Team Mountain Design Wins 2015 XPD Adventure Race in Australia

For the second year in a row, Team Mountain Designs of Australia has taken first place in the XPD Adventure Race. The squad made a list minute push to the finish line, edging out a competitor that was ahead of them on the final stage to claim victory, and an automatic bid in the Adventure Racing World Championship to be held in Brazil later this year.

Heading into the last section of the 648 km (402 mile) race, Team Peak Adventure was ahead of the defending champions and faced a potentially crushing 4-hour penalty for a rules infraction earlier in the event. The final stage – aptly titled "The Maze" – required a keen sense of navigation, which allowed Peak Adventure to pull away and gain some much needed ground. But unfortunately they had a tough time locating the final checkpoint, spending hours searching for it before moving on. During that time, Mountain Designs was able to not only locate the missing CP, but also cruise to the finish line for the win.

Meanwhile, back out on the course, Peak Adventure continued to struggle. Eventually they called for a withdrawal after becoming exhausted and having one of the team members succumb to injury. This allowed Team Merrell Adventure Addicts of South Africa to slide into second place, while New Zealand's Bivouac Inov-8 – which also struggled to find the final CP – claimed third.

A number of the teams remain out on the race at this point, with most slowly making their way toward the finish line. It will be several days before some of them wrap up the expedition-length competition, which traveled through some of the most remote sections of Queensland over the past few days.

Congratulations to Mountain Design on defending their title, and good luck at the World Championship in November.

Australia's XPD Adventure Race Underway in Queensland

The 2015 adventure racing season continues to unfold in various parts of the globe, as teams compete in the Adventure Racing World Series for a chance to go head-to-head in Brazil in November, where a new world champion will be crowned.

The latest major race in the ARWS is now set to get underway in Australia, where the 2015 edition of the XPD will begin tomorrow. 36 coed teams of four from across the globe have descended on the tropics of Queensland, where they will be running, mountain biking, and paddling their way across a course that is 648 km (402 miles) in length, and is expected to take between 5 and 10 days to complete.

The full course was revealed to the teams yesterday, and includes some great highlights from the area. The route will take the teams on a stunning coasteering course along the Magnetic Island, as well as trekking up Mount Spec and through the Paluma Range. They'll also mountain bike through rainforest around Paluma Dam, go paddling down the Burdekin River, and pass through remote towns along the way. As usual with the XPD, it should be a tough but fair course, that delivers plenty of excitement and beautiful views.

All of these elements should lead to an outstanding race, with teams that manage their navigate efficiently, work well together, and manage their sleep schedule properly will rise to the top. In a race of this length, it isn't always about being the fastest or most physically fit. It is also important to be smart, think strategically, and take advantage of team strengths along the way too. The winning team will no doubt have a combination of those qualities, plus a bit of luck on their side.

You can follow the race as it unfolds on the XPD website, Facebook page, and live tracker.

Adventure Racer Looking to Set Record for Youngest to Complete Expedition Race

The Cameco Cowboy Tough expedition adventure race is set to get underway today in Wyoming. The 360+ mile long event will take place over four days, with teams of two and four going head to head against one another on foot, mountain bike, and kayak. The race, which is a qualifier for the Adventure Racing World Championships in Brazil this November, features some of the top teams in the world, including the YogaSlackers, NYRA, and Team Tecnu, which recently won Expedition Alaska.

One of the racers taking part in Cowboy Tough is looking to do more than just race with those top teams however. 14-year old Hunter Leninger – who is a part of Team Florida Xtreme – wants to set a new record for being the youngest person to complete an expedition length adventure race, something that is challenging for racers more than twice his age.

Hunter is no stranger to AR. He has taken part in more than 20 shorter events over the past seven years, and even completed a three-day race at the age of 12. During that time he has been gaining valuable experience, and we're told that his goal has now shifted away from simply completing the race to actually winning it.

You'll be able to follow Hunter's efforts on his Facebook page, and the race itself on the Cowboy Tough website. Good luck to Hunter and all of the other racers too.

