Trans Onego: Awaiting Champions

March 6, 20203min read

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Trans Onego: Awaiting Champions
In early March, the winter expedition kite marathon for the super-long distance Trans-Onego starts in the capital of Karelia every year. Participants in 4 days and 3 nights need to overcome more than 300 km on the ice of Lake Onega. However, this year due to abnormally warm weather, the marathon was in danger of collapse – Lake Onega did not freeze.

But the organizers found a way out, paving the route on the ice of the frozen Sandal Lake, near Kondopoga. True, the length of the lake is about 50 km, so the participants have to make 3 circles and a 30-kilometer championship loop to gain the required distance.

The opening ceremony was held on March 3 in Petrozavodsk, and on March 4 at 12.30 the athletes started from the first control point. In total, 23 teams from Russia, Sweden, Norway, France, Finland and Romania went to the start (according to the rules of the race, a team can consist of two or three athletes).

The first day was favorable to the participants of the race – good weather, light frost, sun, moderate wind – everything helped on the road. Two teams of leaders – Northren Express (Dmitry Nikulichev and Eduard Radaev and Aplums (Boris Filimonov and Farid Arslanov) – were able to go a full circle (86 km at the general rate) and return to the starting point. The remaining teams put up tents and spent the night at a distance, they are allowed to continue the race at 7 in the morning.

On March 5, the weather changed dramatically, a warm front came with rain, wet snow and gusts of wind up to 30 knots.

From the checkpoint "Lukin", which is located 15 km from the start point, disappointing news arrives: "Near the control point, the coverage is exactly 15 cm of snow. But it is getting heavy, getting warmer. The snowstorm does not stop. In the lake, smooth ice is interspersed with circles up to 30 cm high. The ride is very difficult. The wind is ragged, strong. "Snow Angels" flew into the 4th quarter. m. kites and said that it was let slowly, but safe. Several teams go in hitch, on one kite, because they do not have such small areas. In general, participants say that it is very difficult to go. About half of the teams, having departed from our CP by 500 meters, drop the kites and then do not take off for a long time. ”

Not all endurists cope with the weather. In the evening it becomes clear that several teams are leaving the race. At the end of the day, 4 teams left the track: No. 1 KARGOPOL GUYS, No. 9 Norway Supermix, No. 8 Element5, No. 26 Double shift, followed by the leaders of Northren Express and "Aplums" who managed to complete the second round and reach the base.

Here is what Farid Arslanov (Aplums team) writes: “The wet snow has gone, the boosts are high, there is a strong wind, you’ll cut in on the speed and they stay there. They cleaned it up a few times seriously … But for today the thaw was given. And they decided that it was better to get off than to leave health and equipment at a distance. The clothes are all wet through. But they went to the finish line with a margin of first. The first pancake is lumpy. ”

On the morning of March 6, the weather calmed down a bit and a light breeze allowed us to go on kites of large sizes, but crude sticky snow still makes movement difficult. There are 16 teams left in the race. She was led by teams from Petrozavodsk and Cherepovets – No. 11 “Ghostbusters” and No. 24 “Sheksna”. At 7.30 the leaders left the base and left for the third round. In third place is the team from Romania No. 34 “Team adventure”.

We hope the leaders will be able to complete the race today. In the coming days, there will be a weakening of the wind and non-finishing teams will have to move on foot or on a ski tour.

Follow the competition on the official website of TOKE: http://trans-onego.ru

30 Today # 9968

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