Shooting the Lapine Loop 2020 for Bend Racing

“Bend Racing Lapine Loop 2020” (above) is a 25-min compilation of my favorite race footage set to background music.

The videos below include some of my footage mixed with other filmmakers’ material and creative editing process.

By Scott Almendinger McGrath | Filming by Scott Almendinger McGrath, Tim Cowley, Chip Fieberg and Jason Cornell | Featuring Chelsey Magness, Sonja Wieck, Jennifer Hemmen and Renee Metivier where they race at Bend Racings La Pine Loop Race.

Endurance sports are growing on me.

First came a few half marathons in Mozambique during 2010-2016 run with teammates and friends. There was the 3-day hike up Mt Mulanje in Malawi (in which we had porters to carry the heavy stuff). And bike rides would some days be in the 50KM range as Shawn and I headed out to villages for visits and exploring.

When we arrived in Portland in 2016, I began to hear about things like century rides and relay races from Mount Hood to the coast (Hood to Coast). Sure, why not try a century (Reach the Beach)? Lessons learned, bike upgraded, why not try another in the same year (Harvest Century)?

This year a friend invited me on a backpacking trip with some of his friends around Mount Hood. We did in three days what is more reasonably done in five. Loved every minute of it! (Momentary demoralizing moments aside.)

In the summer of 2020 when Eco Challenge Fiji came out on Amazon Prime, I was fascinated by this sport that combined so many of the things I already loved: a sense of adventure and exploration, hiking, running, abseiling, climbing, biking, treasure hunting, kayaking and some things I didn’t know yet or love so much (swimming, navigating with a compass). I discovered that the U.S. team who performed well at Eco Challenge Fiji, Bend Racing, was just a few hours down the road. I joined a Facebook group or two, now exploding thanks to Eco Challenge Fiji, and recognized the wisdom in volunteering at a race to learn before embarking on my first as a competitor.

October 25th was that race.

The Lapine Loop, hosted at Lapine State Park just south of Bend, Oregon, would be a “sprint” style race. Adventure racing has shorter events, often lasting all day, that are great for newbies and the experienced alike that allow for less of a commitment in time, resources and energy. Other races can be 24 hours, or multi-day self-supported adventures (like Expedition Oregon, a five day event coming in May).

I would be joining the Bend Racing team as one of the volunteer media team members, roving by foot, bike and car from checkpoint to checkpoint. Loaded onto my phone GPS was a detailed map along with a media movements chart that would help the team properly cover both general race footage and the Bend Racing all-women team.

Unsure what to expect, I packed all three cameras: a Fujifilm XT-3, a Sony DSC RX10 iii and a Panasonic GH4. My most mobile action cam would be a DJI Osmo Pocket, something I had tried to figure out recently with limited success barreling down the Sandy Ridge mountain biking trails closer to home. Perhaps a GoPro would be better for a first-person viewpoint, I determined. But hopefully a mix of these 4 cameras would last me a full day and get me enough set-up footage as well as action shots while on the move. My big question was what the sub-freezing temperatures would do to the longevity of my batteries.

Please note the following images are screen captures from video, so the quality won’t be quite what I’m used to for shooting stills.

Pre-Race

As the race headed towards the starting time, team captains and reps received race instructions and last minute changes. Fifty teams were in attendance, with roughly 70% being new to the sport. While individuals could race alone, teams could be comprised of 2-4 members. Pro points existed for teams that wanted to try for them, while many were content with just having a good time and getting what they could. Dads and lads, or parents with kids, were also part of the mix, some of them already experienced as adventure racers.

Teams would be racing from checkpoint to checkpoint using a compass and maps by foot, bike and raft and would have to rappel/abseil from a bridge, climb a partially icy waterfall and potentially get stuck in a mud bog all to complete their tasks, gather their passport punches and hopefully finish in good time all in one piece.

Start/Prologue to T5 (by TA1)

TA (Transition Area) 1: from foot to boat

P9 (bridge rappel)

River rafting (as seen from McGregor’s Viewpoint)

TA2 and Biking

Fall River Falls

I don’t like much being cold. Maybe that comes from 13 years living in the tropics of east Africa, or basing myself out of Phoenix for 8 years? But I think that’s just a normal human dislike overall. But with now almost five years based out of Portland, I’m warming to the cool weather and the unique activities it brings. It’s all about getting the proper gear and not sticking to indoor confines just because it is nasty outside.

But jumping into water and climbing a small waterfall when it’s below freezing would be a serious hurdle for me to overcome.

Somehow, racers who were up for the challenge didn’t even seem to bat an eye. Perhaps the greenhorns were forced to carry out the icy challenge? Whoever it was, they just did it. Made it happen. And, from what I heard afterwards, struggled to get warm and clear-headed for the remainder of the race. As I listened to the recounted experiences of those around me, a good takeaway from this is that the navigator needs to remain sharp mentally so they generally would not be one of the polar plunge participants.

Last Bike Before Finish + B25

Finish Line: Food, Congrats, Swag

As the sun began to set, prizes and goodies were enjoyed by those who remained. Adventure Eats was on hand to deliver wholesome hot meals while Hydroflask merch looked perfectly matched with the steamy beverages graciously sipped.

My batteries held. My multiple eggs in different baskets strategy paid off. I had learned a lot from this adventure race, both how to get better footage and what adventure racing is about. Perhaps, one day soon, I would film, or race, or combine both?

to be continued…