In this Daily: The Pura Vida Ride Paddle Battle and the Intrepid Challenge
The 9th Annual Pura Vida Ride Paddle Battle and the Intrepid Challenge 2019 were this weekend, two outdoor competitions taking place Saturday and Sunday that thrive thanks to town’s versatility as an outdoor sports destination as well as the natural sociability of a walkable town.
The Intrepid Challenge | PC: Intrepid Challenge
Trails, beach, and water served as a platform for races requiring technique, determination, adaptability, and athleticism, providing a beautiful and varied playground to challenge and explore.
Throughout the weekend, town and especially along the beachfront of Playa Danta, athletes and their families intermingled, and made full use of the weekend’s ideal beach weather. From the tables of Limonada to the rocking chairs of Pura Vida Ride to the waters past Playa Danta and up into the trails and town, chance encounters fostered the coming together of people that is a major part of town’s character.
The 9th Annual Pura Vida Ride Paddle Battle
Conditions on the bay Saturday were glassy and calm, well suited to a paddle board race, with a sunny sky overhead and a few clouds out in the sky to provide welcome shade during the races. The weather invited families, visitors, and residents all out to the beach, providing an ample crowd to cheer on the racers.
The start of the men's Elite Paddle Board Race
ConnectOcean were a constant presence throughout the day, providing in-water coverage of the course that doubled as a training demonstration for their Nipper Surf Lifesavers. Involvement in monitoring an actual, live water event is invaluable to the Nippers, who also spent the day refining their skills and training in the waves.
The Paddle Battle began with the Recreativo race, an open competition featuring a diverse group of racers in a 5km race around the bay. With a field that comprised homeowners, friends of town, and a slew of new visitors, the Recreativo captured the same atmosphere found on communal rides, swims, runs, and hikes around town: all skill levels welcome, and a friendly spirit of competition.
Then it was time for the elite races, both 7.5km races featuring the top paddlers on the Costa Rican circuit. For the Women’s Elite race, the front of the pack featured a fierce competition between Valeria Salutstri and Michelle Fuentes, two outstanding competitors who took the two top spots in last year’s Paddle Battle. Michelle paddled a nearly perfect race to take the victory for 12’6” and the overall finish, with Valeria close behind at the front of the 14’ race.
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In the Men’s Elite race, it was a powerful showing from Eric Tenorio, a newcomer to the Paddle Battle, that took home first prize with authority. Setting out at a powerful pace that never faltered, Eric finished the 7.5km race in just over 46 minutes, almost six minutes faster than his nearest competitor. Also with podium finishes were Marcel Oliveira just behind at 52 minute, and Nicolas Chtereno at 54 minutes, who also took home first prize for the 12’6” division.
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All final result are posted on the Pura Vida Ride Facebook page.
The Intrepid Challenge
The Intrepid Challenge obstacle course race began immediately following the Paddle Battle with the Elite division race, a quadrathlon starting on location at Zapotal beach in which competitors had to overcome numerous obstacles as they swam, ran, biked, and kayaked to the finish in the heart of town.
The wall climb at the ridge of La Cuesta | PC: Intrepid Challenge
Both Saturday afternoon’s Elite division and the Sunday morning Open division showcased the versatility of town’s natural surroundings. Compared the Paddle Battle, which featured a glassy platform of perfect conditions for a technical race, the beaches and the trails in the reserve offered a challenge that required a different kind of grit, determination, and adaptability.
The rope climb through water | PC: Intrepid Challenge
Rope climbs, Hercules hoists, net scaling, weighted runs, kayak, stand up paddle board, army crawl, and many others presented a diverse set of obstacles for the challengers, who fought to the finish outside of Limonada.
Technical issues towards the end of the Elite race left Saturday's victor uncertain. For the Open Division, the overall winner for was Joseth Cespedes Moya, averaging under a 12 minute mile across obstacles, rough terrain and water, for a commanding victory, finishing nearly 15 minutes before the next competitor with a time of 1:21:06. Women's champion Melissa Muñoz had an equally strong showing, averaging close to a 14 minute mile for a final time of 1:40:06, and a similar 15 minute cushion. All of the results are available here.
Afterward, the Playa Danta beachfront offered an ample space to gather, support fellow racers as later heats came in, and spend the rest of afternoon around town.
Looking Forward to Next Year
Both events highlighted different aspects of Las Catalinas, bringing people together through the one-to-one connection made easy by a beautiful, walkable town, and presenting a worthwhile physical challenge for competitors to overcome together.
This natural sociability and vibrant active lifestyle are present in many different ways throughout the year, and we look forward to welcoming both Paddle Battle and Intrepid back to town in 2020. In the meantime, the weather is scheduled to remain ideal for the outdoors for the months to come.
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