Just now is taking place one of most famous in Russia offroad events - maraphon challenge "Ladoga-trophy". It's a 1200 km long, 7 days race around Ladoga lake with about 150 km of hardcore offroad special stages. Here are some fresh photos just from the battlefield:

1st day: oficial start procedure on the St. Isaky's Carhedrel square in the center of St. Petersburg
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2 day, special stage "Passing the Ho Chi Mihn's trail"

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P.S. Poor, poor spotters!

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Those are FANTASTIC pictures!!!!!!

That sounds like a brutal competition

"1200 km long, 7 days race around Ladoga lake with about 150 km of hardcore offroad special stages"

That sounds like a brutal competition



And it really is. I also can say, that the ltension of struggle is very, very high: more than 150 competitors from 15 countries. totally about 400 trucks in a convoy (including technical support vehicles, press, marshalls and judges, and simply guys who want to watch the race. I have seen White Knight in action in Moab this year, and it's a wonderful rig, but I think, that if You'll decide to take part in this competition, you'll find a lot of rivals of the same level.

I have no doubt :)

It'd be cool to travel to something like that but that is one long trek to Russia

I have no doubt :)

It'd be cool to travel to something like that but that is one long trek to Russia

Surely, not very short. But it is not longer than the trek to Malaysian "Rainforest challenge" or Australian "Outback Challenge" - and I know, that on both competitions there were teams from US with their rigs, and our team from St. Petersburg took part in "Rainforest". Watch the globe and calculate the treck from St. Petersburg to Vladivostok and then to Kuala-Lumpur :shaking:

Now that looks like one badass comp for sure!

Thanks for the pics -- very cool to see comps and rigs in other countrys
Very brutal for sure!!!!!!!

Looks awesome, I woudl really love to do that kind of competition.

Fukin A saweet man! Great pics. Looks alot like the Florida and Lousianna guys and gals terrain.

That looks like a place for the White Knight! But don't ask me to be your navigator...I'll wait for the video!

Fukin A saweet man! Great pics. Looks alot like the Florida and Lousianna guys and gals terrain.

Hm. There, in Karelia, it's a litle bit colder than in Florida or Louisiana... :eek: But this has one advantage - no crocodiles :grinpimp:

That looks like a place for the White Knight! But don't ask me to be your navigator...I'll wait for the video!

OK, Dustin - just come, You'll drive, I'll navigate for You! :grinpimp:

Damn, that looks like fun! I want to come out there and do it! I need to find a Russian sponsor with a vehicle and lots of vodka! :D

Damn, that looks like fun! I want to come out there and do it! I need to find a Russian sponsor with a vehicle and lots of vodka! :D

Yesssss!!!!!! You've caught the very essence!!!! :grinpimp: :grinpimp: :grinpimp:

Damn, that looks like fun! I want to come out there and do it! I need to find a Russian sponsor with a vehicle and lots of vodka! :D


Sminoff & RedBull......... what do you need.......

Sminoff & RedBull......... what do you need.......

Just two remarks: 1) Separately! Only separately! Otherwise you'll spoil both drinks! :mad3: 2) Smirnoff is not the best brand on the russian market :flipoff2:

Just two remarks: 1) Separately! Only separately! Otherwise you'll spoil both drinks! :mad3: 2) Smirnoff is not the best brand on the russian market :flipoff2:

So what is the vodka of choice in Russia? Stolichnaya? My favorite Vodka is Grey Goose, but it's French. :flipoff2:

When I was there, I liked "OSOBAYA". It means "special" in Russian. Honestly though, I barely drank Vodka while over there.....mainly just Baltica Beer ;)

Beleive me Lance, our Vodka selection is MUCH better over here. You should try Hangar One. Its made at the St. George Distillery on Alameda. AWESOME!! Then of course, there's the Nastoika (flavored vodka) that we brew up every now and then...

So what is the vodka of choice in Russia? Stolichnaya? My favorite Vodka is Grey Goose, but it's French. :flipoff2:

If to talk about premium brands, they are Russkij Standart (Russian Standard), produced by Liviz plant in St.Petersburg, and Beloje Zoloto (White Gold) made by Kristall plant in Moscow. They are excellent, but a little bit expensive (about $25 per liter). The most popular brands in Moscow are Gzhelka and Staraya Moskva (Old Moscow) also produced by Kristall, Flagman, produced in Kaliningrad and Stolnaya produced by OST-Alco plant in Chernogolovka in Moscow region. They cost about three times cheeper, and they are simply very good. By the way, almost every big city in Russia now produce their own brand of premium vodka, but they are represented not in supermarkets, but only in special liquor shops.

When I was there, I liked "OSOBAYA". It means "special" in Russian. Honestly though, I barely drank Vodka while over there.....mainly just Baltica Beer ;)

Beleive me Lance, our Vodka selection is MUCH better over here. You should try Hangar One. Its made at the St. George Distillery on Alameda. AWESOME!! Then of course, there's the Nastoika (flavored vodka) that we brew up every now and then...

What year and what city you are talking about? :shaking:

YUMMMM...FLAGMAN.....misspelled as FlagShip on the bottles, but hey, who cares, it's the best!

