Mandatory Equipment Episodes 1 and 2

Awhile back I posted the trailer to a new webseries called Mandatory Equipment that was set to give us an inside look at what it takes to train for an expedition length adventure race. That teaser gave us a sample of what was to come as Team Mandatory Equipment  prepares to race in the 600km Raid The North Extreme this summer. Since that time, the team has released two episodes, and a third is on the way.

I've posted both of these videos below, and they not only serve as a great introduction to the sport, they also give you a taste of the training and preparation that are involved with major event such as the RTNE. In the first video, the team asks themselves "What Have I Gotten Myself Into?", which is a common response when teams take on a race of this length and in the second video they really get down to the training and the daunting task of getting ready for the Raid. Fans of the sport will no doubt enjoy this "behind the scenes" look at the training regime. It'll either motivate you to want to do your own race, or confirm the reasons why you never have! Enjoy!

20 Teams Registered For Raid The North Extreme

The new year doesn't arrive for another month, but already the buzz for the 2011 adventure racing season has begun. One of the top races scheduled for next year is the Raid The North Extreme, which will take place in the West Kootenays of British Columbia on July 23-31. Apparently, the race is already garnering plenty of attention from teams as well, as there are already more than twenty of them signed up to take part in the event.

You can check out the list of teams that are currently scheduled to take part in the RTNE by clicking here. Included amongst them are such veteran teams as CheckPointTracker.com, the Dancing Pandas, and Team Bones, who were particularly impressive at Primal Quest a few years back. There are plenty of other good teams in the mix already too, with some competitors local to British Columbia and others from as far away as Australia, France and Switzerland.

With this many teams already signed up for a race that is still eight months away, it appears that 2011 should be an excellent year for the sport. Perhaps the economy is finally turning around and we're seeing the return of the big, expedition races that are costly but oh-so-much fun. Lets hope so!

Raid The North Extreme Adventure Race Returns!

Fans of adventure racing will definitely be happy to hear the news that one of the top races in North America is returning for 2010, and is coming back strong.

According to Adventure World Magazine, the Raid the North Extreme adventure race is gearing up take place in British Columbia this September. As usual, the race will pit coed teams of four against one another as they trek, paddle, and mountain bike their way through the Kootenay Rockies, an area well known for its amazing mountain biking routes.

The six day race will run from September 4th through the 12th, with a course that is more than 500km (310 miles) in length. The stunningly beautiful route will put the racers in touch with the local wildlife as well, with plenty of elk, moose, bighorn sheep, and bear in the region.

More details on registration, mandatory gear, and so on will be provided after April 14th when the new website launches at RaidTheNorthExtreme.com.