 Outdoor News and Events La Ruta de los Conquistadores
The Inca Challenge September 1-23; Bolivia/Chile La Ruta too tame for you? This 621-mile four-member team mountain bike “race” starts at the summit of 19,711-foot Cerro Uturunco in Bolivia, spends weeks crossing desert and dry lake beds, and ends on the Pacific. Racers are provided with a Kona bike and a suspension trailer. www.inca-challenge.com. Red Bull Down Taxco September 10-11; Taxco, Mexico The most notorious downhill mountain bike race in Mexico uses the vertical streets and stairs of the town of Taxco as its course. Thirty-five international competitors will ride. www.redbull.com.mx Jungle Marathon 2005 October 5-14; Brazil This six-stage, 125-mile race through the Amazon takes the term “trail run” to a whole new level, as in good luck finding the trail in the jungle and count on running over all sorts of poisonous critters. Actually, it’s quite safe. Really. Checkpoints are maintained and monitored with help from the military, and local, indigenous runners are encouraged to compete for free. Some even do so barefoot. www.junglemarathon.com. Extreme Adventure Hidalgo February 2006; Hidalgo, Mexico The Hidalgo continues to gain credence as one of the world’s best adventure races, drawing top coed teams of three from around the globe to compete in a challenging three-stage race that includes everything from mountain biking to caving. www.eah2005.com. Fin del Mundo Marathon March 2006; Tierra del Fuego, Argentina When you’re in the midst of a marathon, it can feel as if the world is ending, so why not run a marathon at the end of the world? Racers reach the start by catamaran, run dirt and paved roads and finish in Ushuaia, the world’s southernmost city. www.findelmundomarathon05.com. BEST CHARITY EVENTS U.S.V.I. Open/Atlantic Blue Marlin Tournament Summer 2005; Caribbean Known as the “Boy Scout Tournament,” this is the largest fundraiser for the Virgin Islands Chapter of the Boy Scouts of America. The tournament consists of three segments: Harbour Island, Bahamas, May 26-28; Bermuda, July 7-9; and St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands, August 15-20.888-234-7484; www.abmt.vi. Pura Vida No Pro Surf Contest/Clinic November TBD; Costa Rica Be a contestant, judge or lifeguard, or just show up to watch surfers compete and teach inner-city orphans how to surf. Phoenix, Arizona-based Hearts of Stone, whose goal is to “imagine we have all the money in the world and then give it away,” runs the event. 602-267-1733; www.heartsofstone.org. BEST BEGINNER EVENTS Natura Kaiak Short Adventure August 6-7; Brazil Just tell your boss you had no choice but to travel to Brazil for your first adventure race. This 50K competition is a good entry into the sport. And when it’s done? Work on your samba and soak up the beaches. www.ecomotion.com.br/shortadventure/. La Vuelta de la Soledad October 8-9; Costa Rica Bike race newbies are encouraged to take part in this 83K team mountain bike race along Costa Rica’s stunningly beautiful Pacific Coast. The course covers the gamut, including single-track, sandy beaches and dirt roads. 011-506-280-8054; www.adventurer-acingcostarica.com. © Copyright 1999-2006 by Hooked on the Outdoors www.ruhooked.com |