The Poland Winter Challenge, Eastern Europe’s AR World Series event, is 3-4 days of skiing, mountain biking, orienteering, and rope challenges.  It’s hallmark is lots of snow and creative special rope tests (traverses, ascents, etc).  This year, the snow levels were less than expected but it’s proven a challenging race none-the-less.  The 2010 edition is  just wrapping up and the winning teams have arrived to the finish line:

1. It took 70 hours and 8 minutes for the Craft Ukraine team to win the race.  Congratulations to the winners!
2. 2nd place goes to AR World Series regulars AlpinePro Nutrend/Merida Czech Adventure Team, after 71 hours and 21 minutes
3. 3rd place has gone to Polish team Rakiety.pl (sponsored by a Polish outdoor shop — from what I can tell) 

Bike Traverse on the 2010 Course

This winter race had a decidedly spring feel as some of the cross-country ski sections saw teams carrying their skis instead of racing on them — a warm batch of weather prior to the race melted some of the snowy reaches of the southern Polish mountains.  This played in Craft Ukraine’s favor, apparently, as they confessed that they aren’t the strongest skiing team in the race.  Craft Ukraine earns the entry into the Adventure Racing World Championships, held in Spain in October 2010.

Craft Ukraine Wins the Poland Winter Challenge 2010

Complete results will trickle in over the next few days, so keep an eye on the Poland Winter Challenge website for more details and photos.  They also have some nice course profiles and English commentary about the race on their site, so check it out if you’re curious.

Additionally, they’ve just posted some YouTube videos and this one has an English interview with the Finnish team Omjakon about 4 minutes into it.  Anyone who has raced for a few days on very little sleep can relate to the quality of the conversation and the Finns sound like a team ready to reach the the . . . “finish” line.  Couldn’t help myself with that pun!

— remember, the first few minutes of the vid are forgettable and I would skip.

Congratulations to all the teams who have reached the finish, and best of luck to those still en route.

Related posts:

1. 2010 Challenge Reveals Subtle Changes
2. 2010 Polartec® Challenge Grant Recipients Announced
3. Challenge Roth 2010
4. Abu Dhabi Adventure Challenge Announces 2010 Event Dates
5. MAKERS OF THE COASTAL CHALLENGE ANNOUNCE NEW NAME AND 2010 RACE SCHEDULE