2004 Adventure Racing World Championship, hosted by Raid the North Extreme
Now the Plotting Begins
Susan McKenzie / 31.07.2004
“Winners of the 2003 Southern Traverse…�
“Eco Challenge champions…�
“Defending Adventure Racing World Champions…�
As Raid the North Extreme Race Director Geoff Langford reads out the accomplishments of the teams attending the 2004 AR World Championships/Raid the North Extreme, it’s clear that this is not a field of rookies. It’s not only a “who’s who� of adventure racing, it’s a “who’s won what,� also.
Forty-three teams representing some fifteen countries have gathered in the town on Corner Brook, Newfoundland, the island province on Canada’s East Coast. Starting Sunday at eight a.m. local time, the teams will begin a six-day, 500 plus kilometre journey across Newfoundland’s West Coast.
“As we’ve driven the course designed by Lawrence Foster, there have been so many spots where I’ve just wanted to jump out and run,� says Langford. “So get out and get lost so I can run out and rescue you.�
The race may not begin until Sunday morning, but teams won’t have to wait until today to get their maps. Breaking with the long-held adventure racing tradition of keeping the course secret until twelve hours before the race begins, the maps for these World Champs were given out early Friday evening, more than 36 hours before the race is slated to start.
The map is impressive, the course equally so, as it stretches from the most southern tip of the West Coast most of the way up to the top.
“Adventure racing is about preparation and planning and strategy,� says Foster as he reveals the maps. “The team with the best game plan will win this race.�
“There are fewer checkpoints on this course, with larger distances between them,� he continues. “You’ll have limitless choices when it comes to planning your routes between them.�
Before he continued with the course description, Foster took the time to announce one major rule. “The last time we were here (in 2001), we allowed locals to help you. This year, locals are not allowed to help you. If a local offers you a lift on his quad (an all terrain vehicle), you must get off. Remember I said this, because it will come up.�
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