Race resumes in honor of competitor who died

ROCKPORT, Wash. – A hiking, biking and kayaking race through the San Juan Islands and the Cascades, suspended for two days when a competitor died, resumed Thursday.

Organizers of the Subaru Primal Quest consulted with the family of Nigel Aylott, who died Tuesday, and his Team AROC teammates before deciding whether to continue, spokesman Gordon Wright said.

“His family and teammates were particularly strong in urging us to continue the race in his memory,” Wright said. “Our overriding concern was to do the best thing for Nigel’s team and his family. Their opinions weighed very heavily on our decision to start the race.”

The race resumed at this town about 70 miles north of Seattle at 12:01 a.m., following a barbecue held Wednesday night to commemorate Aylott’s death. The 10-day event was shortened by 36 to 72 hours “to get everyone headed home, back to their families,” Wright said.

Leaders in the race, which began Sunday at Orcas Island, were expected to complete the course this afternoon, Wright said. The race initially covered 400 miles. Wright said it was difficult to say how much mileage had been cut.

The race has a $250,000 purse, with $100,000 for the winning team. Team captains had offered to contribute 25 percent of their winnings to a fund for Aylott being started by race organizers, Wright said.

Aylott, 38, of Melbourne, Australia, was considered one of the world’s best backcountry athletes. He died in the North Cascades when a 300-pound boulder struck his head as his team and the leading U.S. team, Montrail, made their way down a rocky slope.