Oct 28, 2010

Slick Rocks and 9000 feet of elevation.

We're in Moab! Yesterday we went up to 9000 feet for altitude acclimatization. It's snow up there and La Sal Mountains in the background:

Today we spent a few hours riding Slick Rocks. There is no such thing on the east coast:

Race check-in is in one hour. I am going to get in line.
Dima, Vlad Red Cliffs Lodge.

Oct 26, 2010

Off to race in Moab!

Odyssey Finale results are out long time ago, but we had no time to put an update. Dima raced solo and finished 3rd in solo and 4th overall.

The final O-course of this race was extreme and sadistic experience and almost cost severe injury to Dima. But everything is recovered now and tomorrow Dima and Vlad are going west to Moab, UT for Checkpoint Tracker National Championship. Dima will race and Vlad will provide support and photo coverage. Click "Live Updates" tab to follow team Calleva and don't forget to send your Shout-outs from "Shout Box" tab. The race starts Friday 8 am.

Oct 12, 2010

Time to be scared...



It's almost HALLOWEEN!

Markoff's Haunted Forest: a 20-minute, terrifying hike through woods. Visitors encounter creepy characters, horrifying scenes and tight spaces along the way. Every year, the Markoffs add new twists and more intense scenes... brave souls can attempt our Death Jump or zip line in the dark as part of a night of terror in our haunted woods.

Markoff's Haunted Harbor: a brand new, spine-tingling experience from the creative minds behind the Forest -- will open at National Harbor, MD. Our haunted boardwalk has 17 scenes of mayhem and horror, pirates that will make you want to walk the plank, and shocking experiences that will haunt you in your dreams. Take a haunted hayride, decipher the twisted Legend of National Harbor, climb the rigging of our towering Ghost Ship and ride a swashbuckling zip line in the dark.

Tidewater traverse photos are finally here

This weekend is the last race before Moab, Utah Nationals: Odyssey Fall Finale.

Oct 5, 2010

Tidewater Traverse race report.

By Dima Kaganovich team Calleva/JacksBoatHouse

First place in this race must go to the team Odyssey: I'm on Point. We worked together for 3/4 of the race and they definitely would beat me on paddling. Unfortunately they lost passport at the end of the biking leg. By staying close to this team I was able to see amazing tandem navigation work. Very impressive and efficient. Thanks guys for great experience!
The race started 8 pm (already dark) from fast plotting of first 11 CPs of the course. I was plotting alone, but left the start area within first 5 teams (out of 27 total). First leg was road biking with easy navigation to CP1,2 and TA1. At TA1 we started first and the most difficult O-course of the race. Many teams punched CP4 instead of CP3 (both CPs were in creek). We did the same mistake at the beginning, but Ronny figured it out. Second O-course was longer, but easier to navigate. All CPs had reflectors and my laser-light helped a lot. Long biking section through paddling transition area and night single track took us to 1 mile portage.
From here I moved alone and used my disposable portage wheels (<2 lb, <$3) to take kayak through town of West Point. I started paddling at sun rise behind 2 teams with almost 1 hour gap. First 10 miles of paddling were against tide flow and with strong side wind. Thanks to Anna and to Jack's Boat House for Andromeda. In first 9 miles of the paddling I gained 30 minutes and on transition to the last O-course I was only 30 minutes behind the leading teams.
This O-course was simple, with one funny catch: you have to use Google earth image together with topo map to find all CPs. For me it was easy, but both leading teams missed one CP each and gave me 30 minutes advantage. I gained another 15 minutes on the last 6 miles of paddling and finished the race first overall and the only racer that cleared the entire course.
The race was perfectly organized, the course was very interesting and fast. Chris did amazing job by putting on this amazing race. Race results are here. Photos are coming...