World Champs Venue is Newfoundland

Rob / 09.02.2004

Frontier Adventure Racing have announced the venue for the next Raid the North Extreme, which is the 2004 Adventure Racing World Championship, and it’s to be Western Newfoundland.

The announcement was made by Geoff Langford, President of FAR Inc., and representatives of the host town of Corner Brook, which is on the west coast of the island portion of Newfoundland, off the east coast of Canada. The town will host volunteers and media from around the world next August and up to 50 teams who will get the chance to explore terrain described as “rugged, untamed and spectacular”.

Geoff Langford commented, “We are thrilled to announce Newfoundland as host of the 2004 Adventure Racing World Championship race. The region’s wild combination of water, forest and mountains will make for one of the most unforgettable wilderness adventure racing courses the sport has seen.”

Set at the mouth of the Bay of Islands, Corner Brook is in the Long Range Mountains, 40km inland from the open waters of the Gulf of St. Lawrence, and teams will set out on a 500km course through the surrounding seas and landscapes. The exact details of the 6 day course will remain secret until the race itself, but Langford said the wilderness course will consist of off-trail trekking, mountain biking, ropes and paddling on flat and moving water.

Among the teams already qualified are last years RTNX winners EADS of France and Montrail (USA) who won in 2002, defending World Champions, Nokia of Finland, most of the top Canadian teams, The North Face, who won Adrenalin Rush last year, and Edge Orienteering, winners of the Southern Traverse.

Qualification isn’t essential though, and places are available to suitably experienced teams on application until February 20th. The final 50 selected teams will be announced on Feb. 25th. For details see www.raidthenorth.com.