Dart DQ’d and Nike ACG/Balance Bar Bumped Up To 1st

15.04.2005

On April 2nd, 310 adventure racers battled it out for over $1500 in cash and prizes marking the start of the 2005 AdventureXstream Adventure Race Series. Team DART crossed the finish line first and were announced as the winners (see our earlier story), but on further investigation it was determined they took an authorized route and the team have been disqualified and removed from the official rankings.

Team DART (Matthew Hart, Tyler Patterson, Ryan VanGorder & Jennifer VanGorder, Seattle, WA) crossed the finish line in first place in the 4-person Co-ed category just 9 minutes faster than Team Nike ACG/Balance Bar (Ian Adamson, Michael Tobin, Nikki Kimball & Chantal Thompson). DART found a shortcut that put them in front with less than 10 miles to the finish line.

However, after a check into the route they took race organizers were left with no choice but to disqualify them for violating race rules and regulations which explicitly stated, “Participants must use roads, trail or waterways ... or be disqualified.”

DART cooperated fully with the investigation and were completely forthcoming to event management about the route they chose. Gravity Play Sports does not feel the team chose this route with any malicious intent to violate the rules set out in the racer guidebook; their action was simply an oversight in the heat of competition.
However, the fact remains that the route taken did not adhere to the rules and regulations.

“It’s unfortunate that this situation occurred, but we have to remain vigilant about teams abiding by the race rules and regulations. The desert environment is a very fragile ecosystem which is why it is imperative that outdoor recreation users stay on trails and roads,” said Will Newcomer, the Race Director.