This is my last bottle, so I just wrote to Vitaly to ask if he had this brand in Moscow...I originally got 6 bottles from a friend in Stavropol...now they are empty. :(

What year and what city you are talking about? :shaking:

2004. I visited St Pete's and Moscow. When I was in Moscow, I hung out with a coupla guys on this Board: Andrei and Andrei :) They go by Russian and FX2 on the board. Checked out their "shop" outside of town.

Why the :shaking: ?

Saw this in St. Pete's. Funny lookin'

YUMMMM...FLAGMAN.....misspelled as FlagShip on the bottles, but hey, who cares, it's the best!

This is my last bottle, so I just wrote to Vitaly to ask if he had this brand in Moscow...I originally got 6 bottles from a friend in Stavropol...now they are empty. :(

Dustin, I always was sure, that You have a good understanding of this life! :D And I am sure, Vitaly will help You with refueling :) -there is no problem with this brand in moscow shops :flipoff2:

Why the :shaking: ?
Because you made it seem like the vodka is better here, than there...that is what they do and they definitly take serious pride in it. I don't drink much else than vodka, and have had it from just about every region of the world, including a martini cart on the side of the road in downtown Mostar during the Bosnian war (what a sight that was)...can't say that I've had better vodka than Standart...although flagman is damn good and actually affordable.

Though, I am always open to try any vodka if someone thinks it is better than another...

also, flavored vodka's are great for mixing, but in Russia, that is a taboo...as the Russians say, mixing is poluting...glad I don't live there as I enjoy a cold Red Bull / vodka :p

2004. I visited St Pete's and Moscow. When I was in Moscow, I hung out with a coupla guys on this Board: Andrei and Andrei :) They go by Russian and FX2 on the board. Checked out their "shop" outside of town.

Why the :shaking: ?

Dont't take in mind :) The dispute "What kind of vodka is the best" is of the same popularity in Russia as "what to do" and "who is guilty" :D The yellow rig on the photo is called "Jump!" (Just this english word spelled in russian with exclamation mark in the end. It's based on the chassis of UAZ military jeep with a plastic body on it. I know the owners of this entire vehicle, met with them on Ladoga Trophy in 2003 or 2002.

Actually Dustin, I am Russian and my heritage is from Czarist Russia. When I was there, I had Moskovskaya and Standart. Good but not the best. Microbrewing is on the rise here in the states (especially the Bay Area) and you can find some pretty awesome stuff out there nowadays. You should seriously check out Hangar One: http://www.hangarone.com/

As for the flavorig of vodkas, we're not mixing them, we are flavoring them with fresh fruit and herbs. Its an old tradition that was brought back by my relatives and that we continue to uphold for weddings, funerals and just about every other occasion. Ask Lance about, he'se had more than a shot or two :D Dustin, if I catch you on the trail or at an event, I'll treat.

As for your "Flagman" vodka, here you go: http://www.russianfoods.com/showroom/product015CF/vendor003E4/default.asp

and Kirasir, I speak , read and write fluent Russian as well which made it nice...except for the aweful customer service I got from everyone. Guess I just look American ;)

I bet you can find bigger bottle if you look around. If not, I have tons of connections and can get you some bottles...

Ask Lance about, he'se had more than a shot or two :D

You can say that! :barf: :D

Now that I have seen the Hangar One bottle, I have had it. Red Bull had about 20 cases at the Red Bull Air Race in Reno and again at a SuperMoto event I went to...I took home a bottle from the moto. Pretty sure it was the blue label that was not a flavored one. IMHO, it was good, but for my taste, it left an aftertaste that is too sharp. Again, that is my taste...many of the others I was with loved it.

I did order a couple of bottles from RussianFoods about two years ago and they ended up kicking my ass in price...$45 for 1/2 liter is what I remember. At that price, I decided to stick with Grey Goose and pull out the FlagMan only for special occasions. Now I see that the price has come down a bunch...thanks for posting the link!

Actually Dustin, I am Russian and my heritage is from Czarist Russia. When I was there, I had Moskovskaya and Standart. Good but not the best. Microbrewing is on the rise here in the states (especially the Bay Area) and you can find some pretty awesome stuff out there nowadays. You should seriously check out Hangar One: http://www.hangarone.com/

As for the flavorig of vodkas, we're not mixing them, we are flavoring them with fresh fruit and herbs. Its an old tradition that was brought back by my relatives and that we continue to uphold for weddings, funerals and just about every other occasion. Ask Lance about, he'se had more than a shot or two :D Dustin, if I catch you on the trail or at an event, I'll treat.


and Kirasir, I speak , read and write fluent Russian as well which made it nice...except for the aweful customer service I got from everyone. Guess I just look American ;)

I bet you can find bigger bottle if you look around. If not, I have tons of connections and can get you some bottles...

Ok, ok, I believe :) And as Russian, you must know, that bad vodka do not exist - it's either good, or wonderful :D That's a first postulat. The second postulat is that the situation with too much vodka is impossible. The third is that not good-looking women do not exist. You may have not enough vodka :p
As conserning customer service - I can only agree, there are some good things in Russia - but customer service is not among them. I do not look American, but I have just the same impression :D