With only four-weeks to go before the race begins, Atmosphere Raid the North Extreme Race Director Geoff Langford offers a preview of top teams to watch.

“We have a competitor field with lots of depth and experience this year,” he says. “In adventure racing there are many game-changing variables that can alter the outcome of the race. Nevertheless, I think we can safely say that WildernessTraverse.com, WEDALI and DART-nuun-SportMulti will figure among the strongest teams.”

WildernessTraverse.com is captained by Bob Miller, 36 of Unionville, Ontario and includes Jakob Van Dorp, 27, of Wiarton, Ontario as well as Sarah Cromwell, 33 and Gordon Blythen, 36, both of New Zealand. With more than 10 years of experience in adventure racing, which includes acting as Chair of the Canadian Adventure Racing Association, Miller is expected to push his team to top standings at the finish line.

The all-American team WEDALI is also strong competitor in the field. They are the reigning champions of the United States Adventure Racing Championships in 2010 and have already won several smaller adventure races in 2011. Justin Bakken, 31, of Minneapolis, a member of WEDALI since it launched in 2003, leads the team.

Team DART-nuun-SportMulti, is another physically powerful US-based team, headed by 40-year-old Cyril Jay-Rayon of Seattle, Washington. The crew is made up of elite athletes who each have an extensive list of participation in long-distance events including triathlons and expedition-style adventure races like Atmosphere Raid the North Extreme.

Other teams who will likely show up on the leader board include Atmosphere MOMAR, Checkpoint Zero/Tech4o, Gear Junkie/YogaSlackers and Odyssey Adventure Racing – ImONPoint.org. But with a challenging racecourse and the elevated level of athleticism, it would be impossible to predict the first place winner.

Tecnu Extreme/StaphAseptic at 2011 E-Fix

Second time’s the charm. Tecnu nearly won the race last year. They were leading the field by 5 hours, but had to drop out when one of their squad started having difficulty breathing. Since then the team has continued to train and race all over the country…and it shows.

This year’s E-Fix saw 4 of the country’s best amateur teams toe the line. Tecnu beat out TeamSOG, Odyssey Adventure Racing-ImONPoint.org and Checkpoint Zero/Tech4o after nearly 50 hours of non-stop racing across an exceedingly challenging course.

There’s no doubt this crew is starting to hit their groove. Their next event is Raid the North Extreme in British Columbia. If they keep racing the way they have been lately then there’s no doubt they can win it.

Photo courtesy of Mad Race Media.

Raid the North Extreme (RTNX), Canada’s premiere expedition-style adventure race, is proud to announce a partnership with Atmosphere, Canada’s #1 retailer in the outdoor sports and recreation sector.

“We are thrilled to partner with Atmosphere as our title sponsor,” says Geoff Langford, Race Director for ARTNX. “Atmosphere is not only perfect destination where adventure racers can gear up. As a brand, their involvement offers enormous support in our pursuit to host a premiere event and goes a long way towards helping us strengthen the culture of adventure racing.”

Atmosphere operates as a national retail banner under The Forzani Group Ltd. (FGL), the largest and only national sporting goods retailer in Canada. As part of the agreement, they will provide prizing for racers and contests, thank you gifts for volunteers and will help promote the race at their retail locations.

“Atmosphere has always promoted outdoor active lifestyles and partnering with Raid the North Extreme is an extension of our brand values,” says Mark Hindman, Vice-President, Marketing, Forzani Group Ltd. “As a title sponsor, we have an opportunity to continue encouraging people, everyone from the athletes to the spectators, to get out and have fun in the outdoors.”

The partnership between Atmosphere and Raid the North Extreme also marks the launch of a new, modernized logo for RTNX, honouring the event’s storied history and reputation.

Atmosphere Raid the North Extreme, the six-day, non-stop expedition race will take place from July 23 to 31, 2011 in the West Kootenay region of British Columbia. It will feature four-person co-ed teams from around the world as they navigate more than 500 kilometres of unmarked terrain through the Selkirk, Purcell and Monashee mountains. Teams will face extreme challenges including a rugged wilderness, team dynamics, sleep deprivation and gear failure as they bike, trek, paddle and use ropes to navigate the course.

www.raidthenorthextreme.com