Charlotte Bankes and Huw Nightingale both got a kick out of the patience, persistence and perspiration needed to finish sixth in the bonkers mixed team boardercross.
The event - making its debut at the Olympic Games - sees men compete first and the subsequent time advantage transferred to his female team-mate, who tries to catch up or increase the lead.
The pair had never competed in the discipline together before. Bankes had never tried it and Nightingale only once at a World Cup in December.
But they looked like old hands when Bankes overturned a 1.51-second deficit to win their quarter-final by 0.13s, stamping their intentions on the draw.
“We knew it was going to be tough,” said Bankes. “Huw did a good run at the start and then I just needed to focus on my start, get in the draft and just try catch up as much time as possible.
“I was just trying to generate as much speed as I could, to push as hard as I could to get as close as possible.”
Nightingale said: “It's really nerve-wracking to see her catch up with the others. I know Charlotte doesn't fall, so I can always trust on her.
“It's just nervy to be honest, just standing there watching the big screen and hopefully she comes down first!”
The semi-final saw a strong Italian team and eventual bronze medallist Canada jump out in front.
Bankes still made up more time than the quarter-final, cutting a 3.34s gap to 1.38s, but crossed the line third and advanced to the small final.
Nightingale said: “When you're so far behind, in your mind, you think you should just give up.
“Knowing Charlotte is still up there and knowing I can do the best possible time for her, it gives me motivation to know she's also giving her best to try to get whatever we can get.
Bankes added: “I saw Huw make a mistake in the start but he didn't give up and pushed until the end.
“That's great - I think that's something we all need to learn from; just to never give up and the team event brings that out.”
They sealed second place behind Germany in the small final for an overall ranking of sixth, which Bankes saw as a positive note on which to end her third Games.
“The team have worked incredibly hard to get me back on it,” said the world champion, who exited in the quarter-final of the individual competition.
“Having Huw here was a good motivation to push as hard as I could to have a great race today and not focus on what happened beforehand.”
Nightingale, 20, has made his Olympic debut in his first season at senior level.
“I came here with nothing to lose and if I came last, I came last,” he said. “Anything better than that is a bonus in my book. To do a small final here, with Charlotte, is a great achievement for me.”