Rib Mountain Racing secures top ranking for 2019 season
Team Rib Mountain Racing took home first place in the USARA National Point Series which ended at the 2019 Adventure Racing National Championship in Boone, North Carolina.
Boone, NC (Wausau Pilot & Review) – After competing in ten races across five states in the 2019 season, Rib Mountain Racing topped the season’s rankings in the United States Adventure Racing Association (USARA) National Points Series. The season concluded last weekend in North Carolina at the national championship where the team finished in third place overall.
Team Rib Mountain Racing at the finish line of the 2019 USARA National Championship, following more than 24 of non-stop racing.
Team members Tim Buchholz, Anna Nummelin and Erik Martinez finished a physically demanding course well under the 30 hour time limit, finishing in 24:35. Of the 50 teams competing, only a third of the field was able to complete the course within the time limit.
Co-captain Nummelin was proud of the team’s tenacity at nationals.
“This race course did not appeal to our team’s strengths. To produce our best result at nationals on this course shows a testament to our team’s resolve,” said Nummelin.
“Usually our strength is difficult navigation,” added Buchholz, the team’s navigator. “This course had limited navigation, but we still managed a few tricks to save time and distance.”
Teams from all over the United States are ranked on their best seven results each season. Longer races are awarded more points, with nationals weighted the most. Other team members forRibMountainRacinginclude Ryan Knitter and Wausau native and IRONBULL executive director Andrea Larson.
As part of the team, they must stay together for the duration of the race. The team navigates with a map and compass paddling, biking and trekking to find checkpoints throughout the unmarked course. Often races include special challenges that this year included pumpkin carving, archery, bouldering, rappelling, swimming in full gear, and solving puzzles.
Next year, the national championship is in Wisconsin for the first time ever, meaning the team’s expectations are high.
“Although so many factors come into play in adventure racing, we aim to train harder than ever to try and win the national championship next year in our home state,” said Buchholz.
The team doesn’t just race at an elite level, but also organizes a top-notch race. Team captains Buchholz and Nummelin host the Rib Mountain Adventure Challenge every Memorial Day weekend to give back to the community. The event has raised more than $10,000 for student scholarships at UWSP at Wausau. This event will be in its sixth year in 2020 and has already grown to the largest race in the USARA series. This year, the event drew racers from seven to 70 from eight states.
Additionally, Buchholz and Nummelin are also board members of the recently formed non-profit, IRONBULL. IRONBULL’s goals include promoting outdoor recreation in Central Wisconsin and supporting and building the community by sharing funds generated from races. As a result, the Rib Mountain Adventure Challenge will be one of six IRONBULL races in 2020.
Team Rib Mountain Racing pauses for a quick photo in the middle of more than 24 hours of non-stop racing at the 2019 Adventure Racing National Championship in Boone, North Carolina.