Raid Lowlands
POWERED BY TEAM XPD HOLLAND
Adventure Racing World Series :: Toughest Endurance Sport In The World
WHAT IS ADVENTURE RACING?
Adventure racing is typically a multidisciplinary team sport involving navigation over an unmarked wilderness course with races extending anywhere from 8 hours up to 10 days in length. The principal disciplines in adventure racing includes trekking, mountain biking, and paddling although races may incorporate a multitude of other disciplines including climbing, abseiling, inline skating, caving and rafting (so called: special stages). The premier format is considered to be mixed gender teams of four racers, during Raid Lowlands teams of any formation are allowed. There is typically no suspension of the clock during races, irrespective of length; elapsed competition time runs concurrently with real time, and competitors must choose if or when to rest, sleep and eat. Using only map and compass, teams must find checkpoints to eventually arrive at the finish line.
The most important and biggest organiser of adventure races around the world is the Adventure Race World Series (ARWS). Under their banner, nearly 50 adventure races are held annually from the Australian Outback, to the Kingdom in the sky in Africa, to the Patagonian region in South America.
AR WORLD SERIES
The Adventure Racing World Series Qualifier Circuit unites in competition the world’s best endurance athletes at premiere expedition length Qualifier events around the globe. The top team at each International Qualifier Round gains a coveted position on the start line of the annual pinnacle of the sport, the AR World Championship (ARWC). Each International Qualifier Round in the AR World Series sets a unique expedition length course to test mixed teams of four athletes over a 500+km course and 3-7 days of non-stop racing in the disciplines of trekking, mountain biking, kayaking, navigation and more.
The ARWS for a 2nd year in a row in The Netherlands
In addition to the ARWS Qualifier circuit worldwide, the ARWS also started Regional circuits a few years ago, in which adventure races are organised on a smaller scale, in a particular continent. After Oceania, Asia, Africa and South America, Europe could not wait any longer. In 2023 the AR European Series circuit will be organised for the second time with 9 races throughout Europe:
-
14 - 15 January Montane Kong Vinter, Denmark;
-
12 - 14 May Raid Lowlands, the Netherlands;
-
27 - 29 May Les Dentelles, France;
-
9 - 10 June Nirvana AR, Italy;
-
30 June - 2 July Tactical Foodpack Expedition, Estonia
-
27 - 31 July ITERA-lite, Scotland;
-
10 - 13 August Endurance Quest, Finland
-
1 - 3 September Raidaran AR, Spain;
-
29 September - 1 October Raid in France - European Championship, France.
AR EUROPEAN SERIES
Raid Lowlands is proud member of the ARWS European circuit. The ARWS European circuit is a collection of the best mid-distance adventure races in the European region. Event organisers set a unique course to test athletes over 125-250km courses of non-stop day and night racing in the disciplines of trekking, mountain biking, kayaking, and navigation. Participating teams earn points towards their AR Regional Ranking and the winner of each round gains entry to the ARWS European Championship. The winner of the Regional Championship gains an entry to the global Adventure Racing World Championship.
Raid Lowlands
Raid Lowlands is a 200 kilometer adventure race in which participating teams are tested both mentally and physically on foot, mountain bike and kayak. Teams are allowed a maximum of 36 hours to complete the course, after 36 hours the race will be terminated.
Certainly the fastest teams will finish the adventure race a lot faster, depending on the race you should think of 15 to 20 hours. The majority of teams will take approximately 20 to 36 hours to complete the adventure race. It is often possible to shorten the race, so every team is able to make it to the finish line within 36 hours. (This we call: short course).
So you have 36 hours to finish the entire course of about 200 kilometers. Roughly you can assume the following distances per discipline:
-
100% navigation
-
50% mountain biking
-
30% trekking
-
10% paddling
-
10% special stages
The RL60
To make adventure racing accessible to a wider audience, Raid Lowlands is introducing the RL60. The RL60 is a shorter adventure race of about 60 kilometers and the course will remain open for a maximum of 8 hours. During the RL60 you experience all aspects of adventure racing, although you don't have to skip a night.
The RL60 promises to be a full day of adventures for:
-
Someone who is completely new to adventure racing and also has never done a marathon, triathlon or other endurance sport of several hours;
-
A beginner and/ or intermediate adventure racer who really don't want to skip a night;
-
An adventure racer of any level under the age of 18 (minimum age: 12 years);
-
A sportive and cool mom and/or dad who wants to experience an adventure with their son and/ or daughter;
-
A lit gym teacher who wants to introduce his students to epic new sports.
When should I enroll Raid Lowlands
If you are not familiar with Adventure Racing and unsure if you should sign up for Raid Lowlands, you can follow the checkbox below:
I enjoy physical challenges
I am familiar with mountain/ gravel biking
I am not afraid of mental challenges
I am a team player
I can find 3 more like-minded people
At least 1 of my teammates knows how to navigate with map and compass
Can you tick off all the bullets? Enroll now!
