on Smith’sbehalf given the popularity of hotdesert ultras. It probably didn’t dothe new event any harm when temperaturesfell below minus 40 degreesCelsius in its inaugural racelast year. This was the real deal anda race T-shirt you would be proudto wear, but there is far more to theRock and Ice than just the cold.Yellowknife is renowned as oneof the best places in the world toview the ‘Northern Lights’, andto race on the ice, then camp outeach night under skies displayingnature’s most dazzling light showis an experience no other race canoffer. There is no other race withfour cut diamonds as prizes either!Mining is big business in NorthwestTerritories and the Ekati Diamondmine, which is owned by racesponsors BHP Billiton, providestwo one carat cut stones, and twohalf carat stones, with a total valueof over $30,000CAN. The smallerstones are given to the winners ofthe ski and foot race winners of the3-day ‘K-Rock Ultra’ race, whichcovers 135kms, while the two biggerstones are for the winners ofthe 6 day ‘Diamond Ultra’ whichcovers 225km.The inaugural race last year drewan international entry, but theprizes stayed in North America,with Canadian racers winning allbut the ‘Diamond Ultra’ footrace,which Dave Mackey of Team Golite(USA) won comfortably. In thefiercely cold temperatures, therewere few finishers, but it was provenbeyond doubt that the race hadexceptional safety, coverage andcamp logistics.Word spread around the racing,ultra and skiing communities andfor 2008 the entries increased,with more countries represented,and more elite athletes travellingto Yellowknife. Greg and DeniseMcHale, two of Canada’s mostsuccessful adventure racers, madethe short journey from Whitehorsein the Yukon to race the 6 and 3-Adventure World Magazine is a GreenZine 23
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Page 7 and 8: ace newsThis year, The Bull of Afri
Page 9 and 10: Terra TraverseTerra Traverse recent
Page 11 and 12: where are they now?JH: 1983 Alpine
Page 13 and 14: Adventure World Magazine is a Green
Page 15 and 16: At left (Men’s):Buzz Off Converti
Page 17 and 18: Quest for the ‘Seven’Photos by
Page 19 and 20: I was only 11, so I had to have man
Page 21: By Ron Eaglin5 Rules of Adventure R
Page 25 and 26: off to town as well, to be checkedf
Page 27 and 28: The Basic Roamer© ARAs the Officia
Page 29 and 30: on the team need to be an expertnav
Page 31 and 32: trainingAdventure Racing Navigation
Page 33 and 34: AWM Navigation Challenge Round 2Try
Page 35 and 36: ON THE HORIZONComing up in future i
Page 37 and 38: Do not laugh as Adrian shows up toh
Page 39 and 40: Adventure World Magazine is a June
Page 41 and 42: gear closetSidi Dominator 5MSRP $24
Page 43 and 44: Mtn. BikingTrail RunningPaddlingPad
Page 45 and 46: our bikes. Morning rose alongthe wa
Page 47 and 48: was young and looking for adventure

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