'The Adventure Race' is the latest to be staged in Sri Lanka.
In other countries, as you have seen many times on TV, the 'Adventure Races' are a very popular calendar event in Asian countries like Nepal, Bhutan, Laos, Vietnam, Thailand and the Himalayan Mountains.
The very first 'Adventure Race' in Sri Lanka is to be held in April this year.
This major event is facilitated by the Sri Lanka Tourist Board and organised by Adventure Centre Asia (www.ac.asia.com).
According to SLTB, the Adventure Race will be conducted to international standards.
The direction of Lankan race will come under Peter Stewart, the CEO of 'Adventure Races', one for Sri Lankans and the other for the International participants.
Adventure racing is a new multi-discipline sports that requires individual will, endurance, survival skills, outdoor savvy, and teamwork to be successful. The duration of adventure races varies from one-day races to two-week expeditions requiring both day and night navigation through harsh and challenging terrain.
"This will be the newest venture in Sri Lanka tourism. We have the potential. In Sri Lanka, we believe, the resources for this kind of event is at the maximum level. We have better locations and places than in any other Asian countries. Sri Lanka needs only a little push in exploring and promoting these places as one on the best adventure locations in the world." an official attached to the SLTB said.
The National Event (one night -two days) will be in April 2003 and the International Adventure Race will take place in July 2003.
'Adventure Races' in their various forms have been referred to as the ultimate adventure. It's epic, gritty, challenging and unpredictable. Sri Lanka Tourist Board will call for application for this 'Race' from Sri Lankans soon.
'The race' will run into a three or four day event (continuous days).
Teams of 'Four people' (with minimum one female member) will be eligible to take part.
'The Adventure Race' will be within the general boundaries of Nuwara Eliya District, Horton Plains, World's End, Peak Wilderness Sanctuary, Adam's Peak and Kitulgala.
Adventure Race comprising Wilderness running/Rafting/River Activities/Kayaking/Mountain Biking/Canoeing/Abseiling/ problem solving initiatives/self styled campaign/ rock climbing.
The Sri Lankan category will be for team of four members. Each team of four, comprising of men and women, race (sometimes non-stop, 24-hours a day) over a rugged course, participating in such disciplines as trekking, white water canoeing, horseback riding, sea kayaking, scuba diving, mountaineering and mountain biking.
It's a race against time, pitting the dramatic forces of Mother Nature against the skill and experience of adventure athletes.
Such races are meant to be a challenge that transcends physical fitness and the individual; its very essence lies in team dynamics and the ability to solve problems under constant stress, including little sleep and limited food.
The race demands mutual respect for others and for the environment, while each individual is pushed to the very edge of human endurance.
It is a race measured in pain-endured lessons.
If one person quits or is injured, the entire team is disqualified. To succeed is to finish as a team; to win demands something extraordinary.
The sport requires the athlete to be versed in a variety of outdoor sports, have individual drive and the highest team skills.
For those competing it is necessary to have an appreciation of techniques for biking, paddling, climbing, gear selection, proper use and preparation, navigation and orienteering essentials, tips on nutrition, hydration and health, team strategy and logistics.
Adventure Races has been highlighted by the "Eco-Challenge" which is one of the world's premier 'Expedition Race' attracting the best adventure athletes from around the world, and it is held in a remote region of the world each year.
The race Director Peter Stewart is an Australian from Melbourne. He is the director of Himalayan Mountain Bikes and Adventure Centre Asia. and also Hawaiian Ironman and International Triathlete of some 100 races. A pioneer mountain biker and adventurer of the Himalayan region since 1995, Peter having established tours in eight Asian destinations. He is the 'Adventure Race' organizer for Asian countries over the past eight years.
Adventure sports have seized the interest of the world. It is high time to get our share in adventure tourism.The doors are now open for Sri Lankan Adventure projects to keep the Lankan flag flying high in adventure tourism.
According to the National Sporting Goods Association (NSGA) in US, 189 million outdoor enthusiasts in the U.S. alone were involved in adventure sports and travel in 1998. In the USA alone millions are heading outside for fitness, self-discovery and a closer connection to the environment and many are creating a lifestyle out of it.
In the past five years the sports following has multiplied and found a solid home in many parts of Asia with monthly and even weekly events underway. Cricket has become the major shareholder in sports tourism.
But I storngly believe that Adventure Races will exceed the revenue generated from 'cricket tourism'.
