Fluge Global Adventures

The Great 2008 FGA “Duel on Water, Bike and Land” lived up to its hype with lead tri-athletes Yelena King and Ashley Perlinger each representing their regions of the country in outstanding fashion. The Triathlon featured FGA Team Northwest’s Core Specialist, Yelena King, better known as the trainer to “The Fluge.” She also gained acclaim by climbing Africa’s Mt. Kilamanjaro with Fluge and Carter in 2007. The other featured FGA star was FGA Team Southwest’s Ashley Perlinger who was featured along with her sister, Aimee, in the Great American “Cannonball” Run in 2007 for Team Fluge. The press dubbed them the “Bentley Girls” after their ride, and likewise, snubbed Fluge and Lowblad in their “Bad Boy” Saleen – primed with horsepower but obviously without style worthy of “Ink”!

Ashley and Yelena suit up for the opening event swim.

The morning air was crisp and cool as athletes gathered from all over the country at the shoreline of the lake. Over 1400 competitors anxiously awaited the starting signal. Pre-race tension was high as Perlinger and King stood at the ready when the rain started to fall hard on the contestants. The start horn rang out and the first wave of 500 plus competitors sprinted into the water and swam hard for the first buoy in the open water mile swim portion of the Olympic distance Triathlon. Limbs thrashing, the sight of all the swimmers in the water at once was frightening from the shore line. The swim portion of the event was arduous as competitors dragged their bodies from the water and moved into the transition area.

Yelena ready for bike transition.

Ashley nearing finish.

Swim to bike transitions were speedy with every move premeditated and highly practiced. Onto the cycle portion of the event the competitors were faced with 25 miles of lakeside roads, mountain climbs and death defying downhill’s. The pace was high and the competitors, focused. Biking on the steepest hill gradients sent painful acid coursing through King and Perlinger’s veins. As the competitors transitioned once again time was of the essence. With just over 6 miles ahead on foot, fatigue is a serious factor, but adrenaline was pumping and the competitors pushed onward. Mile for mile Perlinger and King pushed through to the finish. King finished the swim down 5 minutes to Perlinger, but with fast transition times and quick cycle times King led Perlinger by 5 minutes through the finish line of the event. Both competitors successfully completed the notoriously difficult CDA triathlon with smiles! Yelena King won the fierce and competitive battle and FGA Northwest was successful this time around but redemption may be had next time by team FGA Southwest as Perlinger is clearly a serious and strong competitor.

CARTER AND FLUGE CYCLE TO SUCCESS WHILE GOING “GREEN”*

FGA EXCHANGES SPORTS CARS AND PLAYING CARDS FOR PERFORMANCE BICYCLES*

It began in the early hours of July 7 as Nick Fluge climbed atop his Bally’s generically prepped cycle to begin “FGA Cycling Week”. Leaving behind the luxury of his 600 horsepower Z06 race car that speeds him by competitors, Fluge had to rely on his inner engine to move through automated flatlands and hill sections during the now legendary digital magical mystery stationary bike tour.

FGA Core Specialist Yelena King made periodic appearances to push Fluge towards his goal (similar to her efforts during their summit of Africa’s Mount Kilamanjaro in 2007). Nick traversed 200 miles in 9 hours and 17 minutes (about 21 mph). The two day ride did not come without new FGA apparel. Friends and foes alike were sporting Fluge gear as the week progressed.

Troy Carter completed the week with a tremendous 200 mile race from Seattle to Portland. Over 9500 of the best bike competitors from all over the world were in force for the STP race and FGA and Carter could only hope that his 2008 training efforts would pay off. They did – he finished among the top riders and made it look easy.

Yelena King (also in training for her August FGA North vs FGA South Women’s Triathlon) was once again chief support for Team FGA. The first 15 miles of the event found Troy moving along Lake Washington with Mt. Ranier in the background. The next 185 miles took him through farmlands, small towns, and beautiful countryside and provided him with an excellent finishing time.

Another week in the year, another couple of FGA challenges and adventures, and another way of doing things – this time – “Green”.