Cameco Cowboy Tough

Expedition Adventure Racers to Race Their Way Across Wyoming in Cameco Cowboy Tough

Race Release / 13.07.2016

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Wyoming is a wonderful state to explore over a few days, but have you ever envisioned traversing it without a car, a hot meal, or a good night’s sleep? That’s what 114 adventure racers making up 36 teams of two and four people plan to do July 14-17 during the fourth edition of the Cameco Cowboy Tough (CCT) 3.5-day Expedition Race organized by race company Rev3 Adventure. And this year the competition is fiercer than ever.

For the past three years, team Tecnu Extreme Adventure Racing has taken first place at the CCT—and usually without anyone nipping at their heels after the second day. Don’t expect that to be the case this year. Tecnu has an all-new roster this year, and it is extremely strong, keeping the team a top contender for this year’s podium. But also vying for that top spot is Adventure Medical Kits, which consists of former team Tecnu members—and those CCT winners mentioned earlier—now racing under different sponsorship.

Those aren’t the only teams to watch, though. Don’t discount Swedish Armed Forces, The North Face from Japan, Team Canada AR, YogaSlackers, Silent Chasers, or Outside Pearl Izumi. They all want it. Many of the competitive teams in this year’s CCT have “borrowed” a teammate or two in hopes of creating a super squad of AR experience and talent capable of taking home the $5,000 prize purse. But the money seems secondary to the title this go round.

It also is about more than the belt buckle, the medal each participant receives when—and if—they cross the finish line. Completing this or any expedition race is about the power of physical and mental endurance, determination, teamwork, and personal grit.

You can watch participants prove they are Cowboy Tough at www.cowboytoughwy.com. Photos, updates, links to the live map, race information, and results will be published as received. All teams will have GPS trackers updating their position every 20 minutes.

On Thursday morning, some of the most elite adventure racers in the world will leave by bike from Casper and head to the eastern portion of the state, covering about 400 miles in three and a half days by trekking, mountain biking, river and lake paddling, and ascending and rappelling their way to the finish line back at Crossroads Park, all the while fueled mainly by energy bars, trail mix, and electrolytes and taking in rugged and remarkable scenery that can only be found in Wyoming. You may see racers trekking through Medicine Bow National Forest or paddling the swift waters of the Platte. Or they may see you from their view atop Laramie Peak and Muddy Mountain.

In conjunction with the State of Wyoming and with the generous support of Cameco Resources, this is Rev3 Adventure’s fourth year bringing this multi-day expedition race to Wyoming. An adventure race is a mixture of biking, paddling, and trekking based on a navigation foundation. The winning team is determined by the most points collected on the course in the fastest time.

The Cameco Cowboy Tough is part of the AR World Series and a qualifier for the AR World Championships (www.arworldseries.com). The top teams at each ARWS qualifier earn a position at the annual pinnacle of the sport, the AR World Championship (ARWC), held in November 2016 in Australia.

In August 2017, Wyoming and Rev3 Adventure’s Cameco Cowboy Tough will serve as the hosts, bringing an ARWC to the United States for the first time ever. The ARWC version of the Cameco Cowboy Tough will stretch to six days and will bring the best adventure racers in the world to Wyoming for an in-depth, self-guided tour of its rugged and unique beauty.

Members from NOLS and the Wilderness Medical Institute will be on hand for any medical issues participants may have. The most common issues are dehydration, blisters, and chafing. Cameco Cowboy Tough sponsors include Cameco Resources, Ramkota Hotel, Visit Casper, City of Casper, Taco John’s, Wyoming Whiskey, Solid Rock Outdoor Ministries, Mountain Khakis, and Stampede Bikes. This expedition race is part of the USARA and the North American Adventure Racing Series.