Casting Call: Adventure Racers Needed For New Television Show!

Television production company Pilgrim Studios is looking for participants for an upcoming reality show that sounds a bit like a made-for-television adventure race. The new series in entitled Unbreakable and will send contestants out on a three day long "outdoor obstacle course" that will feature "barriers to climb at night, trenches to swim during the day and brain-teasing puzzles striking when you least expect them."

To launch the new show, Pilgrim has teamed with the organizers of the Spartan Death Race, which is a notoriously grueling two-day event that tests endurance athletes both physically and mentally. They're looking for contestants from all walks of life and it doesn't matter if you have any experience in adventure racing or not.

To apply, simply send your name, location, phone number, and a recent photo of yourself to UnbreakableCasting@gmail.com. Be sure to also include a brief explanation why you should be included in the competition as well.

For more information on the show and the eligibility requirements, click here.

Video: Gold Rush Mother Lode Adventure Race 2011

This past September, the Gold Rush Mother Lode Adventure Race took place in California. Over the course of three days, some of the best teams in North America challenged one another in an epic clash on foot, mountain bike, and kayak. What exactly did that race look like? Check out the excellent video below for an idea. It'll also serve as a nice sneak peak for the race, which will return in August of 2012.

Local Team Wins 2011 Mark Webber Tasmania Challenge

I mentioned the Mark Webber Tasmania Challenge last week when it got underway, but I completely forgot to update the final standings yesterday. The five-day event, which was a stage-based adventure race through the wilds of Tasmania, covered more than 350km (217 miles) and featured plenty of trekking, mountain biking, and paddling with some climbing, navigation, and other challenges sprinkled in for good measure.

The fifth, and final stage, took place on Sunday, with the teams crossing the finish line in Hobart. Local boys Mark Padgett and Mark Hinder, collectively known as Team Iron House, claimed first place in the Van Diemen Cup - Elite category, with a commanding lead over the competition. Behind them in second was Team Tasmania, consisting of Guy Andrews and Darren Clarke, while Team Pure Tasmania, made up of Emma Weitnauer and Jarad Kohlar, took third. The Enthusiast category, which is made up of mere mortal athletes like you and me, was won by Team Xtech (Tim Robinson/Dean Hemborrow). The complete results for the event can be found by clicking here.

By all accounts, this was a fantastic event, which was revitalized thanks to adventure racing fan and F1 driver Mark Webber himself. The race has signed a three year contract, which means it is likely to be around for the next few years and anchor down the end of the adventure racing calendar in 2012 and 2013 as well.

Congrats to the winners and everyone who took part in the race.

The Mark Webber Tasmania Challenge Is Underway

One of the last big adventure races on the calendar for 2011 got underway today in Australia, where the Mark Webber Tasmania Challenge is taking place. The 350km (217 mile) stage-based event will run for the next five days, culminating with a final leg to crown the champion on Sunday.

As the name implies, the race will take place in the wilds of Tasmania, one of the more remote and untamed places on the planet. Each of the five stages will feature mountain biking, trekking, and paddling sections that will challenge the competitors in new and unique ways each and every day. And at the end of the stage, the teams will return to a pre-set base camp, where they'll have the opportunity to rest and prepare for another grueling challenge the next day.

The first stage of the event, which took place today, with racers starting with an early morning kayak leg before transitioning to a trek that took them to the summit of Mt. Amos. That was followed with a 50 meter rappel back down the sheer cliff face, before continuing on a bush trail that would eventually lead to the first mountain bike section. For video highlights from the opening stage, check out the video below.

At the end of the day, Team Iron House, consisting of Mark Padgett and Mark Hinder, were out in front, with Team Pure Tasmania and Team Tasmania in second and third respectively.

It looks like this should be a fun and competitive event over the next few days, and a great way to wind down what has been a very active adventure racing season. Follow the Tasmanian Challenge on the official website by clicking here.

