PATAGONIAN EXPEDITION RACE
2004 Edition... The Experience Begins

In February 2004, the first edition of PATAGONIAN EXPEDITION RACE took place. According to the racers themselves, it was one of the most difficult, remote and spectacular adventure races in the world. The route, approximately 520 km in length, was located in one of the most pristine and remote parts of the world - the southernmost extreme of the Americas - terminating at a more southerly latitude than had ever before been reached in any expedition race.

Forty athletes coming from New Zealand, Denmark, Sweden, the Czech Republic, Spain, USA, Colombia, Uruguay, Argentina and Chile faced the difficult challenge that southernmost Patagonia put to them: Robyn Benincasa, Christopher Morrissey, Neil Jones, Jeff Mitchell, Antonio de la Rosa, Mónica Aguilera, Marcos Barrantes, Fran López, Rubén Mandure, Carol Cattalurda, Nestor Parra, Daniel Pincu, Mikael Nordstrom, Eva Jurenikova, Per Vestling, Per Henriksson, Jorge Llano, Luisa Ríos, Ricardo Ríos, Fernando Parra, Carlos Galosi, Mercedes Sahores, Fernando Aparo, Martín Paredes, Claus Stallknecht, Jeannette Hovslagare, Martín Andersen, Soren Nielsen, Nicolas Pivcevic, Michelle Beth Maislen, Sven Gysling, Andrés Fernández, Francisco Gago, Jose Cembellin, Alfredo Gago, Nidia Barrientos, Mario Vidal, Vanesa Burlando, Marcelo Miranda and Marcelo Echazú.

During the race, a long and difficult route took the racers through the most isolated and wild corners of mythical Tierra del Fuego. Advancing towards the south, they crossed windswept steppes, rivers, swamps, the southernmost forests on the planet, the Darwin Range and the Beagle Channel, finally arriving at Puerto Williams – the southernmost town in the world.

The route consisted of eight principal stages:
1.- Mountain biking 84 km
2.- Sea-kayaking 64 km
3.- Mountain biking 71 km
4.- Mountain trekking 23 km
5.- Sea-kayaking 57 km
6.- Mountain trekking 117 km
7.- Sea-kayaking 47 km
8.- Mountain biking 57 km

In order to complete the entire route of PATAGONIAN EXPEDITION RACE 2004, the teams travelled a total of 212 km by mountain bike, 168 km in sea-kayak, and 140 km of tough trekking that included some mountain sections requiring cord work. With only 17 control points along the 520 km route, teams had to be self-sufficient, well practiced in navigation, and intelligent enough to manage their limited resources.

About Wenger

Wenger was founded in 1893, in the Delémont, located in the famous Swiss Jura region. It has developed around a assion for innovation, precision and expert craftsmanship and is best known as the maker of the genuine Swiss Army knife. Today, the company produces approximately 250 styles of the famous pocket-knives, as well as butchers and professional catering knives known the world over. In 1997, Wenger Watch SA was founded in the hotbed for Swiss watches, Biel/Bienne, Switzerland. In just 12 short years Wenger Swiss watches have developed a reputation for reliability, multi-functionality and performance. Within the last eight years, Wenger established relationships with a small number of industry leaders who began manufacturing Wenger-branded products that embody the characteristics of the world famous Swiss Army knife in the footwear, tent, backpack, sleeping bag, computer mobility and travel gear categories.