The next TA was a beautiful site along the Gallatin River. The transition area was a dark zone, meaning racers could not embark on the paddle after dark. This was for safety reasons. It is hard enough to see in the dark, let alone rescue a drowning paddler. It was near midnight when Team Nike arrived, and they were instantly swarmed by the press and fans. The other teams straggled in throughout the night. No teams were able to leave on the paddle on day 1. The river was open again at ~5am, and teams that arrived earlier got more sleep than their slower counterparts, meaning they were better prepared for battling the swollen Gallatin.
5:15 am. MOAT is already in dry suits topping off their 'rubber duckies.'
Leslie Reuter and Shaun Bain pilot their ducky through class 4 rapids. What you are not seeing is MOAT's other half, Nathan Winkelmann and Dave Boyd, capsize just out of frame.
Dave had burped most of the air out of his dry suit right before getting underway to make it more comfortable, and this gave him dangerously poor buoyancy in the raging water.
Nathan clings to the boat with Dave somewhere behind.
The two managed to get back in the ducky and stay in the fight. At the next TA MOAT transitioned to river boards for the white water swim.
All agreed that this portion of the race was more like an adventure vacation. Don't believe me, just look at Nathan's face!
Leslie Reuter catches air.
A photographer captures an image of Leslie Reuter as she exits from river boarding.
Leslie and Nathan walk down the road to get ready for a long leg of mountain trekking.
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