Team SOG places 4th overall and 3rd in Master's division respectively at USARA nationals

Pura Vida Adventures' owners Joe Moerschbaecher and Julia Pollock have been racing as part of Team Sog throughout the year. Unfortunately, Joe's season was cut short by an injury but do to the depth of the team it did not stop Team Sog from having a strong showing at USRAR Nationals. Team SOG wrapped up its season with a 4th place finish overall just missing the podium at the USARA Nationals Race, while Team SOG'S MASTERS placed third in the Master's division capturing a podium finish.

Team Sog's Julia Pollock, Brian Mayer, and Toby Angrove towed the line as SOG'S open category representative. The race was tight throughout and they yo-yoed between 1st and 4th throughout the entire race. At the King of the Mountain Stage they just missed winning the prize for fastest time by mere minutes after leading the pack throughout. There strong effort on this stage helped seperate them and the other lead teams and contributed to there strong 4th place overall finish.

The master's team led by Chris Caul and acompanied by JD Ekelson and Sue Falvey raced as cagey veterans placing 3rd in the master's category. There efforts put them on the podium in the master's category.

This race completed a strong season for Team SOG, which included 1st place finishes at Lionheart and Tidewater Traverse. It also has the team ranked 7th in the USARA point series and tied for fourth in the Checkpoint Tracker series. Unfortunately due to injuries and prior obligations Team SOG will not have a full team at Checkpointtracker Nationals, but we all wish JD Ekelson well as he represents Team SOG in the solo category.

Thanks goes out to all of the members of Team SOG, as well as SOG Knives, and Doug Crytzer and his crew at American Adventure Sports for giving us the opportunity to be part of the team.

TeamSOG wins Tidewater Traverse

Congratulations to our TeamSOG teammates Chris Caul, Toby Coker, and Jen Belt who placed first at Tidewater Traverse. Here is Chris's race report:

First off what a race! It was my first time racing with Jen and only second with Toby and all I can say is they ROCK!

We had a fun race and raced strong and fast but the flat land navigation really challenged me. Despite my running us in circles in brier patches for hours - when we crossed the finish line we discovered we had actually won the race. Tons of great times out on the course. Some of the highlights were - Following Toby on the bike portions(it was like riding behind a piece of plywood) - Hearing Toby and I cry like babies because we were having our skin torn apart with the thorns and briers and Jen just going walking through the same sections without saying a word(she is tough as nails) - Doing a bike O in a single track park and actually having fun! - And perhaps the best thing was having all three of us paddle my 2 person touring kayak, I hope to get pics from that experience. We came up with the idea during coffee on Sat morning, tried it out at race check in then executed it in 20 miles of paddling. I know this was a tough spot for Jen but once again she was a stud. As I said I had difficulty with the nav - so did some of the other teams - 2 coed teams that crossed the finish line before us had actually punched 2 of the mandatory points with the same punch by mistake. Due to this we ended up being the first team to finish with all the mandatory points. This is another example of the race aint over till you cross the line. It was a great time and look forward to more in the future.

Chris

Team SOG got a slow start to the season but we have put up some strong finishes lately. Next event for our team is USARA Nationals. This victory shows the depth of our team as Joe Moerschbaecher is out for the rest of the season with an injury and Julia Pollock was not able to race. Chris Caul once again showed his experience and leadership in captaining the team to a second victory in his last to Adventure Races

Rappelling Waterfalls: More details on our waterfall rappelling, canyoneering, and cascading programs.

Pura Vida Adventures has a new site up and running http://www.rappellingwaterfalls.com/ . This resource describes the difference between waterfall rappelling, cascading, and canyoneering. It also will send you to our various guided waterfall rappelling programs and our instructional canyoneering programs.

A response to the Gear Junkie concerning adventure racing

The gear junkie wrote an article entitled: An Open Letter to Adventure Racers
http://gearjunkie.venturethere.com/blogs/detail/An-Open-Letter-To-Adventure-Race-Directors/305.html

Here is a veteran adventure racers response

1. Quit calling it 'Adventure Racing'
Honestly the name the name of the sport is adventure racing. The history of the sport has given it this name. The name needs not be changed AR is a fine abbreviation but adventure racing is adventure racing, if we only called it AR people would really not know what we are talking about.

2. Allow GPS
Absurb, that would really drop participation rates. Adventure Racing and land navigation are learned through experience. Participants should begin with easier races with minnimum navigation and move to more difficult races as they develop skills. Map and compass is faster than GPS, but GPS would eliminate a lot of nav problem solving which is the heart of the sport.

3. Vet the Course
Completely agree this may be an additional cost to race directors though, so at the least they need to pre run the course the whole way through at once on their own. Experienced RD's should be able to factor in the additional appropriate time for difficult navigation areas.

4. Simplify the Sport
I agree with this the sport was simpler 5-7 years ago all cp's were mandatory. The courses could be completed in the allotted time (normally). RD's should move to centralized TA'S whenever possible to reduce their costs and stress levels.

