Brian Seaward gets an adrenaline rush when he thinks about Cain’s Quest being considered one of the longest endurance snowmobile races on the planet.
Seaward, a 40-year-old Pasadena native, is an avid snowmobiler who loves to push the limit so when he had a chance to race in a major event so close to home he put his name out there to see if anybody was looking for a rookie racing partner.
Veteran racer Sheldon Wiseman of Croque just happened to be looking for somebody to join him on his third attempt to win.
All it took was a telephone call from Wiseman for Seaward to say he was game.
Seaward is excited and nervous at the same time, but he figures that’s normal when it comes to taking on a new challenge. With the support of his wife and three boys, he’s eager to get on the start line.
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He has a love for the outdoors, but admits he would never take on a 3,200-kilometre trek over six days if he didn’t have a guy with veteran savvy as his partner.
“He’s the big brother and I’m looking up to him,” Seaward said. “I’m going to follow him and do the best I can do. Whether I can keep up with him and endure what he endures we’ll have to see.”
Wiseman has participated in two previous races. His best finish came in 2014 when he finished sixth overall so this experience is what Seaward believes will help the team adjust to whatever comes to their way.
Seaward also knows his partner has a reputation that has earned the respect of fellow racers over the years so he figures he’s in good hands.
“The rumour on the street is he’s one of the toughest in the race,” he said.
Wiseman was told before he competed in his first Cain’s Quest that he’d better be able to handle the cold or he would have a tough time of it.
“I told them I love the outdoors and if I gets cold on this race every other racer is going to be froze to death,” Wiseman said.
Wiseman also believes he has a good partner who will be able to hold his own so he’s excited about putting an end to some of the bad luck experienced in his first two races.
Keeping the machines together is the biggest thing and both men are adept at fixing any mechanical problems so they feel confident they will see the finish line together.
Wiseman’s sixth-place finish in 2014 with partner Brad Coles of St. Anthony showed he could handle a tough challenge.
The team was in good shape, according to Wiseman, until Coles sunk his machine in the river on the first night of the ride.
It was bone chilling with temperatures around -50 C and Wiseman ended up taking the machine apart three times and had it back on the trail again, making up 10 and a half hours of time to cross the finish line in sixth.
Wiseman is hoping luck will be on his side this time around with a new partner who is “half crazy” like him.
Seaward is looking forward to being on the snow for five straight days.
“I love being on the go day and night — I’m sleep deprived and I’m good at it,” he said.