Adventure Racing News: GearJunkie, Team WEDALI Join Forces

The Team GearJunkie adventure racing stable grew in size yesterday when it was announced that GearJunkie.com was joining forces with veteran adventure racing squad Team WEDALI for the 2012 season. The newly renamed group will go by the moniker of Team GearJunkie/WEDALI and will join Team GearJunkie/YogaSlackers under the GJ adventure racing umbrella.

Minneapolis based WEDALI, which stands for We Eat Dirt And Like It, did everything but eat dirt in 2011. The team was amongst the top AR units in North America, claiming victory at the 2011 Checkpoint Tracker Adventure Racing Championship and finishing high in a number of other races as well. Additionally, the team took first place at the 2010 United States Adventure Racing National Championship as well.

In addition to being a great site for gear news and reviews, GearJunkie.com has also been a great advocate for the sport of adventure racing. Now with two teams in the fold, site founder Stephen Regenold, who is also based out of Minneapolis, has really shown his commitment and love for the sport.

Both teams will have a full schedule of races in 2012, starting with the YogaSlackers returning to Patagonia for the Wenger Patagonian Expedition Race. Because these two teams are amongst the best in North America, it is also likely they'll be competing head-to-head in a few races as well. I have no doubt there will be a good spirited rivalry between the GearJunkie teams.

Adventure Racing Site No Boundaries Introduces AR Power Rankings

Adventure racing and endurance sports website No Boundaries launched a new feature a few weeks back, introducing a list of AR Power Rankings for the first time. The rankings will be a monthly feature moving forward, and for now they are focused on the best teams in America, although I'm told they are pondering adding Canada soon and international teams possibly in the future.

So what teams made the No Boundaries list? Topping the rankings, at least for now, is Team Tecnu Extreme/Staphaseptic, who definitely had a great year in 2011. They're followed closely by Dart-nuun and Wedali in second and third place respectively, with Team Bones and GearJunkie/YogaSlackers rounding out the top five. Team SOG earned a sixth place ranking, with Odyssey Adventure Racing/ ImONPoint.org taking seventh. CheckPointZero/Tech4o, Alpine Shop, and Bushwhacker finish off this list of strong teams.

The panel of AR experts who selected this inaugural power ranking line-up have posted their thoughts for each team as well. If you're a fan of the sport, particularly here in North America, you'll want to head over and read their justifications for picking the teams, and ranking them where they did. There are also a group of very good teams who earned "honorable mention" status as well.

This is an interesting list with the top teams well represented. What do you think? Did they get the rankings right?

Thule Adventure Team Wins AR World Championship

I was so busy last week trying to catch-up on work that it completely slipped my mind that the Adventure Racing World Championships got underway in Tasmania. The race actually started last Wednesday and will continue through Thursday of this week, and while a lot of teams remain out on the course, the three podium finishers have crossed the finish line. The winners of this year's ARWC is the very talented Thule Adventure Team, with Team Silva and Seagate taking second and third respectively. As of this writing, they are the only three teams to complete the full course.

Apparently, Team Seagate dominated much of the race and were in front most of the time, but they suffered a four hour penalty for leaving the SPOT tracker behind at one of the checkpoints. As a result, they had to sit out that penalty, which ultimately led to the other two teams passing them by. Indications are that they could have won the race going away if it weren't for the penalty, which seems like a very stiff one.

The race began with 79 of the best AR teams from around the globe, although six of those were forced to retire and another 11 are currently proceeding as unranked. The teams have been racing non-stop since the middle of last week across a very tough course that is more than 700km (435 miles) in length and offering them plenty of trekking, mountain biking, and paddling. More teams will continue to straggle across the finish line in the next few days before the event officially wraps up.

The 2011 edition of the ARWC seems like it was another great event and a great way to cap what has been an excellent year for the sport of adventure racing. While there are still a few good races on the schedule, lets hope 2012 continues the trend of great events.

