Hi everyone,
the latest news: Montane new YAU sponsor
I am very happy to be able to announce that Montane have come on board to sponsor the Yukon Arctic Ultra. Montane is a brand which epitomises the spirit of the Yukon Arctic Ultra; their philosophy for lightweight and breathable clothing products which provide protection from the elements makes Montane an ideal clothing partner. Tim Butcher, Marketing Manager commented “We are delighted to be able to support what is such an iconic ultra distance race, the terrain and conditions encountered during the Yukon Arctic Ultra are a real test for competitors as well as their kit making it one of the most challenging races in the world and one which Montane hope to continue to support in the future”.
If you want to know more about Montane, please check out www.montane.co.uk.
We will soon features certain Montane products as YAU merchandise.
News on the YAU and SPOT
All YAU 430 mile athletes will be equipped with a SPOT unit free of charge. This will include the unit itself valued at EUR 199.00, the EUR 99.00 basic service fee and the EUR 39.00 tracking feature. Athletes doing the 100 and 300 mile race can get the units and the tracking feature free of charge. The only thing they need to pay is the EUR 99.00 for the basic service fee.
After the race, all athletes get to keep their SPOT!
The basic service fee includes:
ALERT 9-1-1: Dispatch emergency responders to your exact location. Unlimited usage included.
CHECK IN: Let contacts know where you are and that you’re okay. Unlimited Check In emails included. Up to 200 annual Check-In or Help text messages to any mobile phone, worldwide, are also included in the plan. Additional text messages cost EUR 0.10 per message.
ASK FOR HELP: Request help from friends and family at your exact location. Unlimited Help emails included. Up to 200 annual Check-In or Help text messages to any mobile phone, worldwide, are also included in the plan. Additional text messages cost EUR 0.10 per message.
The tracking fee means that you can send and save your location and allow contacts to track your progress using Google Maps™, i.e. we and people back home can track your progress.
All athletes may also purchase the GEOS Search & Rescue Benefit for an additional fee of EUR 11.00. This provides up to $ 100,000 (USD) of additional search and rescue resources, including helicopter extraction around the world and reimbursement benefits – underwritten by Lloyd’s of London – for any emergency service expenses incurred. For more information, including terms and conditions, visit http://www.geosalliance.com/sar.
Thank you Yukon Quest
When I first contacted the Yukon Quest office in 2002 to tell them what I would like to do they were uncertain what to think of me and these people who were wanting to run, cycle or ski on the trail. We have always appreciated the fact that we can use this trail the Canadian Rangers put in primarily for the Quest. Dog teams always have the right of way – even if they are not part of this legendary sled dog race. Also, we have adjusted our timing in order not to get in the way of the mushers as one of their main concerns is damage to the trail which in turn may injure dogs or lead to disadvantages for teams in it to win it. Last but not least, I believe that the mushers have come to appreciate the adventurous spirit of our athletes. They are much alike. Just that we don’t have the dogs with us …
As a little thank you I have decided that 50% of the income from all marathon entry fees will be contributed to the Yukon Quest. In addition for local athletes the entry fee to the 2009 YAU marathon will be no more than CAD 50.00 even for late entries. That way we hope to attract more Yukon athletes.
Obviously, this contribution to the Quest is not gigantic as we do not have that many marathoners. However, it is a gesture and a thank you for all these years of very good cooperation.
From the Yukon to Antarctica
Ultra running is something very inspiring. And due to it’s extreme nature, the YAU seems to be extremely inspiring. For Ray Zahab the YAU was truly a turning point. For this Canadian runner the participation in the 100 mile race of 2004 was his first ultra. He finished in little over 28 hours and won. What Ray has been doing ever since is quite incredible. Apart from winning many other ultras the Canadian athlete ran across the entire Sahara – from coast to coast.
In a few weeks time Ray along with two other athletes will run more than 1,000 km from Hercules Inlet, Hercules Inlet, Antarctica, to the geographic South Pole. They will attempt to do it in a record time of 35 days. In an interview with host George Stroumboulopoulos on The Hour Ray talks about this new project.
If you want to follow Ray’s progress check out www.impossible2possible.com.
With Will Gow and Henry Worsley it was a bit different. When they came to the Yukon in 2005 to do the 300 mile race they already had a inspiration. A very big plan. They are descendants of Sir Ernest Shackleton’s band of Antarctic explorers. And as such they decided to finish some unfinished family business, i.e. recreate the 1909 Nimrod Expedition and get to the South Pole. Something Shackleton and his comrades were not able to achieve at the time. 97 miles before reaching their goal they had to turn around.
At the moment Will and Henry are in Punta Arenas waiting for their onward journey Patriot Hills Airbase in Antarctica and then down to Shackleton’s hut, close to Mount Erebus – the world’s southernmost volcano. While in Punta Arenas they were invited to a nearby house which used to belong to a local influential family. In their visitors book was an entry from Ernest Shackleton written in July 1916 after the Endurance journey when he was arranging the rescue from Elephant Island. As well as signing the book he wrote a short poem which you can see below:
We were the fools who could not rest
In the dull earth we left behind
But burned with passion for the South
And drank strange frenzy from its wind
The world where wise men sit at ease
Fades from our unregretful eyes
And thus across unchartered seas
We stagger on our enterprise
EH Shackleton July 1916
If you want to follow the progress of this exciting expedition, check out www.shackletoncentenary.org.
Team Helmut’s Limited Edition YAU 2009 Buff for a good cause
Team Helmut who signed up for the YAU 300 have had a great idea to raise money for a good cause. Well, I guess their entire project is about raising money for the Breast Cancer Care charity. However, as part of it they got Buff to produce a limited Edition YAU 2009 – 50 regular Buffs and 50 Polar Buffs. 100% of the profits go to the Breast Cancer Care charity. The normal Buff is £ 20.00 (EUR 25.00) and the Polar Buff is £ 30.00 (EUR 37.00). If you are interested in purchasing one of these Buffs, please get in touch directly with Simon Bayliff of Team Helmut (simonbayliff[at]btinternet.com) or check out www.racelite.com where we will have the Buff available shortly.
YAU Mountain Bike
You would not believe the feedback we get from people looking at this bike. “What on earth is this …?” Well, it’s the official YAU Mountain Bike powered by Bike Point Jena a bike specialist store in the east of Germany. I know Peter, the owner, from the Adventure Races I organise here in Germany and Austria. When he found out about the YAU and the fact that Mountain Bikers may be interested in a special bike put together her in Germany, he went right at it. To be fair, there are other people, e.g. in Alaska, making bikes just as good – in the end a lot of the components are the same. The advantage is now that European Mountain Bikers interested in doing an extreme winter race can get their bike in Germany. Less shipment cost and better service.
The basic price for this bike is EUR 2,395.00. However, there are many options and basically each bike will be made to the demands of the specific athlete. So, prices may vary. If you are interested in more detailed information in the component possibilities, delivery times, etc. please let me know.
Best regards,
Robert Pollhammer
Yukon Arctic Ultra
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