Adventure sports are nothing new for Caroline Colonna of Taos. The 44-year-old mother of four has competed in everything from extreme skiing competitions to triathlons to martial arts events.
But, today, Colonna and 19 others will compete in a race that is as mysterious to the general public as it is to its participants.
"They haven't told us what the events will be like— they want an element of surprise," Colonna said during an interview with the Journal. "But they told us there will be orienteering, kayaking and mountain climbing, and to bring a bike helmet, running shoes, bike pedals, bike shoes and a bathing suit."
"We also know that it will be in different remote areas in Nevada— they also told us that temperatures will vary from 40 degrees at night and 90 degrees in the day," she added.
Ten men and women, ranging in age from 25 to 47, were selected from a pool of online candidates from throughout the country to compete in the Land Rover G4 Challenge: The Nevada Passage, which is continuous race that runs today through Friday.
The event, which features 10 teams of one man and one woman, will have each pair of racers compete in driving challenges and outdoor adventure activities designed to test teamwork and physical and mental endurance, said event officials.
"There are no prizes for the competitors; this is a competition solely for those who love adventure," said Frankie Vigil, event spokeswoman.
The top two teams from the national competition in Nevada will advance to an international event in 2009, where one team will be selected to represent the United States in the Land Rover G4 Global Challenge, which will be held in Asia. The winner of that event will have a Land Rover vehicle donated to the Red Cross of their respective country.
Vigil added that The Nevada Passage, which is in its third year, is co-sponsored by Nevada's Department of Tourism, and was designed to highlight the state's topography while showcasing the array of adventure sports opportunities found throughout the state.
"The competition will be syndicated on national networks throughout the country in an hourlong show," she said. "And last year's show was seen by more than 2 million viewers."
Past competitions have included events such as back-country skiing in the Sierra Nevada mountain range, sandboarding on Sand Mountain in Fallon, kayaking on the Truckee River in Reno, and rock climbing in Red Rock Canyon, officials said. This year's competitors hail from 13 states, and the professions of each amateur racer range from glass blowing to mental health counseling to Colonna's profession: a doctor of oriental medicine.
Colonna was paired with Adam Chase, 42, who is an attorney from Boulder, Colo. And after the two competed against each other in an XTERRA off-road triathlon last year, Colonna is confident that Chase's skill-set complements hers.
"He's an adventure racer, so he has experience with this type of race," she said. "Hopefully, I can piggyback off his knowledge."
And since Colonna and Chase are two of the older competitors in the race, it's experience that will hopefully propel the tandem to the winner's circle.
"Our age is an advantage because part of this race is about making decisions and being wise. And growing wiser is one of the only advantages of age, isn't it?" she said, laughing.