WEDALI Wins Checkpoint Tracker Championship

This past weekend one of the top adventure races in North America took place at the Land Between The Lakes in Kentucky, where the Checkpoint Tracker Championship went down. The 24-hour event featured a tough course that was more than 100 miles in length and offered a great mix of trekking, mountain biking and paddling.

More than 60 of the best adventure racing teams in the U.S. were on hand to compete, and in the end it was Team WEDALI (We Eat Dust And Like It) that took home the crown. From the sounds of things, they didn't just win the race however, they completely obliterated the competition and tore up a course that left other teams dazed and confused.

The Checkpoint Tracker blog promises more details on the race soon, including photos and video, but for now, I simply want to offer a big congratulations to WEDALI on a job well done.

Gear Box: AS-1 Backpack

When you want to build a house, you hire an architect. When you want to design an airplane, you get an aeronautical engineer. It only makes sense that if  you want the best backpack possible for adventure racing, you go to the best adventure racer ever.

With three Eco-Challenge wins, five Primal Quest titles, and four world championships to his name, Mike Kloser has an adventure racing resume that few can match. He has years of experience in races of various lengths and in various environments, and he has taken all of that knowledge and channeled it into an amazing backpack that will appeal not only to multi-sport athletes, but hikers and travelers as well.

Mike's AS-1 Pack comes to us from his fledgling company Out There! and it brings with it a host of features that are sure to make it a hit with the AR crowd. As you would expect from a pack designed by an adventure racer, the AS-1 is not only tough and durable, but it is also lightweight and comfortable as well. In fact, after spending hours on the trail with this pack, I can honestly say it is one of the most comfortable packs of its size that I have ever used. The back panel is well padded and offers good ventilation, which aids in keeping you cool while on the move, and well placed hip pouches keep snacks or other small gear items close at hand at all times. Those same pouches can be easily removed if necessary, which only begins to hint at the level of versatility found in this pack.

Made from water resistant materials, the AS-1 provides 30 liters of internal storage with another 10 liters of external capacity. A unique double cinch system helps to keep moisture out of the inside of the pack, keeping gear dry in poor weather conditions. Two hydration bladder pockets, one internal one external, offer versatility for carrying your water supply and four(!) bottle holsters make it easy to expand that capacity further.

The versatility extends to adjusting the pack's fit as well. The shoulder and chest straps are a snap to adjust to match your personal comfort, and the waist belt can be easily slid and modified to fit your needs as well. High quality buckles and clasps hold everything in place, even while carrying a full load, and in my testing of the AS-1, once I locked in the fit, it stayed exactly where I wanted it at all times.

The list of features on the AS-1 goes on and on. plenty of storage pockets in various sizes, ice axe/trekking pole loops, side compression straps that can be used to carry skis or a snowboard, integrated emergency whistle, and more. In short, just about everything that the outdoor enthusiast could possibly want out of a pack, save the kitchen sink.

There were a lot of things that I really liked about the AS-1, but I think the variety of storage options and easy of access to your gear is probably what impressed me the most. For instance, their are two zippered pockets in the pack's hood alone, with a variety of others hidden away throughout the design. There are so many cleverly integrated pockets in fact, that you may use the pack three or four times before you discover them all. It is all of this storage and organization that will make this a popular pack not just with adventure racers, but active travelers as well. Heck, I found at least three places to store my laptop alone.

Built from the ground up for the sport of adventure racing, I believe that this is, without a doubt, the best available pack for that sport. Mike knows full well what is needed – and what isn't – out of a high performance pack on a multi-day race, and the results shine through in the AS-1. Small touches, like quick and easy access to all your gear, at all times, is the kind of detail that you don't get out of a pack designed by someone who has never competed in the sport.

