Vine and Angle Conquer XTERRA Brazil

Accounts from the pro winners – Mike Vine and Candy Angle…

Mike Vine is currently in a tie for 3rd place in the XTERRA U.S. Pro Series standings and is one of the favorites to win the XTERRA USA Championship on Sept. 30.  Here’s what he had to say about the big race in the jungles of Brazil:

It was the hardest of any, ever! and we had decent conditions w/ cooler temps and a dry course that means it easily could’ve been a lot worse!  The finishing times tell the story... many took 5,6, and even 7 hours.  The swim was the easy part...a little choppy but an ocean swim in balmy water with wetsuits is never too bad. In the middle we had some excitement with a run over a pier and a jump or dive back in off a 10-foot drop (which can be exciting when you don’t know it’s coming!)

The race started to get tough on the bike, which was long and must have gone over every hill in the area. The trails here seem to always take the straightest, steepest line over the top.  Some of the descents were crazy steep and made for some great footage with the less experienced riders doing the Superman or headplants.  The whole way along the bike there were people cheering and it was a relief for me to see there were hundreds of volunteers along this single loop course to make sure nobody got lost.  I was climbing and descending well and finished the bike with a 5-minute lead at T2. The run, which I went into sight unseen, had one of the worst uphills I’ve ever experienced - only 1 km long and paved/cobbled, but incredibly steep. Approaching the top I blew up and my legs gave out (first my hamstrings cramped then staggering over the top I couldn’t even follow the well marked course).

Entering the jungle the trail started to descend - which was treacherous as can be - and the quads seized also. It was survival the rest of the way with a bunch of steep hills that were so steep and rugged it was all I could do to stay upright and power hike them.

There was a band playing bongo drums/jungle music at the 3 km mark on top of another incredibly steep hill which helped us on our way... as the trail weaved through the greenery the racers could hear the upbeat music echoing through the woods.

Reaching the finish was never more welcome for me with my rubberized legs and the run speedster Alexander Manzan coming up quick.  Was a surprise at the finish to see more media and hype than any other events I’ve been too (and not just because I won).

The post race party was the topper with an elaborate stage setup next to the beach and live Brazilian dance music with open bar. Brazilians sure know how to party!  Vineman-Z

Candy Angle, like the Vineman, is currently in a tie for 3rd place in the XTERRA U.S. Pro Series standings and won this race in Brazil last year.  Here’s her race story…

First of all this is absolutely the toughest XTERRA race I have ever done.  I said that last year, but this year was even tougher.  I have done my fair share of XTERRA races around the world and cannot imagine any tougher than this one.

The race started in usual fashion being first out of the water (at least I did not pass any other women on the bike).  The water was quite choppy and interesting.  We didn’t do the typical triangular swim, it was more like the speedo logo swim jumping off a pier to swim back towards the start (It was a good jump off the pier too, probably about 10-15 feet).

The bike is very hilly and XTERRA races always have stories of misfortune and as usual - I have one to tell.  Firmly in control of the race and feeling good considering all the hill climbing, I managed to wedge my chain behind the cog.  It was a good wedge as I spent about 5-10 minutes trying to pull it out and during this mishap a woman rode pass me.  All I could think was the distance I have come for something like this to happen.  Well, someone must have been looking over me because I jumped on my bike and viola, it was fixed.  I was able to pedal my way back to the lead (hoping nothing else bad would happen).

Of all the XTERRA run courses that have gone uphill, this one takes the cake.  It was changed from last year to include more ups and downs...straight up and straight down through the jungle (once you make it up the steep pavement that is more than a mile until you get to the jungle).  They even had a band playing at the top of one nice vertical.  They have each kilometer marked and I was happy to see the 7k mark meaning not much more to go and it has to start going down.

The crowd at the finish was wonderful, many remembering me from last year and new friends being made on my way to my second XTERRA Brazil Championship.

For anyone looking for the hardest XTERRA race you have ever done, this is it.  Combine that with a beautiful island and lots of great people this is a must-do race.  Brazilians are very friendly!  Aside from winning the part, what I liked most about the course was going through the small villages on the island where they cheer for you and hand out water.

Now I’m off to the post race party (and they throw a great party).  This will probably be an early night though and I will be one sore puppy in the morning...from the race, not the party!

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