Viper Challenge 2015 – Sepang International Circuit + Video

Viper Challenge 2015

Outdoor activities have always been a platform where the normal ice-breaking-hello routine is almost non-existant – we’re automatically friends the moment we step into the battlefield. During this challenge, all of us were strangers and friends at the same time, and all of us worked together like we’re in the same team, chasing after the same objective. This was one of the primary reason why I joined – group obstacle event such as this has always been in my to-do list.

Moving onwards to the next obstacle, it was a minor barrier of fire to jump over. The kerosene smell was overwhelming, and to my best recollection and senses, it wasn’t that hot to burn off some of your essential parts. Come to think about it, perhaps that was the main reason why we got wet previously – simply to prepare ourselves for this exact part.

Since this article was written only after years of this actuall event, I managed to get some research done and the list of obstacles with their actual names:

1. Simple vertical wall
2. Underwater obstacle – “Viper Slushy”
3. Jump over fire
4. Mud mountains up and down
5. Commando crawl, wire at the top
6. Spider vertical wall
7. Log crossing – climbing over four waist-level logs
8. Very tall log obstacle, climb over – “Stairway to Heaven”
9. Mud jungle area – “Dry Creak” (~10km mark)
10. Human height obstacle – “Mini Wall”
11. Wired mud-water crawling obstacle – “Liquid Dash”
12. Pipe commando crawl – “Pipe Crawl”
13. “Incline wall”
14. Monkey ring
15. Slide down – “Slippery Señorita” (5ft water level)
16. Upside down rope traverse – “Nerves of Steel”
17. “Bad Plumbing” (6ft water level)
18. Dive underneath through a network of barrels – “Underwater Barrels”
19. Crossing the plank – “Balance Beam”
20. Vertical wall obstacle with rope – “Rappelling Wall”
21. Tall incline wall obstacle
22. Run up the ramp – “Ramp of Triumph”

Different sources state different varying number of obstacles from 20 to 22, but I’ll just stick to 22 – the more the merrier!

The following obstacles were great and challenging and definitely did not shy away from the element of teamwork. The muddy terrain obviously did not hinder anyone from completing any of the obstacles, as patience and preserverance was a common value all of us had, and was clearly in abundance. Some were pretty easy and straightforward, and some were just screaming upper body strength outright. With various degree of strength and skills among our team members, not all of us succeeded – what mattered was that all of us tried and we pushed forward as a team.

After completing a few obstacles, the most interesting terrain setting for this challenge appeared before us. I was expecting an environment exactly like this due to the fact that an event like this was never meant to keep you nice and clean. It was muddy, quick-sand-like terrain with an unpredictable depth that came with a very unique smell. Any ill-prepared step could bring oneself planted in as deep as chest level. I’m not really that tall, but you get how deep it was. Speaking of which, there should be an unwritten rule which allows the dirtiest, smelliest, mud-encrusted human being to share a courtesy hug to whoever within the nearest vicinity that appears to be a little too clean. If you’re too clean, it just simple means that you’re not really blending in with the nature.

I took the whole ordeal as a way nature remosturizing one’s skin with the best elements it could provide. It was so “good” that one of us actually threw himself on the ground and started swimming. That’s the way to go I guess. Unfortunately, none of us was that crazy to follow suit. This whole terrain lasted quite a distance before it ended and no one was seen running as it was too slippery. Subsequently after the deep muddy area, we were required to proceed on a less muddy track going uphill. Our shoes really played an important role at this point of time – you either walk super slow, like really really slow or you’ll just end up falling and rolling down back to the swampy area. Ironically, this obstacle was called “Dry Creak” by the organizer. Nothing dry to see here lol. If my memory served me well, this would probably be the 9th obstacle and pretty close to the 10km mark. Safe to say, we have reached the halfway mark, at least distance wise.

Slippery Señorita, as the name suggests, allowed a limited set of people to slide down a very steep slope, cushioned by a layer of canvas with lots of water to cushion and aid as we let ourselves down. The interesting part about this was that it could go really really fast especially if you let yourself go and not using your hands as some sort of steering and braking mechanisms. Fortunately, the end or our slide was softened by the pool of muddy water at the bottom. The downside of this was due to the varying degree of speed of all participants, in which those who were faster could potentially hit the ones that were slower in front.

I for one was guilty of this and accidentally hit hard at the back of one of our member’s neck. It wasn’t really about the speed, but rather something that was beyond my control when you’re semi-flying at one tenth at the speed of sound, with both your hands and legs up in the air. Really felt bad about it. Luckily enough, he only suffered minor bruises. I really wish I had recorded it but alas, it wasn’t. Given a chance, and provided that the queue wasn’t that long, I’d do this again, probably a couple of times, with no one in front of me 😀

Extremely slippery, assistance was required at the top ramp to pull up anyone who managed to swiftly move and extend their arms as high as they could. Ropes or even bags were used as a form of item to be held onto – this strategy worked tremendously well for some. After giving it a few tries and failed – both with shoes on and off, all of us decided to exit the area to collect our well deserved gifts and proceed to the main entrance for a good rest and to clean up ourselves.

I hope you enjoyed reading this article and feel free to leave any comments or stories of your own in regards to any of the Viper’s Challenge that you’ve joined. See you in any of the future adventures!

Please find a couple of pictures I’ve managed to extract from Viper Challenge official aftermath video and from another fellow warrior on the obstacles which I didn’t manage to record.