Expedition Oregon - Americas Toughest Race
ATR Race Director Jason Magness Talks About Teams
Press Release / 12.05.2021
I've a pretty unique job and perspective about this whole America's Toughest Race thing. Being both a long time competitive adventure racer (like over 50 expedition race finishes and only 2 DNFs), as well as the race director for this event I know just about every team out there that races, and I've had pretty intimate contact with a whole bunch of the rookie teams. My biggest hope is that everyone has a memorable event with some serious adventure, challenge, competition and team/personal growth.
As for predictions it is hard to ignore Vidaraid. On paper it is their race to lose. Ranked #2 in the world and well, # 1 is not racing. Or #3, or #4 etc. You get the picture. I am even more interested in watching the rest of the teams that are vying for spots in the top 5. Other well established teams and mash-ups with long standing experience and some solid finishes.
MRC (currently ranked #12), is racing with Mel Coombes and Journey Racing is racing with my wife Chelsey Magness - both of whom have been ranked as high as #7 in the world before they started families. Furthermore, MRC's has tapped navigator Olaf Hedberg, who has finished 3rd at World Championships, and Journey BendRacing is powered by Rea Kolbl who is the current 24-hour Spartan World Champion, second place in Eco-Challenge, and fierce competitor who is used to winning.
Then there is Strong Machine, Rootstock Racing, Castelli, O-Utah, and 4 Regions Ecuador Racing. This Ecuadorian crew were top 5 in the earlier ARWS race this season and have paired up with Dusty Caseria who (in my opinion) is one of the best (and fastest) young navigators in the USA racing scene (and anyone under 40 is young to me and my two metal hips!).
And then there are the wild cards. And these I will be watching closely - and you should too. Good 'Nuff led by former Olympian Jerrod Shoemaker who has been bitten hard by the AR bug and seems to be entering every race he can find this last year (and winning lots of them). He's teamed up with some serious and strong adventure athletes and they 100% have their eyes on that top podium spot.
Equally exciting is the local team, Recharge/Bend Racing, led by famed ultrarunner Max King, and sub 2:30 marathoner Renee Metiver. The two are seasoned professional adventure athletes, lived and trained and won every running race in the region for years. AR is a different beast - and if they can make it through the first two legs and get onto their feet, I expect them to make up HUGE time on nearly every team in the field that is ahead of them.
Super solid teams like NYARA, TanZ Navigation, Norcal, Missing link are all excellent navigating teams who will just be waiting for some of the speedier teams to make a mistake ... and in AR fast is only part (and not the most important) part of the equation. These teams have proved again and again that they have what it takes to finish strong in some of the world's biggest races.
Finally - there are a whole host of teams that we know little about. Teams that are doing their very first expedition race. And those teams are amazing to watch...because they are forming stories and experiences that may literally shape the rest of their lives. Seriously, ask any veteran racer about their first races and they'll have formative stories about how the horribly beautiful crucible of emotion, physicality and willpower that this sport is has changed them. And that will happen out there to these teams.
There is Eco-Challenge favorite Team Onyx with Captain Cliff Lyles back with three new racers learning this amazing sport. Family Team Syked, a mom, dad, and their 15 and 17 year old daughters. The brothers of team BlueJay racing for their father's memory and who somehow have managed to be on the podium of every race they have ever done (three 6 hour races in the last few months). Team Addidas Terrex, Hussars, Warriors Keep, and Nacho Average AR team are as green as they get - although at least the Nachos teamed up with an experienced local navigator.
We have teams of FBI agents, ex-special forces, young parents (no problem with sleep deprivation), and Crossfitters. It is gonna be a wild journey!
But the biggest question for these less experienced teams is this - when they stand at the precipice of dropping out or struggling on - what will they choose?
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