As the championship event for the Adventure Racing World Series, the RAID THE NORTH EXTREME 2004: ADVENTURE RACING WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP will be held in Canada from August 1-8, 2004. With a prize purse of $100,000 CDN, the race will span 6 days, and will feature a challenging 500km course through some of Canada’s most stunning and unoccupied terrain.



Already, several of the world’s most successful adventure racing teams have expressed their intent to enter the championship race. Says Geoff Langford, President of Frontier Adventure Racing Inc (FAR Inc), “Since announcing the race recently, I’ve had conversations with many of the top AR teams that are extremely encouraging. They are thrilled that the race will be held in Canada next year, and are eagerly building their 2004 schedules around this event.”



To date, Langford says, teams that have expressed their intention to compete in the RAID THE NORTH EXTREME 2004: ADVENTURE RACING WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP include defending World Champions Nokia (Finland), winners of EMA 2001; Montrail (U.S.), winners of Raid the North Extreme 2002; EADS (France), winners of Raid the North Extreme 2003; North Face (U.K.), winners of Adrenalin Rush 2003; Aberdeen Asset Management (U.K.), 2nd place Adrenalin Rush 2003; Adventure Pocono (U.S.), winners of Beast of the East 2002; and Edge Orienteering (New Zealand), winners of Southern Traverse 2001.



Based on initial interest, Langford encourages interested teams to apply early for the RAID THE NORTH EXTREME 2004: ADVENTURE RACING WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS -- a race that will feature a breathtaking, challenging wilderness course of off-trail trekking, mountain biking, ropes and paddling on flat and moving water.



REGISTRATION DETAILS:



Registration will open at 10AM EST on Wednesday, December 10, 2003, online at www.RaidTheNorth.com.



To ensure a competitive field for this championship race, teams will register by application, with final team selection confirmed by FAR Inc early in the new year.



An application form will be available for preview later this week at www.RaidTheNorth.com.



When applying, teams will outline their skills and accomplishments. Teams will first be selected based on qualifying criteria of the AR World Series (available online); however, all interested teams are encouraged to apply.



A $1,000 U.S. deposit will be required with applications. (Online payment available by Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Discover -- via PayPal.)



For selected teams, the $1,000 deposit will be applied to the $7,500 U.S. registration fee, which includes accommodation before and after the race, full race support, a post-race banquet, all watercraft, and opening and closing ceremonies.



If you are not selected to compete in the 2004 race, your deposit will be refunded. Otherwise, the deposit is non-refundable.



Questions? Contact us at arwc2004@raidthenorth.com




RACE SUMMARY:



WHAT: Raid the North Extreme 2004: Adventure Racing World Championship



WHERE: Canada (exact location to be announced shortly)



WHEN: August 1-8, 2004



PRIZE: $100,000 CDN and title of Adventure Racing World Champions



OPERATED BY: Frontier Adventure Racing Inc. (FAR Inc), Canada’s premier adventure racing company



REGISTRATION: Registration opens December 10 at 10AM EST, online at ww.RaidTheNorth.com. Entries are limited to 50 teams; early registration is encouraged. Teams to be confirmed in early 2004.





ABOUT FRONTIER ADVENTURE RACING INC:

Frontier Adventure Racing Inc (FAR Inc) is the leading adventure racing company in Canada, operating the popular Raid the North and Salomon Adventure Challenge series. Now in its seventh year of operation, FAR Inc has established an international reputation for solid logistics and challenging race courses. Providing traditional wilderness adventure race experiences has been FAR Inc's focus since day one. Often building courses around the history and traditions of the regions competitors travel through, FAR Inc remains true to its slogan: Real Wilderness. Real Navigation. Real Adventure.



ABOUT THE ADVENTURE RACING WORLD SERIES:

The Adventure Racing World Series is an international circuit of premier adventure races, representing seven countries and creating a 12-month calendar of professional events around the world. The series events are: Beast of the East (USA), Raid the North Extreme (Canada), Expedicao Mata Atlantica (Brazil), Explore Sweden (Sweden), Appalachian Extreme (USA), Southern Traverse (New Zealand), European Championship Adventure Race (Austria), and Adventure Quest Africa (South Africa). Adventure Racing World Series events are qualifiers for the ADVENTURE RACING WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP.





FOR FURTHER INFORMATION:



Geoff Langford

President, Frontier Adventure Racing Inc

Calgary & Toronto, Canada

geoff@far.on.ca

403.670.0466

416.783.4464



Geoff Hunt

Southern Traverse Ltd

Queenstown, New Zealand

geoff@ARWorldSeries.com

64 3 441 8215



MEDIA INQUIRIES:



Katherine Nelson

Media Coordinator

AR World Championship

katherine@katherinenelson.com

604.899.2179