2010 Infiterra Sports December Chill Sprint
Results are Official. If you have questions please email Zac.
» Results - These results are in Excel form.
» Results - These results are in PDF form.
» Map #1 - (Overall Map) 11x17 - 7.3mb
» Map #2 - (Orienteering Map) 8.5x11 - 1.5mb
» Race Instructions - 8.5x11 - 110kb
» Race Pictures
» Wall Photo Race Pictures - Pictures in the first album titled "0 December Chill Davison 2010"
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Event Recap - This was the ninth annual December Chill Adventure Race. This year the Chill went back to its roots as it was hosted at the same venue, the Elba Equestrian Complex in the Genesee County Parks, as the original Chill back in 2002. The Chill is a great way to close out the AR season as a fast and fun race and this year was no exception. It’s a fun race for beginners and veterans alike. This year saw near perfect conditions, not too cold with temps right around freezing, just a dusting of snow on the ground, little to no precipitation during the race and the sun even peaked out from time to time.
The race kicked off at 9am as teams took off on foot from the Elba Equestrian Complex and headed into the Hogbacks. This first section was primarily a trail run. The main trails were marked on the maps and teams had 3 CPs to find, all located just off trails. So it was mostly a foot race into CP4, the first transition of the race, at the end of Coldwater Rd. At CP4 teams reached their bikes, which they had dropped pre-race.
Teams quickly jumped on their bikes and headed off toward the Holloway Reservoir Dam. This was the location of CP5 and just a few miles down the road. Teams had left their canoes at the Dam pre-race as well. And this was also the location where teams would find their gear bag, transported by race staff. So teams jumped in their canoes, or kayaks for solos, and headed off paddling down the Flint River. Teams were still pretty bunched up at this point in the race, with the majority of teams reaching CP5 between 9:44 and 10:00 am.
After roughly 5 miles teams reached the canoe take-out, CP7, and transitioned back to bike. Race staff moved bikes for the teams from the put in. Teams would pack up their gear bag here and race staff would move that back to the finish for teams as well. By this point in the race, things were starting to take shape. Over the Hill Gang had a slight lead over Michigan Racing Addicts, Jeep, Chrysler and several others just off the lead. Unfortunately, one team experienced just how cold the river is this time of year when their canoe tipped. However, in true AR fashion two teams stopped to help out and provide dry clothes. Just as advised pre-race, they kept moving and reached CP7 where they were picked up by race staff and transported back to the finish. It was a cold experience, but they did not suffer any serious or lasting effects. The two teams that stopped to help out received time credit in the race as well as special mention and prizing at the post race awards.
From CP7 teams headed off on their bikes into Richfield Park. The course took teams through the park and out on an old road bed to additional dirt roads. Teams were then led to the north side of the Holloway Reservoir Dam. At that point, teams were instructed to walk their bikes across the dam bridge where they would continue on the course back to CP14, the start/finish location, for their final transition. This bike leg totaled roughly 13 miles. Over the Hill Gang, rushed in holding just a two minute lead over Quiet Storm, Homebodies, Wooden Burrito and with Michigan Racing Addicts and Jeep and Chrysler just minutes off.
At that point, a 23 point O-course was all that remained in the Chill. These points were spread throughout the Hogbacks. Points were located on ridgelines, hilltops and in depressions and reentrants. They were also located on either side of Hasler Creek, meaning no foot would be left dry for teams that went after all the points especially with many points being near marshy and swampy wet areas.
Despite all that, teams certainly blazed this course. Over the Hill Gang used their orienteering experience to smoke the field and finish this O-course in less than 2 hours and take the race with a finish time of 1:35pm. Must Be Nuts had a strong O-course showing and made up a 15 minute deficit on the rest of the field to gather a second place finish at 2:01pm. Quiet Storm took the Solo title and finished third overall at 2:04pm. Then there was a furious race into the finish at 2:19pm with Michigan Racing Addicts grabbing the Coed win and finished fourth overall. CB taking second in the Solos and fifth overall, Chrysler-Jeep #1 third male-male team and sixth overall, Bugs in Teeth fourth male-male and seventh overall, and Jeep the third solo and eighth overall. Homebodies were the second coed team and ninth overall at 2:22pm and Blue Oval Racing was the fourth solo and rounded out the top ten at 2:28pm. We Should Be Doing Homework grabbed the female-female victory at 3:32pm. In total there were 28 teams, well over a third of the field, that cleared the entire course and only the team that tipped in the canoe was not able to finish in some fashion.
Congratulations to all the racers that came out to challenge themselves at the Chill. The course was certainly fast and fun as promised. Teams switched up disciplines several times and had a great on foot O-course in the unique terrain of the Hogbacks for the finale. A big thank you goes out to all of our Sponsors as many racers walked away with great prizing! Thanks to REI, Hammer Nutrition, Planet Rock, Zanfel, Seal Skinz and Kahtoola. We had a small group of super dedicated volunteers that helped this race through from beginning to end and they deserve a special thanks as well. We also appreciate great cooperation from the Genesee County Parks who were great to work with as always.
Contact Zac Chisholm with any questions about the 2010 December Chill.
