Adventure TEAM Challenge
Adventure TEAM Challenge
Adventure TEAM challenge
There are no superstars in adventure racing – everyone works together to finish as a team.
It’ s not the race, it’ s the adventure. For teams in World T. E. A. M. Sports’ annual Adventure TEAM Challenge, simply finishing is an accomplishment. Each participating team of five persons includes two with disabilities – one being a wheelchair user. Teams push, pull, ride, scramble and float their way through a variety of wilderness challenges. Mountain biking, river rafting, rappelling, zip lining, rock climbing and orienteering are all met collectively by the team.
At the Challenge, teamwork is the key to successfully completing the course. Through cooperation and problem-solving, teams navigate through mountainous terrain, keeping an eye on the clock, and also on their fellow competitors. For four consecutive years, Team Lumber Liquidators has successfully solved every challenge in the shortest amount of time. That’ s remarkable. Equally as incredible is that during the same time span, all teams have completed the courses during the allotted time.
“ Everybody has moments when they suffer and are in pain, moments when they need help to keep going, and moments when they shine. The best teams are those which can tap into the talents of each member and find a collective team strength which becomes bigger than its parts,” said blind adventurer Erik Weihenmayer of the Challenge.
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Adventure TEAM Challenge
n 2012 Colorado McInnis Canyon National Conservation Area, near Grand Junction
n 2011 Colorado Colorado River Valley near Rancho del Rio
n 2010 Colorado Arkansas River Valley south of Leadville
n 2007 – 2009 Colorado Colorado River Valley near Rancho del Rio
Photos:( Previous page) Water is a key component of the Adventure TEAM Challenge. From left, rappelling to the Colorado River, portaging a raft, and riding the rapids of the Arkansas River.( Above) There’ s no sitting out a stage at the Challenge, as disabled and able-bodied participants travel together through all obstacles, be it rappelling( Top-right) or mountain biking.
Photographs by Jeff Messner( Top-right) and Peter Wayne( All other photos)
42 World T. e. a. m. Sports 2012 Annual Review 43