Phatchicks.com, in partnership with RACEDAYRUSH, are hosting a contest where four selected participants will go through a 12 week training program in order to qualify for one of two spots on Team RACEDAYRUSH.com at Saucony RockstAR Adventure Race on July 24th 2010.

The Poland Winter Challenge, Eastern Europe’s AR World Series event, is 3-4 days of skiing, mountain biking, orienteering, and rope challenges. It’s hallmark is lots of snow and creative special rope tests (traverses, ascents, etc). This year, the snow levels were less than expected but it’s proven a challenging race none-the-less. The 2010 edition is just wrapping up and the winning teams have arrived to the finish lin

We have selected some more images to follow up to our earlier slide show from Days 1-3 of the Wenger Patagonian Expedition Race. Enjoy!

Xtremo6000, the third event in 2010 for the AR World Series gets underway later this week. Check out some of the images from last year’s event.

The 2010 edition of the Wenger Patagonian Expedition Race came to a close on Friday night with an emotion-filled ceremony that involved a marriage proposal, a proud victory speech and a list of happy teams revealing their desire to return to Chilean Patagonia for the next race in just under 12 months time.

Over almost 600km of intense racing, competitors have experienced much of the virgin nature that Chilean Patagonia has to offer, from the wind-swept beach on northern Tierra del Fuego through rolling pampas, the climbing hills of the Karukinka reserve, the majestic Darwin Range and the choppy waters of the Beagle Channel.

2010 RACE RESULTS:

1. 1 Helly Hansen-Prunesco UK 126hrs 8mins
2. 16 Air Europa Bimont ESP 142hrs 46mins
3=. 4 Switzerland SWI 145hrs 6mins
3=. 9 Herbertz DE 145hrs 6mins
5. 7 GearJunkie.com USA 147hrs 31mins
6. 5 Untamed New England CDN 148hrs 17mins

The Wenger Patagonian Expedition Race saw competitors to take on sub-zero temperatures in the southern mountains of Chilean Patagonia this month and finished with a team of British adventurers retaining their title and six other teams making it all the way through the spectacular scenery for the closest podium battle in the race’s history.

British team Helly Hansen-Prunesco, returning after victory in 2009 to join a bumper field of 14 teams, performed faultlessly over almost 600km of kayaking, mountain biking and trekking through the remote and spectacular wilderness of Chile’s Tierra del Fuego and Isla Navarino, taking the lead midway through and finishing in just over five days and six hours.

This is the do anything, go anywhere jacket. The Patagonia Nano Puff Pullover is one of the most versatile pieces I have in my quiver of apparel. I have used this jacket in everything from snowshoeing to trail running to the monotonous task of shoveling snow from my driveway. It has also found its way into my carry-on arsenal. It is surprisingly warm and super lightweight. It stuffs into the left chest pocket though I have never used that feature. I always find myself just stuffing it into one of the bottle sleeves in my hydration or carry-on pack. I have also wadded it up to create a make shift pillow while flying to my next destination.

“PlanetExplore is an online community designed to help individuals and families learn about and participate in outdoor activities and events in their area. Powered by partner organizations that share our passion, PlanetExplore is a portal to the outdoors designed to inspire and enable people of all ages to become regularly active outside, and to develop the benefits gained through a connection to nature..” -www.planetexplore.com

They call it the official footwear of relaxation for a reason, These shoes are great — really warm and comfortable! They are great for all day walking or lounging. They come up just past my ankle bone and aren’t the struggle to put on like many higher or floppier boots are. Though if you always think you should wear thick socks you may find the fit in front a little snug, just go up ½ a size. They’re so warm though that the socks aren’t really needed. They have enough ‘give’ that they would probably adapt if you insisted on heavy socks. The Earthroamer Boot features rough-out suede uppers or upper details treated to be water repellent. However, I have not worn them in rainy or snowy weather yet. I like the heathered felt for textural interest and its made from 50% wool and 50% recycled PET.

