USWE Adventure Team Kicks Ass in World Series of Adventure Racing

“We went to Croatia to challenge both mind and body. Together we brought some new stuff to test, cause we knew, if it works on a non-stop adventure race, it works for anything.“ 

When the team reached the finish line in Pakostane, Croatia they had been racing non-stop for 73 hours with only 1,5h of sleep. USWE Adventure Team claimed 1^stplace in this grueling race, covering 17 legs of kayaking, running, mountainbiking and climbing. All with navigation using only map and compass.

The start of the race was at 9am the 10^thof September and the last teams crossed the finish line Saturday the 14th at 4pm. The start field line included 41 teams from 17 nationalities. The winner is rewarded with a free spot in the next Adventure Racing World Championships, that will be hosted in Paraguay in September 2020.

The USWE Adventure Team consists of team captain Jacob Westerberg, Helen Westerberg, navigator Felix Breitschädel and Magnus Woxholtt Jensen. Jacob is also CEO of USWE Sports and sees the opportunity to challenge the gear in adventure racing.

“I started at USWE for less than 2 years ago. I brought my Adventure Racing mindset into the company, both gear knowledge and team management. You have to believe in success to be able to reach it. In an adventure race, believing in yourself and your team is the key. Not only when the wind is in your back, but all the way until you’ve finished.“

USWE is famous for their innovative hydration packs for mountainbike, motosports and running. The company is growing rapidly and are preparing for a new range of products, including bigger packs for short hiking and travel. The USWE Adventure Team tested a new prototype back pack during the race and it turned out a winner.

“Our main target group is not adventure racers, but… As a racer myself I know that if its perfect for Adventure Racing this means it will be amazing for any outdoor activities.”

The pack will be around 35L, lightweight, water proof, rip proof and adventure racing proven. The unique part of the pack is the harness systems and the organizing pockets. The harness allows the user to carry the weight without too much pressure on the shoulders. The pockets and accessories will hold all the gear needed in adventure race or a 1-2 day outdoor activity” 

The Adventure Race Croatia covered almost 500km divided into 130km running, 66km kayak and 303km of mountainbike. The racing was close and competitive and soon got into a fight with 4 teams. The two French teams “Hoka One One” and “Raidsaventure.fr – Absoluraid” as well as the “Black Hill” from Czech Republic.

USWE Adventure Team started without pushing too much and were convinced that patience would be the important factor in the end. But on the first bike leg the problems were piling up. This leg set place in the first night on forgotten gravel roads in the Zadar region. All bikes were geared up with tubeless tires, but one started to malfunction.

“First flat was around 30min into the leg. We tried to fix it with a boost of CO2 and went on, but it didn’t hold and we had to put a tube in. That’s two stops that you really don’t want to do when the racing is close. Then another wheel messed up the pace and the team were forced to stop yet another time to fix a tire.

“We felt that we were loosing both speed and momentum, but were at the same time convinced that with just keep moving forward and keeping the patience, would get us into the game again”.

The first bike leg finished with a great downhill on gravel roads and of course, the 4^thflat tire on the leg. Still the team were in reach of the leading pack after the first night and overtook the lead on the 2^ndday.

“We managed to gain a 25min lead when reaching TA 6 (Transition Area 6). We got there just half an hour before sunset and decided to assemble the bikes and prepare for the next leg. We also decided to use the shelter at the TA for 1.5h sleep. This would make us strong on the following stages during the 2^ndnight and it would also stress the other teams that could clearly see that we were in the lead, sleeping and restituting for more powers. I’m proud we had the guts to make this call. It turned out super successful and is one of the key decisions for the win”.

Once the team got on the bikes they caught the other teams. Some were sleeping out on the leg and some tried to push through the night without sleeping. 

The other key to success was the navigation throughout the course. Felix Breitschädel is an experienced world championship participant in orienteering and guided the teams through the terrain both on and off the tracks. Without a top class navigator, you simply cannot win.

The third key moment happened at the Knin fortress close to the mountain Dinara. The teams stopped and resupplied both for the short sprint orienteering in the fortress as well as the two following legs.

“Our lead were only by a few seconds when we got in to the TA, but we stayed for some minutes and the two French teams left directly. We started the push up the hill while eating and got surprised on top when realizing we caught the French teams. I saw Felix eyes started to spark and he said to me something like

- Why are we here? We started with the ambition to win and now we have the opportunity. Shall we win or are we just here to finish the race?

I laid my arm around his shoulders and responded:

- Team, lets push the speed up and win this race!”

After this moment USWE Adventure Team outsprinted the other teams at the fortress. The bikes were already prepped and they pedaled through a 41km bike leg in “no-time”. At the next TA the lead was around 30min and the gap increased. A 5km via ferrata climbing leg followed by 25km biking and the running leg of 18km running.

“We decided to push through the last night without any sleep. The first legs were ok, but we were a bit worried about the 55km mountainbike stage in the late night hours. It’s really hard to keep awake and keep the power up on the bike, but we managed the challenge by using a 4min power nap.”

At the last TA the lead was around 1.5 hours and the team could enjoy the final 14km kayak stage to the finish line at Pine Beach in Pakostane.