As you may recall, two years ago in the top secret R&D lab of Team Checkpoint Zero we developed a sailing apparatus for the last edition of the MIX. Unfortunately, that race didn’t have us on any open water with any wind, so the sails sat unused in our gear boxes for the entire race, and the next two years.

This year, with the MIX back on the schedule, the prospect of sailing once again became a possibility. The first leg of the race this year was a long lake section which would provide ample opportunity to test out our unproven equipment.

I am happy to report that the sails worked very well, once we figured them out. When deployed in a stiff down wind breeze, one sail easily provided more power to one boat than Bo and I could provide via paddle. We easily reached the max hull speed of the plastic yellow tubs we were using. In that first paddle leg Michele got about 45 minutes of rest, all she had to do was keep the sail up.

The unfortunate part of the story was that we broke one of the sails early on in the paddle leg and had to make due with only one. It’s back to the drawing board to reinforce the defective parts and next time we’ll carry a spare.

Watch for the tri-color Checkpoint Zero sails at the next race that allows them.

This year’s Abu Dhabi Adventure Challenge will be held from the 4th to the 9th of December. The innovative nature of this demanding sporting and cultural odyssey, with its unique emphasis on fairness, accessibility and camaraderie, represents adventure racing’s most exciting opportunity to race against the world’s most international field.

In keeping with the last two years, when early December was chosen as the ideal period for adventure racing’s Blue Ribbon finale, the 2009 Abu Dhabi Adventure Challenge will be held from the 4th to the 9th of December. What’s more, to ensure that the race offers a sporting challenge rather than an economic one, especially given the current economic climate, the organizers have made a €1,000 reduction to the 2009 entrance fee, bringing it to €2,500 per team and opening the world’s most international race to the entire adventure racing community.

In total contrast to many other headline-grabbing races held around the globe, the ADAC is designed to not only appeal to the world’s top teams but also to those with the ambition of becoming one themselves but who, as yet, might lack sufficient international or big race experience. Last year, the highly successful ADTA awards took a selection of fortunate ‘local’ teams from Britain, Sweden, Slovenia the USA and South Africa, all with no international race experience, handed them entry fees, plane tickets and the opportunity to rub shoulder with and learn from the world’s best.

The ADTA Continental Rookie Prizes (2,500 USD) handed out cash prizes to the four top teams, one from each of the following four continental zones, Europe, North – South America, Asia – Oceania and The Middle East – Africa, racing for the first time in The Abu Dhabi Adventure Challenge. Both initiatives, aimed at promoting the sport throughout the burgeoning international rookie community, will be maintained for this year’s race.

After 6 days over a course worthy of the world’s most international field and matched only by the quality of the encounters with Abu Dhabi’s vibrant culture, a lucky few will take with them the “glittering prizes” but thanks to a judiciously planned course and flexible support infrastructure, every team is given the chance to finish the race one way or another. Only in this way are all teams able to complete what is, after all, the objective of any sporting event: to participate and be enriched by the competition, rivalry and ensuing camaraderie. To learn from the experience, come back again and maybe win.

For more information visit http://www.abudhabi-adventure.com.

This multi-day expedition race is part of the Checkpoint Tracker Adventure Racing Series presented by Inov-8.

The race began at 7:00 this morning with 18 teams setting out on the first paddling leg.

LIVE coverage, made possible by Series sponsors Inov-8, MPGear.com, Numa Sport Optics, MyTopo.com, nuun Active Hydration, Headsweats and the soon-to-be-launched Adventure magazine features SPOT-based GPS tracking, leaderboard, race blog, “shout outs”, competitor map and more.

It’s 62′ high, weighs 16,000 pounds, took 8,000 man hours to design and install. What is it …. You’ll have to click the link.

The pre-race meeting is over, now we’re pouring over the maps. Peter and I did most of the plotting last night, so now we’re working on routes.

Michele and Bo made it in to Traverse City alright, though poor Michele had to take THREE flights to get here.

The course looks to be true to the race name, with a real mix of trekking, paddling and biking, which the race directors says includes the best single track in Michigan.

Less than 16 hours before the race starts!

- Paul

We’ve plotted the 40+ points we’ve been given so far, but we don’t have the directions yet. We’ll get those at the pre-race meeting tomorrow at 1 p.m.

