Francomenz

World Multi-Sport Champion Richard Ussher proved his mettle as the Tropical Power Coast 2 Coast 2006 came to its exciting close. Crossing the Finish Line at Williams Bay, Chaguaramas on Sunday after a rigourous paddle through the First Boca and around Trindad’s famed Five Islands, Ussher completed the 2-day course in just over 11 hours.

Stage 3 of the two-day event began at first light on Sunday morning with a 58 km ride to Diego Martin’s North Post, followed by an 8 km run to Macqueripe, but the final stage of the course was tougher than usual because of the inclement weather. Choppy seas and large swells made the 30 km paddle to Williams Bay so challenging that five athletes opted to drop out of the race. Last year’s Coast 2 Coast winner, Jason Gooding, said that with the heavy rains, visibility on some parts of the kayak leg was so poor that he could see no more than 15 meters in front of him. That’s part of the allure of Multi-Sport racing – anything can happen – and usually does!

The event was very well supported – competitors and spectators alike were complementary about the course and race organization, with Richard Ussher calling the experience “fantastic” and encouraging Trinbagonians to preserve the natural environment, which he says is the biggest draw for foreign visitors. Athletes were all smiles as they crossed the Finish Line – and they should be – from Toco to Chag without an engine is a feat to be proud of!

Photo courtesy James O’Connor/Caribbean Stock Photography:
www.caribbeanstockphotography.com

So there we were, up at 2:30 am preparing to head to Blanchisseuse – the End of Day 1 location of the second annual Tropical Power Coast 2 Coast Multi-Sport Race The crew with the banners had trouble finding the Marianne River Swing Bridge, hence the reason Mark and I could be found traipsing up to the northeast coast at a time when we would usually be in La La Land.

The drive up was blissfully calming. Very few cars. Soft rain that made the roadway glisten. First light causing the ocean to glitter with a pensive slate blue hue. And then the weather went from petulant to just plain vex, causing the banner installation process to be delayed by two heavy downpours – but by 8:00 am we were organized, albeit a bit wet.

Wet was apparently a good thing for the racers, though – a record field of about 40 competitors left the start line at the Toco Lighthouse at 6:00 am with a demanding course of cycling and running ahead of them. The overcast conditions seemed to help them out a bit, creating a cool but humid climate.

The route began with a short 1.4 km run along Trinidad’s picturesque northeast coast, followed by a 30 km cycle to Matelot. Athletes then transitioned to Stage 2: a challenging 32 km run through beautiful rain forest trails to Blanchisseuse, made trickier because of the rainy conditions.

First across the End of Day One marker in a time of 4:34:40 was Trinidad and Tobago marathoner Cantius Thomas, part of a relay team that includes cyclist Guy Costa and South African paddler Andrew Blackburn.

The first individual entry across the line was the current Multi-Sport World Champion New Zealander Richard Ussher, in a time of 4:35:15. Ussher completed the cycle stage in a faster time than Costa, but said that while the run through the forest was beautiful, it was also tough – due, in part, to a combination of the heat, humidity and muddy conditions. “You know how there are some days when you find your limits?” he laughs. “Today was one of those days.”

Really? Based on his performance, you’d never know. Ussher maintains the lead at the end of Day One. Last year’s Coast 2 Coast winner, triathlete Jason Gooding finished in a time of 5:15:10, while Elina Maki-Rautila from Finland was the first female to cross the finish at the end of the first day, mere seconds after Gooding.

Stage 3 of the Tropical Power Coast 2 Coast continues from 5:00 am tomorrow with a 58 km ride to Diego Martin’s North Post, followed by an 8 km run to Macqueripe. The final stage of the course is the 30 km paddle to Williams Bay, Chaguaramas through the swells of Trinidad’s First Boca, which sits between the Gulf of Paria and the Caribbean Sea. The Meteorological Office maintains that tomorrow’s weather forecast will be a repeat of today – cloudy conditions, with showers and high humidity – so it’s sure to be an exciting race to the finish.

Photo courtesy James O’Connor/Caribbean Stock Photography: www.caribbeanstockphotography.com