Big Bear Blog

I am convinced after attending the inaugural Cal Multi Sports event on July 27 that Big Bear continues to excel to higher levels of athletic prowess and intensity. As a spectator I witnessed genuine competition, courageousness, sportsmanship, encouragement, passion and good vibes all around.

There were about 55 participants who took the extreme racing challenge. Each athlete ran for six miles on trails, rode a mountain bike for another 15 miles and paddled into wicked winds for four more miles to finish the race. One thing for certain is it didn’t seem to matter what place the competitors came in, because each one crossed the finish line with a smile. See photo gallery of event.

I saw sweat pour from headbands, I heard the crunch of blisters pop inside shoes and watched blood ooze from scrapes. The athletes battled high altitude, dehydration and fatigue, but each one who entered the race finished with pride and dignity.

One thing I discovered about this intense athletic contest is it takes sheer grit, desire and determination to finish the battle of these adventure style races.  This is the year of the Olympics and it looks as if Big Bear has Olympics fever!   

I was surprised to find many of the participants were from other states or other countries, too. In fact the big winner in the men’s competition was Eric “Sully” Sullivan from Crested Butte, Colo. This guy was an absolute bull. He came charging and never let up. He was followed by one of Big Bear’s very own intensified Teddy D. who had a good race, but just couldn’t catch the raging bull. I give Ted credit for working it hard on the last leg of the kayak portion where he gained about six minutes on Sully. Third place went to the Marcello Magnanini from Sao Paulo, Brazil. Magnanini.

Interestingly enough Magnanini’s girlfriend, Manu Villaseca from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil took the top prize in the women’s event. Heather D. from Big Bear took second and Tiffany Meyers of Redondo Beach was third. See complete results.
Daniel Pea