But one word that I've used often in this review is "versatility," and it is the characteristic that will make this bag popular with people who have no intention of ever entering an adventure race. The AS-1 may have been built for AR, but that doesn't mean it isn't a great option for hikers, travelers, backcountry skiers, or just about anyone else who plays in the outdoors. Its versatility will make this pack the first choice on many future adventures for me, with only it's size limiting it for longer term forays into the backcountry.

As you can probably tell, I was highly impressed with the AS-1 and think that you will be too. From its high quality construction to its exceptional comfort, this pack was a delight to use, and whether you're planning your first adventure race or preparing for a trek in the Andes, the AS-1 is a perfect companion on what ever adventures  you have in your future. (MSRP: $189)

Watch The Last Wild Race Online

If you're a fan of adventure racing, or have always wondered what the sport is all about, then I have great news for you. The full version of the film The Last Wild Race is now available for streaming online, giving you the opportunity to watch this year's Patagonian Expedition Race in all of its glory.

My friend Brian Leitten, who made the documentary, sent me the following information about how you can not only watch this great film, but win some swag in the process:


The Last Wild Race, the documentary on the 2011 Wenger Patagonian Expedition Race is now available for rental at Prescreen.com. https://prescreen.com/movie/The-Last-Wild-Race

The film, which highlights the struggles and successes of extreme endurance athletes as they traverse some of the harshest terrain in the world, has won four awards:

• Best Environmental Film - Yosemite Film Festival
• Best Adventure Sport Film - Killarney Adventure Film Festival
• Best Film - Vanka Regule Adventure Film Festival
• Best Environmental Film - Colorado Film Festival
• 
  

Over the summer it aired around the world on Outside Television, Fox Sports Network and NHK.

The film will be available to rent for 60 days.
If you act quickly, the first day (Thursday, October 13) rental fee is $4, after that the film will cost $8.

For your movie rental, you not only get the film, you are entered into a special giveaway.
Anyone who rents the film from October 13-17 can qualify by submitting their rental receipt to info@patagonianexpeditionrace.com. Please include your name, phone number and email address.
The prizes include 5 gift packs of race memorabilia, 25 official race patches.

I had the opportunity to watch this film a couple of months back and really enjoyed it. The scenery is spectacular and the race is filled with plenty of drama. Everything you would expect from one of the toughest adventure races on the planet. 

Get Your Gear Fix!

If you've been looking for a gear fix in recent days, I have a couple of articles that are sure to help out. First up, we have this story, over at Outside Online, that comes our way via the Gear Junkie himself, which lists the best equipment for adventure racing. Some of the items that make the list include the USA AS-1 Backpack from Out There which has been called the best AR pack ever (My review is coming soon!), and a new watch from Suunto that GJ calls "mandatory gear." He also gives a nod to his pick for the best shoes, helmet, jacket, and more. Definitely a must read for fans of AR or those considering getting into the sport.

The other gear article that comes our way today is the Nat Geo Adventure Blog's picks for Gear of the Year for Fall-Winter 2011.  Gear items earning that distinction include jackets from the North Face, Mammut, and Eddie Bauer, as well as a nice sleeping bag from Sierra Designs and boots from Danner. That's really just scratching the surface however, as there is plenty of other gear for playing in the snow as well.

These lists arrive in time to not only tempt us to go shopping for new gear for ourselves, but also to buy for the outdoor adventure enthusiasts on our holiday shopping lists. With all of the great gear, there is sure to be something to please even the pickiest person.

Tecnu Extreme-Staphaseptic Wins Mother Lode Adventure Race

Over the weekend the Gold Rush Mother Lode Adventure Race came to a close with Team Tecnu Extreme - Staphaseptic taking the win. The team, which consists of racers Liza Pye, Brian Schmitz, Kyle Peter, and Marco Rossini, finished more than four hours ahead of second place Team Gearjunkie.com/YogaSlackers and Dart-Nuun, who took third place.

