Competitors from 35Competitors from 35 countries have made their way to Chile for this year’s Atacama Crossing, which will begin on Monday, 8 March and ends on Saturday 13 March. The first race in this year’s grueling 4 Deserts series, which sees competitors race self-supported over 250km through the forbidding landscapes of the Atacama Desert, begins outside the town of San Pedro de Atacama. The town lies almost 850miles (1000km) north of the capital Santiago, and was unaffected by the huge earthquake which rocked Chile late last week.
Cuando el terremoto del 27 de febreró golpeó a Chile, faltaban horas para que la mayoría de los competidores del Atacama Crossing se embarcaran a nuestro país. “Tomamos la decisión de seguir adelante con la carrera después de hablar con nuestros amigos, colegas y oficiales del gobierno chileno, además vimos en los competidores y voluntarios una capacidad de decisión por llegar sorprendente”, dice la fundadora y CEO de RacingThePlanet Mary Gadams, cuyo viaje desde Asia tomó más de 60 horas.
De hecho algunos competidores enfrentaron días de atraso, otros quedaron en tránsito y algunos incluso llegaron por tierra vía Perú o argentina, lo que demoró el comienzo del Atacama Crossing en 24 horas.
Los 146 competidores que estarían en la partida el lunes lo hacían en apoyo al país y su gente. “Chile es sencillamente un lugar fantástico”, dice Gadams. “Cada persona que ha tomado parte del Atacama Crossing desde nuestra primera competencia de 2004 se ha enamorado de este país”
She continues, “We’re dedicating the race to the victims of the earthquake and raising money for Habitat for Humanity who are involved in rebuilding homes. But we also want to pay tribute to all the things that make Chile such a wonderful country – its people, its landscapes and its indomitable spirit.” countries have made their way to Chile for this year’s Atacama Crossing, which will begin on Monday, 8 March and ends on Saturday 13 March. The first race in this year’s grueling 4 Deserts series, which sees competitors race self-supported over 250km through the forbidding landscapes of the Atacama Desert, begins outside the town of San Pedro de Atacama. The town lies almost 850miles (1000km) north of the capital Santiago, and was unaffected by the huge earthquake which rocked Chile late last week.
When the quake of 27 February struck around Concepcion, Chile, it was just hours before the majority of competitors were about to embark on their journeys to the country. “We made the decision to go ahead with the race after speaking to our friends, colleagues and government officials of Chile, and the resolve the competitors and volunteers have shown in getting to the race has been amazing,” said RacingThePlanet’s founder and CEO Mary Gadams, whose own journey from Asia took over 60 hours to complete.
Indeed, some competitors have faced days of delays, others have been stranded in transit, and yet more have had to find ingenious routes into the South American country overland through Peru and Argentina, resulting in the start of the race being delayed by 24 hours.
The 146 competitors who will line the start on Monday will be doing so in support of the country and its people who have been so affected by the disaster. “Chile is quite simply a fantastic place”, says Gadams. “Everyone who has taken part in the Atacama Crossing since our first race here in 2004 has fallen in love with the country.”
She continues, “We’re dedicating the race to the victims of the earthquake and raising money for Habitat for Humanity who are involved in rebuilding homes. But we also want to pay tribute to all the things that make Chile such a wonderful country – its people, its landscapes and its indomitable spirit.”
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Grande Atacama Crossing, Felicitaciones Mary, son el gran evento de aventura del Norte de Chile, en términos de competitividad y convocatoria internacional