Expedition Alaska Update: Old School Adventure Racing on the Last Frontier

Greetings from the Kenai Peninsula of Alaska, where one of the best adventure races in recent memory is taking place as I write this. Expedition Alaska is unfolding like an old school race similar to the likes of Eco-Challenge or Primal Quest, which were events that squarely put the "adventure" into adventure racing. In a sport that has, by some estimations, become a bit predictable and safe, this is an event that is testing racers at every turn, and pushing them to their limits.

ExpedAK got underway this past Sunday when 20 coed teams of four took to the starting line at the alarmingly picturesque Eklutha Lake. When the starting gun went off, the teams set off on a 12 mile (19.3 km) trail run that did nothing to reveal the challenges that lay ahead. But at the end of that trail however the fun truly began.

The first obstacle in their way was a raging river crossing that punished more than a few competitors with its speed, ferocity, and temperature. Most of the teams made it across without a major incident, but more than a few of racers – as well as the support crew – came away with bumps and bruises.

The rushing waters proved daunting to cross, but they were nothing compared to what followed next. At the end of the trail sat the massive Eklutna Glacier, a giant slab of snow and ice that punished the teams – some of which spent upwards of 30 hours trekking across it.


The biggest casualty from this opening stage was Team Columbia Vidarade, who are arguably the best team in the entire world. While crossing the glacier at night – which isn't particularly dark this time of year – one of the members of the team slipped and fell into a crevasse, separating his shoulder in the process. He was eventually retrieved from the crevasse with the help of Team YogaSlackers, and was airlifted off the ice the following morning. But that put an end to the Vidarade's attempt to win this epic race, and blew the field wide open.

Following the loss of the Brazilian squad, Team Tecnu has picked up the mantle as race favorite, and has been tearing up the course. They have been moving quickly and efficiently, and are currently one of only four teams who are racing the entire length of the course, and with with a full compliment of athletes. The aforementioned YogaSlackers are in second place, but are a considerable distance back.

After the glacier crossing, the teams had more backcountry trekking before moving on to the first paddling stages. That included a considerable amount of pack rafting, and today the first teams started to arrive at the whitewater rafting section down Six Mile Creek, widely considered to be one of the best whitewater rivers in the entire world. Unfortunately, most of the racers won't get to experience it however, as the time cut-off for paddling the river will end before many of them arrive.

The days ahead should be interesting, with the first mountain biking stage yet to come. The fastest teams will probably reach that section tomorrow, but they'll also enjoy plenty more paddling too. As I write this, we are only about half-way through the race, and there is plenty of big challenges to come, some of which will take place in settings that are amongst the best ever seen by adventure racers.

As if racing 350+ miles (560+ km) wasn't enough, the teams will face one other challenge when they arrive in Seward along the Old Iditarod Trail this weekend. On Sunday morning they'll run their own heat for the Mount Marathon, a brutal mountain race that is only three miles in length, but provides plenty of carnage each year. If Expedition Alaska is close on the final day, Mount Marathon could decide the winner.

No matter who eventually wins, the race is destined to go down in history as one of the most challenging. The long, tough stages are testing the athletes constantly, and the epic landscapes of Alaska seem grand in scale as these racers travel through them. Throw in the threat of bear or moose encounters, and you start to see why this is an event that could earn legendary status.

For my part, I'm happy to be here and playing a small role in making this all happen. It is a cooperative effort put on by the entire staff, and while days are long and hectic it is also incredibly fun and rewarding.

A special tip of the hat should go out to race director Dave Adlard who had the vision and determination to create an event that is on par with some of the major adventure races of yesteryear. He set out to create a great race that took place in Alaska, and so far has succeeded swimmingly.

Stay tuned to ExpeditionAK.com for further race updates and to track the teams as they proceed. It should be an interesting couple of days leading up to the finish. Also, for a glimpse of what is happening, check out the video below.

Off to Alaska for ExpeditionAK!

Tomorrow I'll depart for Alaska, where I'll be serving as part of the team that is putting on the 2015 Expedition Alaska adventure race. As I write this, we're still more than a week away from the start of the event, but it is time to begin prepping for the arrival of the teams, wrapping up scouting of the course, and getting ready for gear and skills checks. There is a lot to do before the start of this epic event, which promises to be an amazing experience for everyone involved.

