Marilyn Urtubia (Maroc)._ The Trophée Roses des Sables is a 100% female adventure in the heart of the Northern Sahara. More than 140 women´s car crews from all over the world take part of this cross country/solidarity challenge from October 6th to the 15th in Morocco.
Because cross country is not reserved for men, the Trophée Roses des Sables (Roses of the Sand´s Trophy) is the adventure created by Jean Jacques Rey, experienced rally raid driver that has been leading the event for 11 years. The challenge is composed by navigation, driving skills in the sand, and humanitarian help for the children of the desert.
The 300 participants of this year are now in the middle of a hard competition in Merzouga. For this last two days, crews are measured in navigation with only road book, map and compass followed by sand driving skills test in the Erg of El Chebbi.
French crew 168 (Virginie Gilg y Karin Degout) managed to get the best time to get out of the dunes without getting stuck, while the test revealed its difficulties for others that were trapped in the sand and joined the bivouac near midnight.
The competition reserved only for women takes solidarity for serious. All participants gathered 21 tons of material and clothes to hand out to different associations dedicated for children in need in Morocco, so one of the “roses”(how they call their participants) goal is to arrive in time to participate of their ceremonies.
A break on their “normal” lives to be measured against the desert and an opportunity to show off their skills and strengths, the Trophée Roses des Sables continue until Saturday, when all crews will join Ouarzazate for the prize giving ceremony.
Photos: Cédric Poulmaire
