SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - "I'm scared. I have butterflies. And I'm suspicious of that guy."

These were some of the thoughts running through the mind of competitor Damian Panayi, as he gestured towards rival Colin Joyal at the start of the Yk Multisport Club's 2009 Urban Adventure Race.

Damian Panayi, left, and Andrew Kotaska, right, make up the victorious team, the Back Bay Black Flies, who came out on top at last Sunday's Urban Adventure Race. - Charlotte Hilling/NNSL photo

The race began at the Yellowknife Ski Club at 8 a.m. last Sunday, and required the 10 teams that entered to bike, run, and swim their way around Yellowknife, solving clues and puzzles along the way to get to the next checkpoint.

According to race organizer Craig Machtans, the adventure race was an attempt to attract competitors of all fitness levels to come along and enjoy a fun, active day out.

However, underhanded tactics are permitted.

"Mostly people try to eavesdrop on other teams - it's not illegal. The rules are pretty open here, they just do whatever it takes," said Machtans.

The first event was a mountain bike ride through the swampy Ski Club trails in search of the letters from which teams could unscramble their next destination.

The most damning evidence for foul play came when Machtans happened upon a single bicycle break pad on the trail. This was clearly a premeditated act of sabotage against some unfortunate competitor.

Another competitor returned to the beginning of the trail with a tire puncture. Was this bad luck or illegal interference?

Nevertheless, several teams were clearly no threat at all and did not require outside interference to set them back. Right at the outset about half the racers went in the wrong direction but eventually corrected themselves.

"All right we're last, we're last. The only way is up," was the plucky rallying call of one competitor, about 90 seconds into the race.

There was a very short swimming section which took place in Frame Lake beside the legislative assembly building. Most participants took longer lowering themselves into the murky water than taking the swim itself.

Some teams could not be helped, despite the best efforts of standers-by. At the Pilot's Monument stop, Team Charlie's Angels chose to reject the advice of some kindly tourists from Washington who correctly suggested the answer to the question - how tall is Robertson Shaft - was 250 feet. The team scoffed at this claim, gave an incorrect answer, and had to climb the stairs to the monument more than once as penance.

Throughout the morning and early afternoon several lonely team were seen cycling desperately through downtown Yellowknife after being separated from the pack.

Despite all the debauchery, there had to be a winner. Team Back Bay Blackflies took the honours with a time of 2:27:34.

Team members Damian Panayi and Andrew Kotaska said the race required a combination of physical agility and mental fluidity. Runners-up Julian Kannigan and Mike Palmer lost ground at the final race challenge - catching three pop flies at the Parker Park ballfield. Both men blamed their performance on poor attendance records at their school T-ball games.

The race ended with a barbecue back at the ski club.

This was the Yk Multisport Club's third Urban Adventure Race. It runs once every two years.