Adventure Travel News

New South Wales, Australia. Deep in the Blue Mountains national park, the North Face 100 is back. With just under 600 applicants for the race set in May of this year, its promises to be another tough endurance race for competitors from all over the world

A 100km course with a 4,500m elevation gain promises runners an event to rival any of the toughest they may have undertaken. A race record last year saw a local, Andrew Lee, complete the race in just over 10 hours. Runners this year will have to complete stages in the a set time to move forward to the next stage and there for complete the event.

There is a lesser mileage event that clocks up a still impressive 50km, this mid event gives runners a good introduction to competitive distance trail running. There are still places available for this year if you’re feeling brave.

For more information go to www.thenorthface.com.au

A race which encompasses navigation, trekking, mountain biking, paddling and climbing is always going to be more than a test of skill. For the brave participants in this years Wenger Patagonian Expedition Race every ounce of strength, determination and grit will be needed to finish this epic adventure.

On the 10th February this year, the teams started out from PRIMERA ANGOSTURA, Chile. The first of 18 legs was meant to start on sea kayaks. However, was cancelled due to extreme winds.

All 14 teams have been through extensive training and a rigourous selection process before taking part in this battle within one of the harshest places on earth. Some times teams will go hundreds of KM with out seeing a single soul.

When talking about the race this year, race organisers were quick to reassure the press that this year will be full of new challenges; ‘The land is diverse, the challenge real, the adventure untamed’.

For more information on the race go to; http://www.patagonianexpeditionrace.com/

The 2010 Wenger Patagonian Expedition Race is almost upon us. As I write, there’s only 10 days and 17 hours until an international team of competitors begin their traverse of the stunning Patagonian wilderness. Over the last seven races adventurers have covered over 4500 kilometres by trekking, climbing, kayaking and mountain biking.

The terrain is harsh, participants will have to cover plains, mountains, glaciers, native forests, swampland, rivers, lakes and channels, with competitors rarely seeing another soul for 100s of kilometres at a time.

The main flavour of the expedition is a sense of adventure and exploration. Covering the untouched wilderness with nothing more than a bit of kit, experience and stamina, the expedition is an authentic challenge.

Race organisers also emphasise the environmental motivations behind the race, highlighting the fragility of the giant Patagonian wilderness. It is their firm belief that ‘Public awareness lies at the heart of any conservation movement’.

Check out beouthere.com for the latest adventure race updates, alternatively visit http://www.patagonianexpeditionrace.com

The 2010 Outdoor Trophy will take place in the Austrian province of Vorarlberg. Now in it’s ninth year, the Outdoor Trophy is the unofficial outdoor sports world championship, with a whole range of competitors from amateur to professional.

The competition is due to start in mid-August, with final applications for entry being accepted until mid-July. The incentive to take part is not only the opportunity to win the top prize of 12,000 Euros, but also to take part it what must one of the most gruelling adventure challenges in the world.

Participants in relay will be challenged by mountain running (15km at 1400 masl), paragliding (from the top of the peak ascended during the run), whitewater kayaking (down rapids and a waterfall) and mountain biking (for the last leg).

2010′s race promises to be a true adventure with top-class international athletes and amateurs competing for the top prizes in their respective categories. Bring on August.

Source: New Zealand Adventure Magazine

The Rally Aicha des Gazelles is a women-only off-road rally event which involves crossing parts of the Sahara and low lying High Atlas mountains in southern Morocco. It was a concept born in 1990 which has run every year since. Soon the 2010 race will begin.

The rally takes place over 2 weeks and 6 different legs within some of the most inhospitable terrain in the world. Each day the international teams are provided with a “Road Book” for the day’s course. The courses vary from team to team, depending on capabilities of the vehicle being used and to stop teams from following other competitors’ tracks.

Teams will compete for an average 10 to 13 hours every day, without phones, computers or GPS. The 120 teams from 30 nations will rev up on 13th March.

Source: Adventure World Magazine