Two teams have been disqualified from Primal Quest Badlands presented by SPOT for numerous rules violations. Both Team SMART and Team Native Eyewear were pulled off the course last night following the infractions and a Search and Rescue operation by Primal Quest staff.
Both teams were traveling together at the time of the incident, in which two racers, one from each team, became separated from their teammates, which violated the rule that states that all team members must stay within 100 yards of one another at all times. They also failed to have all of their mandatory gear with them at all times as well, and when the lost athletes went missing for an extended period of time, a search and rescue operation was launched to find them.
As darkness fell, and the night wore on, the PQ staff and volunteers grew more worried for the missing racers. They were wearing just shorts and light shirts, and the evening was growing colder. Luckily the missing members of SMART and Native Eyewear were found, and in good health.
Unfortunately however, the race staff had no choice but to pull them from the race due to the obvious rules violations which were put in place for the safety of the athletes involved in Primal Quest. Both teams are disappointed of course, but understand the reasons for their disqualification.
Without our valued partners, Primal Quest wouldn’t be the event that it is. Each day, over the course of the race, we would like to take the opportunity to thank those partners that have contributed to the success of PQ and have helped us to put on the best adventure race in the world.
