In an effort to always be on the lookout for new challenges for the amazing athletes who compete in Primal Quest, we scour the globe searching for the new discplines that can be incorporated into future races to keep the teams on their toes. Take the one on display in this video for instance, which would challenge teams with a bit of altitude at the beginning, then speed on the descent, and then team coordination when competitors hit the water. And keep in mind, you have to stay within 100 yards of your teammates.

The video is actually of a precision skydiving team that pull off some amazing moves, and you can checkout more of them in this second video shot in the mountains of Italy.

While you’re enjoying the two videos, keep in mind that they were forwarded to me by Course Designer Chris Caul, who is probably already figuring out a way to include this activity in Primal Quest 2010.

Media registration is now available for Primal Quest Badlands presented by SPOT. We would like to take the invite any and all media outlets to join us in South Dakota in August to witness “the World’s Most Challenging Human Endurance Competion” first hand.

On August 14, co-ed teams of four will embark on a non-stop, ten day endurance race covering more than 600 miles, with the Badlands and Black Hills of South Dakota serving as a dramatic backdrop. Competitors will travel on foot, bike, and kayak as they navigate their way through the backcountry while racing against the clock, other teams, and even themselves.

Any media representatives interested in attending and covering Primal Quest Badlands should register by clicking here. If you have any questions or need further assistance, please feel free to contact PQ Media Director Kraig Becker at kraig.becker@ecoprimalquest.com. Thank you and we’ll see you in South Dakota!

Primal Quest media partner Bare Essentials continues to provide excellent pre-race coverage for Primal Quest Badlands presented by SPOT. The July/August issue is now available, and features some great content for adventure racing fans.

The fun begins on page 19 of the online magazine with a profile of what adventure travelers can expect in South Dakota, and the Badlands in particular. The story serves as a brief preview of what teams can expect in August.

From there, we turn to page 22 where you’ll find the interview with Badlands course designer Rick Emerson, which we linked to online a few weeks back. You can read that story by clicking here.

On page 24 of the ezine you’ll find an interview with Robyn Benincasa, captain of Team Merrell/Zanfel Adventure. In the story, Robyn offers insights for women interested in adventure racing as well as sharing her thoughts on often overlooked essential items for women heading into the backcountry.

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Like most teams preparing for Primal Quest Badlands presented by SPOT, Team Big City Mountaineers is looking forward to the challenges that await them in South Dakota. As rookies to Primal Quest, they’ve set their goals on completing the race while competing at a high level, while still demonstrating their sportmanship along the way. Off the course however, they’ve set their goals much higher.

As their name implies, Team BCM has partnered with the Big City Mountaineers, an outstanding non-profit organization that is focused on assisting urban youth by introducing them to a variety of outdoor adventures and activities. In the process, these kids see a boost to their self-esteem, while receiving a greater understanding of their impact on the environment, and the lives of others around them. The team hopes to raise awarness and funds for BCM through their adventure racing efforts.

Big City Mountaineers has a unique approach to their fund raising efforts, having launched a program called Summit For Someone, in conjunction with Backpacker Magazine, in which particpants select from a number of guided mountain climbs throughout North America and by gaining sponsors to their climbs, they in turn raise funds for BCM.

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Take a quick look at the team roster for Primal Quest Badlands presented by SPOT and you’ll notice that we have quite an international field this year. Racers are coming from as far away as Norway, Spain, Mexico, New Zealand, and more. But Team Archipela is bringing its own distinct international flavor, as a team made up of adventure athletes from both Canada and Australia.

The team this year is comprised of adventure racing veterans from around the globe, each with a tremendous amount of Primal Quest experience. Having raced in Montana, the San Juan Islands, Utah and a number of other other international races, the team, which consists of Lucy Eykamp from Australia, Jim Doucette from Ontario, Scott Covey from Vancouver, and Steve Hay from Quebec,  is ready to be competitive and have fun in South Dakota.

“I am really happy with the level of maturity, and experience that the team has this year,” Steve, the team captain, says. “We gel so well together and in training it is like we are the best of friends.” He goes on to add, ” This really is going to be a great race and we are all looking forward to the experience in South Dakota…except for the snakes. Fortunately, Lucy is a snake charmer so we should be good.”

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PIERRE, S.D. – With just over a month to go, event organizers and course directors for Primal Quest: Badlands presented by SPOT are gearing up for a spectacular race, all due to the support of the local communities.

“The great folks of South Dakota continue to show us a wealth of hometown support as our organization brings in new racers, volunteers and staff,” said Don Mann, Director of Primal Quest. “Being able to share the land for passage and checkpoints is important to us. South Dakotans are providing their time and energy as volunteers and we are excited to have them cheering and motivating the athletes as they travel through the course.”

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