Well, the official press conference is still several hours away, but the Primal Quest website has been updated, so it looks like the word is out. Primal Quest 2009 will be held in South Dakota and is officially called Primal Quest Badlands.
Brian over at OutdoorType.org has already posted on the subject as well, and as he notes, many of the rumors on PQ's next location were proven false. Speculation has been running rampant since PQ Montana as to where we would be headed next, and I can tell you that it was not an easy decision. For the first time ever, we had states, and countries, actively seeking us, rather than the other way around, with South Dakota being the most persistent.
More details will be fourth coming, but I can tell you that the race will be 600 miles in length, the longest ever for Primal Quest, and the dates for the race will be August 15-24, 2009. Obviously the teams can expect the usual adventure racing disciplines like trail running, mountain biking, and paddling, but I'm also told that navigation will play a much bigger role than ever before, and teams that are good with a compass will be amply rewarded.
Oh, and for those of you who are scratching your heads over South Dakota being selected as the host location should check your pre-conceived notions at the door. The race will run through the Black Hills and Badlands, which offer extremely remote locations, desolate backcountry, and more varied terrain than has ever been seen in any of the previous PQ events. I'm told that the climbing course is amazing, and far more challenging than in Montana, and that there will be some breathtaking scenery along the way, including even more wildlife than we saw in Montana as well.
More updates will come later, but for now, there is your announcement. In 2009, Primal Quest is putting the Bad back in the Badlands! :)
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