The four-day long event was conducted on a 307 mile (494 km) course through the Sierra Mountains in California that provided plenty of challenges to go along with the breathtaking scenery. The coed teams of four hiked, mountain biked, and paddled, while their navigational skills were put to the test. They even faced a 600-foot rappel along the way as well.

The Mother Lode was one of just two North American qualifiers for the Adventure Racing World Championship, which will be held in Tasmania this November. With their win, Tecnu Extreme has earned an automatic entry into that race, which will feature a 700km (435 mile) course and more than a week of racing.

Congrats to Tecnu Extreme on pulling of the win and good luck in the AR World Championship.

The Mother Lode 4-Day Adventure Race Underway

Yesterday, the Mother Lode, a 4-day long adventure race, put on by Gold Rush AR, got underway in the Sierra Mountains of California. 16 coed teams set out on the course from Bridgeport and are now racing across more than 275 miles (442.5km) of tough mountainous terrain towards the finish line.

The race is a qualifier for the AR World Championship, which will take place in Tasmania in November, and has 200 points on the line for the Checkpoint Tracker race series as well. The Checkpoint Tracker Championship will take place in Kentucky in October, and a number of teams are still scrambling to qualify for that event as well.

You can track the standings and locations of teams online by clicking here and following updates on both Facebook and Twitter. At the moment, it appears that Dart-Nuun is in the lead, followed by Team Lupus Extreme and Tecnu Extreme/Staphaseptic in second and third respectively. Racing is expected to continue throughout the weekend, with winners being crowned on Sunday.

New Gear For Adventure Racing

The Gear Junkie is always delivering great previews, reviews, and news on the latest equipment from top gear manufacturers. Testing all of that gear can be a real challenge however, which is why it's great to take advantage of any opportunities to put new equipment to the test. One such opportunity came a few weeks back, when Team GearJunkie/YogaSlackers took part in the Expedition Idaho adventure race. Anyone who has ever done an adventure race will tell you that the sport can be incredibly tough on your gear, which is why you want to make sure you have high quality stuff. With that in mind, a 7-day, 500-mile long race, makes for the Ultimate Gear Test, pushing new equipment to the limits.

Some of the new items that the GearJunkie/YogaSlackers were able to test while in Idaho for the race include a new emergency space blanket from Adventure Medical Kits, a bright and powerful headlamp from Fenix, and a new mountain bike from Ellsworth. Over the course of the race, the team had the opportunity to really put this gear through its paces, and they share their thoughts on these items and more. Most of the equipment is available now, but some are prototypes that won't be available for awhile yet. It is all practical gear as well, meaning that any one of the items could find its way into your gear closet in the future.

Whether you're an adventure racer or not, there are some good items to keep on your gear radar in this article for your own future excursions.

Thunder Rolls Adventure Race Report

This past weekend, the Thunder Rolls 2011 Adventure Race took place in my old stomping grounds, near Oregon, Illinois. The race is a 24-hour, 100 mile event that pulls in good teams from all over the Midwest, and is part of the Checkpoint Tracker Race Series. One of the teams competing in the event was Rock Racing and they've posted a fun race report, including photos and video, sharing details of their experience.

The real fun started Friday evening, when the teams had their pre-race meeting where they received their maps, passports, and instructions. What astounded me from this report was that they were told that there were 55 checkpoints to be located out on the course. That's an incredibly high number of CP's for a 24-hour race. I'm not sure we had that many in either of the two Primal Quest races that I was a part of. Anyone who has competed in an AR event will also tell you that means an awful lot of plotting points on the maps before you even start the race.

The race actually got underway at midnight, with teams rushing off into the dark, moonless night. The race report gives more details on what it was like out on the course, and it is a good read for beginning racers or those thinking about starting up in the sport. The video below also gives you an indication of what it is like to race at the Thunder Rolls, which looks like it is a good regional race and a perfect example of the often grassroots nature of adventure racing.

Thanks for sharing Chuck!

