Primal Quest Badlands - 2009 dates announced

photo: Corey Rich/PQ / 26.09.2008

Over the course of ten days, beginning August 15th, 2009, co-ed teams of four will run, bike, paddle and navigate their way across 600 miles of some of the most diverse terrain anywhere on the planet. Along the way, they’ll experience towering spires, rolling hills, wide open vistas, dense forests, and steep-walled canyons, as they scramble up rock faces, go spelunking through local cave systems, and explore miles of remote backcountry.

South Dakota has a rich and diverse history, which will be reflected by the course as well. Competitors will race through lands where dinosaurs once tread, and whose remains can still be found there. They’ll run in the footsteps of ancient Native American tribes, passing herds of wild buffalo, old west forts, and abandoned gold mines. They’ll pass near the infamous Deadwood and through the shadow of the Crazy Horse Monument, whose namesake once wandered these hills, sparring with the forces of the 7th Cavalry, led by General George Custer.

But these natural and historical wonders are not the only challenges awaiting the teams in South Dakota, where their mountain bike skills will be tested by miles of single track and their navigational abilities will be put to the test in a much bigger way than any of the previous Primal Quests. Add in the traditionally long treks that PQ is known for, and beautiful paddling sections through remote settings, and racers will gain first-hand knowledge as to why they’re called the Badlands.

On-line applications will be open to coed teams of four. This will be an unsupported (no support crew) event. Registration will close after the first 75 applications and payments are processed. The entry fee us US$11,500 per team - no word on prizes yet.

On-line registration opens November 15th, at noon EST: www.ecoprimalquest.com