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Adventure Racing,
Pennsylvania Style
By Frank Eyth
By now everyone has
heard—and most likely seen a large portion of the Eco-Challenge, the
world’s most famous adventure race. But did you know that right near by,
in the little town of Ohiopyle in Southwestern Pennsylvania, adventure
racing has been going on for years?
That’s right, every summer
Pennsylvania Adventure Racing stages a challenging series of adventure
races that not only push competitors to their limits but also show just
how beautiful this part of the world can be.
This year there will be two races in
the Ohiopyle region. Race number one is titled “The Yough Extreme” and
will consist of approximately 50 miles of trail running, mountain biking,
and whitewater paddling—with some ropes work thrown in for good measure.
The second race is called “The
Indian Creek Challenge” and will use the same disciplines for a total of
70 miles of racing fun.
A third and the newest race in the
series will be a so-called “Urban Adventure Race” and will be held in the
City of Pittsburgh on a course that will showcase the cities highlights
and will challenge racers with the cities famous rivers, bridges,
challenging navigation, and—need I say—hills. This is a new and “up and
coming” format that has seen great success in the cities of Chicago and
New York.
For those who aren’t completely
clear, Adventure racing is a multi-sport event—like triathlon—that
requires competitors to be competent at running, biking, rappelling,
climbing, and paddling many different types of boats, from kayaks to
canoes to rafts to native boats. However, unlike triathlon these events
are usually done “off-road” on mountain trails and paths and in streams,
rivers, and lakes on unmarked courses. So competitors not only get to test
their athletic and mental prowess, but have the advantage of doing it in
the beauty of nature.
Pennsylvania Adventure Racing is a
group made up of Douglas Crytzer, Toby Angove, and Jeanne Truschel that
have dedicated themselves to spreading the good word of adventure racing.
They are talented racers themselves and have competed successfully in
everything from the popular Hi-Tec sprint races to multi-day races both
nationally and internationally. Over the years they have dedicated their
time and talent to building a race series that anyone—from the seasoned
competitor to the total newcomer—can enjoy competing in.
By taking full advantage of all that
the Ohiopyle region has to offer they have consistently designed courses
to test the mettle of the hardened racer while allowing those in the back
of the pack to slow down and enjoy their “tour” of the area.
Actually, when you think about it,
having the opportunity to “shoot” the rapids of the Youghiogheny is worth
the entry fee—and that’s not even a third of the race!
If that’s still not enough to entice
you to try out this new sport, Pennsylvania Adventure Racing offers their
“Adventure Academy”. Here anyone from greenhorn to seasoned athlete can
take advantage of P.A.R.’s combined experience and learn in a safe relaxed
environment at a pace that is comfortable for the student. The Academy’s
classes are limited to ten students so this allows for individualized
instruction. The classes cover all aspects needed to successfully complete
an adventure race and include:
Mountaineering:
rappelling, ascending, top rope climbing, and tyrolean traverse.
Navigation:
both day and night land navigation and orienteering.
Paddling:
white water kayaking, white water and open water canoeing, river rescue
and wilderness boat repair.
The Academy coincides with the P.A.R.
races so that students can compete in an adventure race on graduation day
as a final “test”.
The first race, “The Yough Extreme”
was held on Sunday, June 2 at Ohiopyle State Park and was a fifty- mile
race. It coincided with the Academy. The second race “The Indian Creek
Challenge” will be a seventy miler and will take place in Ohiopyle on July
28th. The Academy for this race starts on Thursday July 25th
and runs until Saturday July 27th.
So what are you waiting for? Strap
on your trail shoes, tune your bike and head outdoors and see what
adventure racing is all about!
For more information on Pennsylvania
Adventure Racing’s series and Academies see their website at
www.paadventureracing.com.
Frank Eyth has been
competing in adventure races for six years and is the newest addition to
the staff at Pennsylvania Adventure Racing.
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