Early Registration For The Checkpoint Tracker Championship Ends Tonight

Adventure racers planning on competing in the Checkpoint Tracker Championship, to be held in western Kentucky this October, may want to get their registrations in today. Not only is the field for the event filling up very quickly, today is the final day to get the early registration discount.

The race is scheduled to take place on October 21 in the Land Between The Lakes and will feature a 100+ mile course designed to challenge the teams with plenty of mountain biking, trekking, paddling, and more. Currently, registration for the event is $250 per person, but after midnight tonight that price goes up to $275. That entry fee includes registration for the Championship, pre and post-race dinners, a limited edition Checkpoint Tracker Championship fleece, a Checkpoint Tracker hat, maps from MyTopo.com, and more.

If your team is looking for a great event to compete in this fall, than you should be strongly considering this race. Not only is the setting going to be a remarkable place to compete, but this will be one of the premiere races in North America for the remainder of the year. Most of the top teams in the country will be on hand, so it is a great place to test your skills, and above all else, it should simply be a fun weekend.

Hurry and register now before the price goes up at the end of the day.

New Adventure Race Coming To New Zealand In 2012

A new expedition length adventure race is scheduled to take place next year in Queenstown, New Zealand, one of the top adventure destinations on the planet. The race, which is called GODZone Adventure, will be  put on by 100% PURE Racing, and is apparently part of the AR World Series.

The race will take place from April 7-14, 2012 and will consists of coed teams of four competing on a course that is 450km (280 miles) in length. This will be an unsupported race, meaning teams won't need a support crew to lug their gear around for them, and will involve the usual AR disciplines of trekking, mountain biking, and kayaking.

GODZone Adventure marks the return of adventure racing to New Zealand, a country where the sport can trace its origins. In fact, this will be the first race of its kind on Kiwi soil since the Raid Gauloisis kicked off the expedition race craze back in 1989. That is FAR too long for New Zealand to go without a major AR event in my opinion.

Organizers of the event believe the fastest teams will take between 3-4 days to finish the course, but other teams will be allowed as much as 5.5 days to navigate their way through the different stages. The race will include navigation, ropes courses, a few other surprises as well.

It looks like races are starting to nail down their dates for 2012 already. This has been a busy year for adventure racing, and it is far from over, but teams and race organizers are already looking ahead to next year. 2012 has the potential to be even better for fans of the sport.

Expedition Idaho Update: Thule Wins!!

Over the weekend, the Expedition Idaho adventure race came to close after six long days of racing through a stunningly beautiful course in Northern Idaho. The 500+ mile competition featured challenging trekking, paddling, and mountain biking sections that pushed teams to the limit all week long, while still offering them a fantastic racing experience to match any other on the planet.

When the race got underway last Sunday, there were 13 teams in the field, but as the week progressed, it became increasingly evident that this was a two team race. Teams Thule and Seagate jumped out to early leads, and never looked back as they pursued one another through the backcountry all week long. In the end, it was the international team of Thule that crossed the finish line first, with the Kiwi's of Seagate claiming second place. Team Bones, an all American squad, took third, rounding out the podium.

While the course was most certainly a challenging one, the race organizers were keen on making it fair as well. As a result, all the teams that entered the race also completed it, although some finished unranked due to dropping a teammate along the way. A few were short coursed as well, but it is rare in adventure racing to have all the teams cross the finish line, as inevitably it seems that some get caught in a time cut-off or physically can't continue. It's a testament to the race organizers that they put together a course that is, by all accounts beautiful and very tough, but was still fun and fair for the racers.

Speaking of the finish line, I teased a few times this week that the race had a unique finish in store for the racers and that turned out to be very accurate. The final leg of the race, as you'll see in the video below, was a steep trek up to Silver Mountain Resort, which just so happened to be holding its Silver Mountain Blues & Brews music festival at the same time that the teams were finishing. As a result, there were more than 2000 fans on hand to welcome them home, giving the finish line a feel that is very different from most expedition length races like this one. It seems the racers apprec

iated the reception, as I'm told many of them stayed around to enjoy the atmosphere, even after they had been racing all week long.

