2009 Infiterra Sports December Chill Sprint
Infiterra Sports was excited to host the December Chill 7hr Sprint Adventure Race that was held Saturday December 5, 2009 at Huron Meadows Metro Park in Brighton, Michigan.
Results are Final and Official. If you have questions please email Zac.
» Results - These results are in Excel Form.
» Map #1 - 8.5x11 - 1.2mb
» Map #2 - 8.5x11 - 3.8mb
» Map #3 - 8.5x11 - 1.2mb
» Bike Map - 8.5x11 - 0.2mb
» Race Instructions - 8.5x11 - 41kb
» Race Pictures
»Race Pictures were also taken by Wall Photo. They are available at WallPhoto.org. Racers simply need to scroll down to the Sports Galleries (light blue) link on the homepage where they will see the first album called "0 December Chill 2009"
Please visit our message board to provide us with feedback on the December Chill.
Event Recap - This was the eighth annual December Chill Adventure Race making it one of the longest running and most popular adventure races around. This was probably the coldest start of any Chill with temps struggling to make it into the teens, but it also had some of the best conditions for a December race with snow-free, frozen ground providing solid traction and midday temperatures near freezing. It was also a great course that provided challenges for teams of each and every skill level.
The race started at 9:00am as teams shivered their way to the starting line. The first section of the race was largely a mix-n-match with points either on-foot or by canoe. And they were in no particular order. Teams were free to choose which of the first 12 CPs they went after first. So in no time at all, the field was nearly completely split up and spread out. Also in this first section of the race was a rock wall that teams had to climb to get the associated CP. That point could be obtained at any time in the race so a bottleneck never formed. From the very beginning the battle was on between RFM and Running Free. The two solos nabbed for the first 12 points and returned just seconds apart. Just a few minutes later, Orienteering Experience, Chilly Willies checked in followed by Jeep and Chrysler.
From there it was off on bike to the campground at Brighton Rec Area. Once at Brighton, teams received a new map of the Murray Lake Single Track bike trail. On the map were eight single track CPs. The points were right on the trail, but teams were left with the option to cut off sections of the trail, or bikewhack, in order to get to points more quickly. This again left teams with a lot of options and strategy through this section of the course. Only two of these points were required for completion of the race. RFM continued to hold a slim lead over Running Free as they returned off the single track. Again Orienteering Experience, Chilly Willies, Jeep and Chrysler also maintained the lead pack. Inserting himself with the lead teams was solo CB and teams Standard Specimen, Smeally Sox, Checkpoint Retrievers and Rage Against the Cut-off.
Upon completing the single track, teams returned to the campground and dropped their bikes. They received a new orienteering map with 14 new points located in Brighton Rec Area. The points covered roughly five miles through hilltops, swamps, forests and trails. Two little twists added to the excitement as well. There was a large creek crossing where racers had to walk a makeshift bridge while balancing with fixed ropes and come back across over a large tree that had fallen across the creek.
After the O-course, teams returned to their bikes and biked back toward the main TA via public roads. It was only a short, straightforward four mile bike back to the finish that remained. Running Free managed to outpace the field for the overall and solo victory capturing all points in the race and finishing at 1:53pm just one minute ahead of RFM who grabbed second both in the solo division and overall. Orienteering Experience finished at 2:00pm with all points for third overall and first in the 2 Male Division. They had put a little distance between themselves and Chilly Willies who were fourth overall (2nd 2 Male – 2:18pm). Chrysler and Jeep tied for 5th overall (3rd and 4th 2 Male – 2:54pm). CB finished in 7th for the 3rd Solo Male position (3:04pm). Relentless was 8th overall (4th Solo Male – 3:07pm). Rage Against the Cutoff finished 9th overall (5th 2 Male – 3:09pm). Standard Specimen rounded out the top 10 (6th 2 Male – 3:16pm). Michigan Racing Addicts nabbed the Coed Division win (3:17pm) followed by For Better or Worse (3:36pm) and Crazy and Stubborn (3:49pm). Unchill took the 2 Female Division at 3:36pm and Witless Protection Program was tops in the Solo Female Division at 3:28pm.
Congratulations to all the teams that came out and got to enjoy the beautiful weather and great conditions of the 2009 December Chill. It was a cold start to the race and a few teams even got to experience the chilly Huron River, but 18 teams went on to obtain all points in the race and all but one team finished the course.
A big thank you goes out to all of our Sponsors! We had great representation from Salomon, REI, Hammer Nutrition, Voler, Rail Riders, Seal Skinz and Zanfel. We had a big group of volunteers that braved the cold and helped the race go off as big success. We would also like to thank Huron Meadows Metro Park and Brighton Rec Area for being so cooperative and easy to work with. And thanks to Heavner Canoe Livery for supplying boats for the race.