For those who aren't familiar with Expedition Alaska, it is a 7 day race that will take place in the wilds of Kenai Peninsula. We'll have 25 teams of elite adventure racers competing on a course that will stretch for more than 350 miles (560 km). They'll be competing against one another in a wide variety of stages that involve trail running, mountain biking, kayaking, climbing, and more. The action is non-stop, which means once the gun sounds at the start of the event, the clock will be constantly running, and it will be up to the teams to decide when they stop for a rest, when they press on, and just how they navigate from one checkpoint to the next.

Expedition Alaska is also a part of the Adventure Racing World Series, and a qualifying event for the AR World Championships that will be held in Brazil this November. As you can imagine, we are pretty excited to be a part of that organization, and we're hoping to put on a great race that it worthy of the ARWS.

While I'm in Alaska, I will be posting regular updates on the progress of the event, and sharing some of the things that are happening there. But, as is typical with an AR race, time may be in short supply, so blog articles may not come as regularly as I would typically like. On top of that, I won't return home until July 6, which is just five days before I get married. That means there could be further disruptions to the blog content for a few weeks. Please be patient with me until I can get back to a more typical schedule.

Thanks and stay tuned for lots of great things to come!

2015 Expedition Africa Adventure Race Begins This Weekend!

One of the toughest adventure races in the world will get underway this weekend when 23 coed teams of four take to the starting line on Sunday to begin the 2015 edition of Expedition Africa. The race is the premiere AR event on the African continent, and a qualifier for the Adventure Racing World Championships to be held in Brazil this November.

As usual, Expedition Africa will be held in the remote and wild regions of Swaziland, a sovereign state found inside South Africa. This year's course will cover 450 km (280 miles) as the competitors run, ride, and paddle their way across the harsh, and unforgiving landscape. It is estimated that it will take the winning team approximately 72 hours of non-stop racing to reach the finish line, with the final teams taking as much as six days to complete the course.

There are 11 countries represented in this year's race, including teams from Canada, Denmark, Estonia, France, Israel, New Caledonia, South Africa, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom and the United States. They'll be competing in a wide variety of disciplines that range from trekking and mountain biking, to climbing and white water rafting. As usual, navigation will play a key role as well. This year, the race has unfettered access to all regions within Swaziland, which means the racers can choose any route that they can find in order to reach Checkpoints and Transition Areas.

This year's field is a deep one, with talented teams from all over the world. Early favorites include Team Peak Performance from Sweden and home-town favorites Team Cyanosis and Merrell Adventure Addicts. Last year's winner – and eventual world champs – Team Seagate, aren't competing in Expedition Africa this year.

Once the race begins on Sunday you'll be ale to follow all the action at the Expedition Africa website, with news, race reports, and updates being posted regularly to ar.co.za as well.

Good luck to all the teams!

Team Seagate Wins GODZone Adventure Race in New Zealand

The home team favorites and defending adventure racing world champions Team Seagate proved that they are still a formidable force in the sport this week by taking first place in the GODZone Adventure Race in New Zealand. The team managed to hold off a field of 52 teams to claim the top of the podium once again, completing the 550+ km (340+ mile) event in just 4 days, 8 hours, and 28 minutes.

The GODZone race is the premiere AR event in New Zealand, a country that is synonymous with the sport. It is also part of the Adventure Racing World Series, which means that is serves as a qualifying race for the AR World Championships to be held in Brazil later this year. As is typical with all ARWS events, GODZone pits coed teams of four against one another in a non-stop endurance event that mixes trail running, mountain biking, paddling, and various other disciplines including climbing and abseiling.

While the race is still ongoing at this time, many of the teams have reached the finish line and the podium spots are now secure. Coming in second was Team Columbia Vidaraid with a time of 5 days, 3 hours, and 57 minutes, while Team Tiki Tour claimed third place by finishing in 5 days, 7 hours, and 52 minutes.

For Seagate this was just another opportunity for the team to flex its muscles on its home territory. The team has now won all for editions of the GODZone race and doesn't appear to be slowing down in any way. The squad, which consists of AR legend Nathan Fa'avae, Sophie Hart, Chris Forne, and Stu Lynch are now poised to defend their world championship in Brazil this November. By winning the GodZone they automatically receive an entry into that race months before it is set to take place.

You can find out more about this race, and check out the full standings, at GODZoneAdventure.com.