Hardcore serves up fitness, fun and fete

Mobs2 Chaguaramas was bursting with beautiful bodies on August 5 at the first T&T edition of Hardcore Caribbean.

The emphasis was on fun as well as fitness, as the “extreme” sports event featured a series of obstacles meant to challenge participants’ physical fitness and mental toughness, followed by an afterparty for athletes and spectators alike.Hardcore attracted more than 1,000 paying participants, both teams and individuals, who arrived at Mobs2 for registration at 10 am, all kitted up in spandex gear, gloves, kneepads and fancy sneakers. Others wore brightly coloured wigs, tutus, mohawks and face paint to compete for prizes like best and worst individual fancy dress, best team fancy dress and sexiest girl team. The Cat in the Hat, some Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Skeletor and, of course, Batman, were present and accounted for.

 

 

According to the event Web site, “Hardcore obstacle events are the ultimate test of all-round human endurance.”

The promotion also promised a good time, and with the fete venue, full bar, games, product give-aways and pumping music, there was an unmistakable party atmosphere. Participants got started at 2 pm, having to face obstacles with cheeky names like “Ketch Ass” (don’t ketch your ass on this barbed wire crawl) and “Haul Yuh Mudder” (grab a tire and haul yourself up a steep hill.) There were military-type challenges like rope-climbing, monkey bars and bush trails, as well as tamer ones like sliding downhill on a lubed tarp.

 

 

Hardcore, it was emphasised, was not a race, but a challenge where victory lay in completing the course. Almost all the obstacles were located outside of Mobs2, so a big screen was set up onstage for spectators to view the action. Unfortunately, a technical problem meant there was no footage available until after most participants had finished, so those who had bought spectator tickets had to contend themselves with drinks and music. They managed somehow, many having brought their coolers along. Participants ended the course back at the venue, and joined the party people to fete away the strain. The music stopped for the screening of the Olympic finals of the men’s 100 metres, which seemed to end in anti-climax after the MC had pumped the crowd to root for T&T’s Richard Thompson, who did not place. That didn’t put a damper on the party, though. It rained several times but the vibes were high enough to keep the fitness fans feteing until late into the night.