Local Team wins Divide & Conquer

News Release
June 18, 2005
Loryn Kasten
970-247-9000 x237
lkasten@durangomountain.com

2nd ANNUAL RED BULL DIVIDE & CONQUER WINNERS ANNOUNCED
Local Durangoans lead team to victory

Durango, Co - Racers from around the world descended on the San Juan Mountains this weekend in an attempt to conquer the rugged terrain and claim victory in the 2nd annual Red Bull Divide and Conquer mountain sports relay. The race began in Silverton, Colorado with teams of four crossing the Continental Divide multiple times before finishing at Durango Mountain Resort. Race disciplines included trail running, paragliding, kayaking and mountain biking. The course covered more than 60 miles of treacherous terrain and 7,000 vertical feet of climbing.

Team Specialized/Riversports crossed the finish line first and completed the course in just less than 8 hours. Team members include trail runner Jesse Rickert, Paraglider Dave Melon, kayaker Andy Corra and mountain biker, local legend Ned Overend. Overend, a 50 year old former World Cup and NORBA champion, crossed the finish line at 7:37:34 after a neck to neck competition.

Team Bull Riders leapt out in front to begin the race, but Teams Specialized/Riversports and Adventure Sports Magazine took over after flawless paragliding landings. Specialized/Riversports and Adventure Sports stayed with in one second of each other during the paragliding and kayaking portions of the race before Overend showed his mountain biking expertise and ran away with the lead. Second place went to Adventure Sports Magazine, and local Mike Freeburn, with a time of 7:45:16 and Bull Riders crossed the finish line third. Team Specialized/Riversports won the opportunity to head to Austria this September for the 18th annual Red Bull Domomitenmann competition.