With participants from 45 different countries jumping from a ferry boat in the dark early hours before the crack of dawn, the first edition of Patagonman Xtri took place on Sunday, December 9th in the cold waters of the Aysen Fjord in the Chilean Patagonia.
Taking in the scenic backdrop of Patagonia, the event is part of the XTRI WORLD TOUR circuit. It is supported by Norseman, the iconic long-distance race, that has gone from point to point and from fjord to mountain in Norway since 2003.
The long distance PATAGONMAN XTRI involves a 3.8km swim, 180km bike and 42.2 km run. However, the organising team in Chile point to a difference in the point-to-point course in Patagonia, with ‘a unique surrounding and extreme conditions’. As with Norseman in Norway, the swim leg of PATAGONMAN XTRI starts with a jump from a ferry boat. Here, athletes plunge into the icy-cold waters of the Aysén Fjord (10-12°C) and then swim back to Puerto Chacabuco.
Mauricio Mendez, a former XTERRA World Champion, was the first to cross the finish line, ring the Patagonman bell and earn the prize of a luxury cruise in an icebreaker ship to Antarctica for two people with Quark Expeditions, a leader in polar adventures.
Lucy Gossage from the UK raced in Patagonia for the last time as a professional triathlete ;and she took the first place among the women, to seal a very successful year for the IRONMAN athlete.
In a release, the organisers noted that ‘The competition was full of wonders, having a rough swim in the dark ocean, cycling against the famous Patagonian winds and running in one of the most stunning and tough triathlon running courses on the planet.’
The organisers continued… ‘Athletes are absolutely amazed by the organization, the local authorities embraced the race as one of the major events that has ever taken place in this remote region of Aysén and the people are already queuing for next year event, which will open lottery registrations in January 2019.’
The racewas supported by the Chile Olympic Committee, the National Sports Institute, Bureau of National Tourism, the Armada de Chile and local authorities. Sponsor partners included Zoot Sports, Naviera Austral, Merrell and Puerto Chacabuco.