By all accounts, Expedition Idaho was a very successful race, especially considering this was its inaugural run. I'm told that logistics went very smoothly and teams arrived at Checkpoints and Transition Areas, to find their gear boxes waiting for them and often hot food available as well. There are already plans in place for the race to return in 2012, with some great ideas on how to enhance the event even further and provide new, unique experiences for racers and fans alike.

Congratulations to all the teams of course, but also the staff that put on the race. You should all be very proud of what you've accomplished. Now go get some rest. I'm sure you sill have a lot of sleep to catch up on!

Update: Here is the official rankings for all the teams in the race.

1) Thule
2) Seagate
3) Bones
4) Light & Motion
4A) Team Gear Junkie/Yogaslackers
5) Team SOG
6) Team Gramicci
7) Team Florida Xtreme
8) NYARA
9) Gung Ho
10) Topo Adventure Sports
11) Train Chicago Studios
12) Team Idaho

Expedition Idaho Update: Thule and Seagate Out In Front

The Expedition Idaho Adventure Race continues into its fourth day today, with teams continuing to navigate their way through a tough course in the wilds of northern Idaho. The racers have been going nearly non-stop since Sunday morning, and there is a real battle shaping up at the top of the leader board for who will eventually win this race.

At the moment, Teams Thule and Seagate are pushing each other to the limit at the front of the pack, with the rest of the teams chasing further back. The lead teams have endured long treks and mountain bike legs, intermixed with some paddling and "special" challenges, that included having to build their own raft and starting a fire without matches or a lighter. Team GearJunkie/YogaSlackers, who are racing unranked due to the loss of a teammate, and Team Bones are in third and fourth place respectively.

The race hasn't gone without its mishaps. While the elite teams at the front are chugging along, some of the others have had their struggles. For instance, Team Idaho made a navigational error that put them 50 miles off course, while one racer crashed on a mountain bike section and had to be airlifted off the course.

When it's all said and done, the teams will have raced for more than 500km over a six day period, and organizers of the event are promising them quite a welcome at the finish line. I don't want to give too much away yet, but I can say the finish should be unlike any other in adventure racing.

Follow the action on the Expedition Idaho website, blog, and Twitter feed. There is still plenty of racing to go, and I think there will be an epic battle between Thule and Seagate before its all done.

Expedition Idaho Update: Teams Off And Running!

As I mentioned last week, the Expedition Idaho adventure race got underway yesterday, with 14 teams setting out on a six-day, 500+ km race through the spectacular northern Idaho backcountry. After unveiling the course to the athletes on Saturday, the flag officially dropped on the race at 10 AM yesterday morning, and it has been non-stop racing ever since. You can read all about the pre-race preparations and the start, on the official Expedition Idaho blog.

As of this writing, the official leaderboard has been deactivated as not all of the SPOT Satellite Messengers that the teams use for tracking are working properly. However, as of last night, the top five teams were Thule, which has about an hour lead on second place Seagate at the time, followed by Team Bones in third place. Light & Motion was in fourth, with Team GearJunkie/YogaSlackers in fifth. The Yogaslackers are also racing unranked, as they have had to drop a teammate due to illness. Hopefully all SPOT devices will be reset today and the live leaderboard will return to the website to keep us informed of what is happening out on the course.

As noted in a blog update, the weather is expected to be good all week long for the race and it seems the stage is set to make this a great event. The race organizers warned the teams that there would be good old fashioned challenging navigation to go along with the trekking, paddling, and biking that they are all use to, and it seems that has been the case so far.

Be sure to follow the race live on the website and through Twitter updates. Also, checkout the Expedition Idaho YouTube channel for some great videos from the event, the the one below, as well. It seems the race is off to a great start, and the staff is doing a great job of keeping us informed about what is happening as well.