The BEAST goes to Big South Fork

Odyssey Release / 26.01.2004

Odyssey Adventure Racing will partner with New Balance as title sponsor and Blue Ridge Mountain Sports as presenting sponsor to stage one of America’s classic premiere adventure races from July 6th – 11th.

The New Balance BEAST of the East will offer an all new course and venue in the Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area of north central Tennessee and the Daniel Boone National Forest of south eastern Kentucky. The 250 to 275-mile course will take soloists and teams of 2 or 4 along rugged rocky bluffs, deep gorges and wooded plateaus, as they hike and bike along hilly single track and backcountry mountain roads.

Athletes’ fixed ropes skills will be tested at some of the area's fascinating sandstone formations including cliffs, rock shelters, arches and pillars. During the 4-day race, competitors will also paddle Class II - III rapids and navigate their way between mandatory checkpoints which will provide some challenging orienteering tests.

“We’re looking forward to offering a whole new area where adventure racing has not been before. The Big South Fork and surrounding areas are really unique with their interesting geological features and remote wilderness areas,” said race director Don Mann. “The BEAST was one of the country’s first adventure races, starting back in 1998, and continues to be one of the key races in many teams calendars,” he added.

The New Balance BEAST of the East is a member of the Adventure Racing World Series, an international circuit of world-class adventure races, including the Appalachian Extreme (USA), Raid the North Extreme (Canada), Expedicao Mata Atlantica (Brazil), Explore Sweden (Sweden), and Southern Traverse (New Zealand), European Championship Adventure Race (Austria), Adventure Quest Africa (S. Africa). It’s also a United States Adventure Racing Association (USARA) National Championship qualifying race, so four-person teams racing in the BEAST will be competing for an opportunity to race in both of these well-respected championships.

On-line registration is open at Odyssey’s website www.OARevents.com and entries received before February 15 will be discounted by 10%. Administration and gear checks will take place on July 6 at race headquarters, and the race will be on from July 7th –10th. At the end athletes will be treated to an awards banquet on July 11th.

[You can review our coverage of last year’s race here.]