Until then, we’ll just be taking some good guesses at how the race will flow. But … it does look like we’ll be paddling right past my brother-in-law’s cabin on beautiful Lake Bellaire, through Clam Lake and to the small town of Alden on Torch Lake. I’ve paddled that portion before and it’s very picturesque.

More tomorrow … Peter and I are going to get some sleep and we’ll pick up Michele and Bo at the airport tomorrow.

- Paul

Paul and I are well on our way to Traverse City, location of the 2009 MIX adventure race. Apparently our 2007 experiences with mosquitoes, rocky streams, and sandy roads weren’t enough to keep us away. What do they say? Time heals all wounds? If it does, we’re about to spend a lot of time and effort reopening some of those painful memories.

Along the way we’ve been suffering a distinct lack of quality radio. We especially feel for the citizens of Lexington KY. There are about 4 stations, and the one we caught blasted us with the following lineup:

Cher
Some american idol alumni
Wham
George Michael (a bit redundant eh?)
Elton John
Ricky Martin

The obvious question is why did we keep listening. Well, we are dumb enough to be headed back to Michigan again aren’t we?

Be sure to stop by Checkpoint Tracker starting on Wednesday and give us a shout out.

The 3-day Untamed New England adventure race, North America’s AR World Series Qualifier for 2009, is setting records for expedition race participation in the Northeast United States. With 40 teams and 150+ participants, Untamed New England will dwarf previous expedition races in the region with participants coming from across the US, Canada, and even Europe.

“The host resort, New Hampshire’s Balsams Grand Resort, is bracing for an all-out invasion of merino wool, lycra, and mountain bikes,” joked Race Director, Grant Killian. “This is an elegant resort that has partnered with us to develop their edgy and adventurous side…and we’re bringing them the largest field of teams an expedition race has ever had in New England.”

The 200 mile race course is truly worthy of being a World Championship Qualifier. Teams will bike staggering mountain passes and narrow, rooty trails; teams will navigate alpine summits, old wood forests, and bogs; teams will paddle the crystal clear rivers and lakes fed by mountain streams; teams will dangle from sheer rock faces on the ropes course. The course travels through territory normally reserved just for New England’s iconic wildlife: black bear, moose, and eagles. For a few days in July, adventure racers will share this terrain with the wild inhabitants.

Podium finishers at Untamed New England earn a spot in the AR World Championships in Portugal later in 2009. The winning team earns a free entry into the Championships and $4000 to offset their travel expenses to Portugal. The 2nd place team also earns a free entry into the AR World Championships (but no cash for expenses). Other generous sponsor support makes for over $15,000 of prizes on the line.

nuun, which turns every water source into optimal, balanced hydration, is releasing a refreshing new flavor…”banananuun”.

This sixth flavor will be available in stores immediately alongside the ever popular lemon lime, citrus fruit, orange ginger, tri berry and kona cola.

“As the leader in the hydration tab market we wanted to come out with a flavor that’s not been done before,” says Tim Moxey, CEO. “We’re proud that nuun is used by the best athletes on the planet to manage hydration on the go. They understand that drinking plain water or sports drinks and staying properly hydrated are not one and the same. With over 5 years of developing the category, we know that our blend of electrolytes works best to help replace what is lost when riding/running and can also prevent cramping.”

Each nuun tablet supplies sodium, potassium, magnesium and calcium – the essential electrolytes active bodies need, without the sugars found in other sports drinks. Plus, the compact tube of 12 tablets eliminates the need for plastic bottles. Simply drop one tablet into any reusable drinking bottle and add water to make an electrolyte-enhanced drink with light, refreshing flavor.

Whether hiking, running, cycling or doing hot yoga, hydration is key for optimal performance and comfort. Yet, it is estimated that only 10 percent of people are properly hydrated. nuun’s light flavors make it easy to keep drinking to stay hydrated. In fact, adding a flavor to water increases intake by 40 percent, while adding flavor and electrolytes increases intake by 90 percent versus plain water. Plus, with nuun, one compact recyclable tube of tablets represents twelve less plastic bottles ever being made or used.

Moxey adds, “We encourage you to break the habit of using bottled water and try a banananuun tab in a reusable bottle. Get a taste of what cyclists, triathletes, runners, and hikers around the world already have. nuun – hydration reinvented.”

nuun is a sponsor of the Checkpoint Tracker Adventure Racing Series presented by Inov-8 and of team Checkpoint Zero/Inov-8.