Timothy DeBoom and Susanne Buckenlei grabbed the 2011 Norseman Extreme Triathlon titles but this unique event is about so much more. A photo gallery by Eric Wynn.

All images are © Eric Wynn

It is stunningly beautiful here.

A couple await the launch of the ferry.

A quick huddle and it is almost time to launch.

Earlier in the morning when folks started to load the ferry it was still very dark.

Time to get into the water.

The alternate swim route was picked because of warmer waters, but it still looks quite cold.

2009 champion Tom Remman stayed very close to Tim De Boom during the bike.

Tim DeBoom seemed very calm all day.

In hot pursuit of the 2-time Ironman World Champion Tim DeBoom.

No one said it was going to be easy and Tim DeBoom will certainly agree with that.

When you hit this checkpoint it gets very serious.

During the last segment of the run you need to have a support person be with you. Hopefully a reasonably fit one.

It is great when you can still smile at this point.

And we keep going, going and going.

Some athletes had opted to cap out here. Who can blame them.