The first Amazon Canoe Challenge is well and truly over and what a success it was. It’s been a long 6 months for our crew putting all the last bits together and beyond rewarding seeing all our hard work pay off. With the last-minute route change caused by unrest in the Junín region where the first Challenge was originally to take place, the team had only 60 days to create the new route and it’s safe to say, it’s a winner.
The teams arrived in Manu, Peru for what was the first ever Amazon Canoe Challenge, and the first time that anyone had ever raced down the Amazon by traditional canoe. There were definitely nerves on training day as teams started to realise the scale of what exactly they had signed up for, but nerves quickly gave way to excitement as they set off from the start line.
Our crew this year was 60% Machiguenga from the community of Shipitiari, and we were eager to see what they thought of the whole thing after we finished. For me, the words of Herman, one of our crew, summed it up. ‘We are like family.’ – He smiled after I asked him what his thoughts as we approached the end of the course.
Operationally, this event has been a huge undertaking, and definitely the most challenging project that we have worked on anywhere in the world. It’s also been incredibly rewarding to see the reactions from the local (&international) crew, and from the teams who had the courage to sign up for an event many said we were crazy to even consider running.
To find out more, check our socials @amazoncanoechallenge for our daily round up of this years Challenge.
The dates for next year have been released, and we are already 80% full. A huge thank you from our team to everyone who has supported us this year – We will never forget it.
– Freya
