The Raid comes to Idaho

These People Are Crazy and They’re Coming to Idaho

By Shea Andersen, 3-20-06

	Photo Courtesy Raid World Cup

We Idahoans do pride ourselves on our outdoor hardiness. From working in the woods to running through them, Idahoans of all stripes are justified in seeing themselves as outdoor folks par none.

So the little reality check headed our way this summer should be a heady experience: "The Raid" is coming to Idaho.

No, I'm not talking about armed conflict. The Raid Gauloises is the sort of adventure racing phenomenon that begat the X-Games, that pre-dates the X-Terra. It is so "X" it used to not even have one in its name.

Background on the event, from their own Web site: "The Raid Gauloises was founded in 1989 by Alain Gaimard, President of Saga Events. The first race in New Zealand gave birth to the sport of adventure racing and has since evolved into the X-Adventure Raid World Cup, a world-class global series for professional athletes. The Raid has hosted events on six continents, selecting the most challenging terrain for a diverse range of outdoor sports from mountain biking to glacier crossing. Teams from around the world must succeed through three qualifying races on three continents to compete in the World Championship. The Raid World Cup has become the world’s most elite adventure race with qualifying races, standardized rules, high-tech logistics, anti-doping testing, and international media coverage. The series is sponsored and supported by Saab and Salomon."

As you might imagine, having this sort of niche nuttiness in Idaho is not a bad little media bonus.

"Educating people about Idaho’s unique beauty is a major goal for us and this opportunity to be in the global spotlight is just priceless," said Carl Wilgus, Idaho Tourism Director. "We’re honored to be included in the elite group of locations selected to host the Raid X-Adventure World Cup."

So off they'll go to Tamarack Resort, which is doing a pretty bang-up job of creating and attracting events and media attention. This is just one more feather in their cap, and one more reason Donnelly is going to see a lot more SUV's in the turning lane off Highway 55.

Here's why we should feel the positive vibes from the event. According to the race's founders the race destinations, especially those for the World Cup, should offer courses of "breathtaking beauty, that are both pristine yet technically challenging." You're welcome.

The whole affair will be at Tamarack from June 9-11. This is, of course, merely a qualifier for the Raid World Championship, for which these adrenalin-soaked crazy people will head to Quebec. At each of the World Cup events like the one set for Tamarack, 50 co-ed teams of four athletes will cover over 120 miles of terrain during the two days they're on the site.

My dear friends and neighbors, it is too late to join the competition yourselves, and perhaps you ought be glad for this. When last I checked, America had about 13 teams in the running, with names like "Sucking Wind" and "Militant Hippies." Others seemed a tad more imposing.

But they do walk among us: Tamarack Resort has, natch, its own team. See their Web site here, and ponder just what it might take for these hardy folks to win the whole schmear! And consider the sheer volume of Advil they must consume!

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