Okay, so when I first saw the Animas Quadracycle…I was perplexed. Then, I watched everything that it was capable of doing. I ride the Great Allegheny Passage (Pittsburgh to DC) each year on my mountain bike. I am wondering how the Quadracycle would perform over the 300+ miles? I do know one thing…you would definitely have right of way and other bikers would be scrambling to get out the way of this four-wheel, electric and human powered beast.

There appears to be a new sport on the winter scene!!!! I first ran across this video on the Chaco Facebook page. Even though it was posted in late 2008, this is the first time I had seen it. Joel and Tate explain the importance of ’skootching’. Anyone that has ever been snowboarding knows what they are referring to when they mention the ’skootch’. My favorite might have to be the treadmill scene on the board.

A couple of days ago, I posted a mountain biking video to help pass the days while record snowfall across the states prevent most of us from hitting the trails except in spirit. This time, Kraig Becker over at The Adventure Blog had posted this video with some great paddling incentives to continue our longing to get outside. It is also the trailer for the upcoming kayak movie called Face Time (due out this spring).

Professional and amateur adventure racing teams from around the world will converge on Nord-Pas de Calais, a picturesque region in the North of France for five days of competitive stage racing from June 23rd through 27th. Organized by adventure racing legend Karine Baillet, Le Grand Raid features the standard AR disciplines in accessible format with a reasonable entry fee. A considerable cash purse has attracted top international teams to commit ahead of time, and the racing is sure to be competitive.

I have spent my life playing sports. A product of the American Midwest, my youth is best remembered as an athletic menagerie of freshwater lakes, kayaks, canoes, cliffs, campsites, forests and fields of grass as green as any gracing the Irish countryside.

I grew up playing organized football – the proper ‘football’, not the American bastardization of the beautiful game – basketball, tennis, golf and whatever else I could do. I have splished and splashed in a good percentage of Minnesota’s 10,000 lakes, traversed the tributaries of the mighty Mississippi and camped, climbed and competed in her pine forests for most of my life.

Team Ecuador Chevrolet made it official today when they were first to cross the finish line. Welcomed by the cheers of an excited crowd they were hours ahead of the next elite class team. Rounding out second and third were Safety Smart Wear and Karen’s Adventure Briko, respectively. Club Montana PUCE pulled out the win for the adventure class.

Randy Ericksen, the guy that brought us all of the Primal Quest Web Episodes, emailed me today to send me a much more relevant bike video (as opposed to the one I posted last night) for the general population (including myself). Randy won the Best Emerging Director at the 2009 Black Hills Fat Tire Film Festival.

• British team the first to ever retain trophy in ‘world’s toughest and wildest race’
• Almost 600km of racing in the wilderness of Chilean Patagonia in over six days
• Conditions in Darwin Range too much for five teams and maybe more

British team Helly Hansen-Prunesco became the first in history to retain the Wenger Patagonian Expedition Race title on Monday morning when they crossed the finish line on the Beagle Channel after six-and-a-half days of exhausting non-stop racing through the spectacular wilderness of Chilean Patagonia.

As I look out the window here in western PA, I can only dream of the months ahead that will be snow free where I can once again saddle up and take to the trails. The last few weeks in the mid-Atlantic states have dropped record amounts of snow on the area. In the span of 5 days, we have received over 30 inches. Not that I am complaining. I have dusted off the snowshoes and blazed new trails.

Here is a sample of the images taken at The Coastal Challenge 2010.

It proved to be a rough night for the race favorites and early leaders Buff Thermocool. Sometime during the night, one of the team members broke a collarbone. How the accident occurred is still a mystery but we will follow up on this as more information becomes available.

Racers couldn’t have asked for more beautiful weather at the starting line. Teams gathered in the central square of Cotocachi just before dawn. Teams set out at 6:45 AM under partly cloudy skies and mild temperatures in the upper 60s.