Sault College Adventure Challenge
Caledon and Aurora teams dominate provincial High School Adventure Challenge race
Nadine Robinson / 10.05.2007
The first annual Sault College Adventure Challenge for high school students today released the official race results online, along with some preliminary photos. (More photos are also available on www.saultcollege.ca/adventure).The Mayfield Adventure Racing Team of Mayfield Secondary School in Caledon, Ontario won the challenge and first place in the men’s division. Second place went to another men’s team from Mayfield SS: the Mayfield Tri Racers. The Sault Ste. Marie area, home to Sault College, sent a total of 17 teams to the race, and a male team from Korah Collegiate, Sault Ste. Marie, Team Invincible, placed 3rd in the men’s division.
Third overall went to Almaguin Highlands Secondary, a co-ed team, who won their category, from South River. The Opeongo Wildcats, from Douglas, Ontario place 2nd in Co-ed, and Mayfield SS Ramrods placed 3rd in the Co-ed division.
The top female team was the Central Algoma Secondary School Huskies from Desbarats, ON. Aurora High School won the distinction of winning 2nd and 3rd place in the women’s team category, and entered the most teams from any high school with 10 teams.
Multiple awards were also presented for spirit and sportsmanship.
The Sault College Adventure Challenge was designed as a fun, safe, introduction into adventure racing, by internationally acclaimed course designer and two-time Eco Challenge winner Lawrence Foster, after he tested the concept with White Pines Collegiate in the Lake Superior Basin Challenge in Sault Ste. Marie, in the fall. Sault College helped him roll-out the concept provincially, making it the first ever high school adventure race in Ontario, while Foster was teaching geology, outdoor recreation, lab research techniques, and ecotourism at the College.
Foster commented on the race: “The last three teams on the course stayed together and worked as one big team, and stayed positive throughout. I’m so proud of all of the students involved in the challenge! It was inspirational watching them overcome challenges on the course and also hearing stories of triumphing over obstacles in getting to the race. Winning the race wasn’t the goal so much as was working in a team, making new friends, enjoying the outdoors, and learning what you can do when you put your mind to it.�
Director of Marketing and Communications, Nadine Robinson, beamed about the race as an overwhelming success. “We couldn’t be happier with the event. You’ll definitely see it as an annual event, so watch our website for details www.saultcollege.ca/adventure! One race participant from West Toronto Collegiate told me that there’s a Vietnamese saying that states that the experience you learn in a day from the outside world is worth more than reading a thousand books. No one at that event will dispute that – and I think the adults learned even more -- we were given a positive reminder about courage and persistence by the participants.�
TV’s Survivorman, Les Stroud, started the race, acted as the keynote speaker at the awards banquet, congratulating teams and signing the winners’ plaques. He also sponsored the most Northern team in the race from Timmins – Team Porcupine. Preceding the race, participants attended free workshops given by some of Canada’s best adventure racers and elite athletes to prepare for the experience. Over 40 student, staff and FAR volunteers worked hard to make the event happen.
Held on May 5-6, 2007 in Huntsville, Ontario at Deerhurst Resort, over 175 high school students from across Ontario, and two teams from Quebec, mountain biked, paddled, and trekked non-stop over 30km of wilderness terrain with only a map and compass challenging their limits, teamwork and knowledge of the outdoors. Cities represented include: Aurora, Almonte, Beaverton, Brampton, Blind River, Caledon, Cavan, Cobden, Cobourg, Desbarats, Elliot Lake, Goulais River, Huntsville, Innisfil, Iroquois Falls, Little Current, Lively, Marathon, Millbrook, Mississauga, Newmarket, Ottawa, Pembroke, Raymore, Rosseau, Sault Ste Marie, St. Catharines, South Porcupine, South River, Stayner, Terra Cotta, Timmins, Toronto, Vittoria, and Wawa.See All Event Posts