5. No UTMs
Do not get rid of UTM,but provide UTM coordinates in addition to a master map which has the points already plotted. Will solve the problem of incorrect UTM'S and allow the racers that like using UTM'S to still use them. Racers pay RD'S TO PROVIDE THE CORRECT utm's.

6. Boat Choice
The bike boat comparison does not hold water. Boats have max hull speeds bike speed can not be compared to hull speed. Requiring races to own their own boat would increase cost. Personally, I own fast boats so I would have an unfair advantage if boats were not regulated.

7. Whitewater, Please!
This is scary to me most racers even top racers have limited whitewater experience. Whitewater paddling is a skill that takes time to develop. It is great and I love it in races but ww canoeing is one of the most difficult whitewater boats to paddle. If rd's are going to have significant ww inflatable kayaks are a safer option. Racers should have the skills needed to navigate ww. Example Pq Montana ww, best ww section of any race I have done, but to advanced for most racers as they did not have the ww experience needed.

8. Good Maps
Completely agree will pay extra for race entry for good maps.

9. Clues
Completely agree navigating is navigating, providing awkward clues just to increase the navigation difficulty is ridiculous and frustrating to racers.

10. Mandatory Gear
What needs to be carried is based on the area of the race the time of year terrain and length. Adventure racing should have a standard first aid kit most races require to little first aid gear.

11. Inform the Volunteers
Racers should already have this info it should be up to the racers to know these details volunteers are just this volunteers. Some have limited knowledge do not trust the volunteers trust yourself. RD'S should put these details in the passport.

12. The Coed Rule
This makes are sport unique coed should be the elite division, then categorize all other categories as one. If you want to race just race if you are not in the elite category go out and prove to the elite category teams that you are elite cause you kicked their a**. They will be competing against you I promise.

13. Ropes
Ropes are fun. It is an extra major expense to the RD choose if you want it or not, but racers like it. Be sure to have a rope rigging crew that knows racing, rigs multiple ropes, and put the ropes section at a point in the race that prevents bottle necks.

14. Lower Entry Fees
Most race companies are for profit and putting on a race is an expensive endeavor price your race based on cost. If you want good maps you have to pay more. If you want a race course that is vetted by a 3rd party you will pay more. I you want white water you wil pay more.

15. Elevator Pitch
Say what you want to describe adventure racing but please do not compare it to the amazing race.
_________________
Experience the Good life,
Joe Moerschbaecher
Pura Vida Adventures
pvadventures.com
772-579-0005

Team SOG places 1st and 3rd at Lionheart Adventure Race

Pura Vida Adventures in conjunction with Team SOG competed in American Adventure Sports Lionheart Adventure Race on 8/7 and 8/8 2010. This 25 hour adventure race in Ohiopyle Pennsylvania included paddling along the middle Yough, a 100 plus ft rappel off the bridge above railroad raid on the Lower Yough, mountainbiking along fireroads and classic western PA single track and trekking along trail road and in the bush.

Pura vida Adventures was invited to race with Team SOG throughout 2010, buit until July our schedule has not allowed for it. This race was a main focus of the summer season for Team SOG, as well as the Team SOG members who make up Pura Vida Adventures.

Pura Vida Adventures had clients who had participated in our May adventure racing camp come to the event. Team Puerto Rico named after their homeland had practiced the skills they learned in May over the last few months to focus their attention on the Lionheart adventure race this August.

Team Puerto Rico 2nd place 3 person male team

Their hard work paid off as they placed second in the 3 person male division in their first adventure race competion. Their attitude and performance made Pura Vida Adventures proud and they one the respect of the competition along the way. Pura Vida Adventures hopes that this was the first race of many for Team Puerto Rico. We also hope that Team Puerto Rico becomes ambassadors to the sport in the territory of Puerto Rico.

The race started on foot followed by a long bike into another trek and on to the paddle. By the second trek Team SOG, SOG Knives, and Odyssey Imonpoint seperated themselves from the rest of the pack. Team Trakkers had mechanical which dropped them back from the lead teams and suffered a 2 hour penalty for leaving their map. This caused them to settle for a 4th place finish. The crux of the race was time trialed bike section where points were dispersed based upon fastest times. Results of the race would be determined by this section for all teams who completed the course. After the time trial Sog Knives was in first via points followed by Odyssey Imonpoint, and Team SOG. At this point SOG Knives and Team SOG teamed up to ensure a win for SOG as they made their way through the orienteering course and final bike leg.

Team Sogknives.com and Team SOG 1ST AND 3RD overall in the the 2010 Lionheart Adventure Race

Sog Knives consisting of veteran racers Chris Caul and Kristin Diffenbach, as well as up and comer Steven Baker took first followed by Odyssey Imonpoint, and Team SOG consisting of Brian Mayer and Joe Moerschbaecher and Julia Pollock of Pura Vida Adventures. Team SOGKNIVES.COM WINNERS OF 2010 LIONHEART ADVENTURE RACE

To find out more about Pura Vida Adventures Adventure Racing Camps and instruction visit www.pvadventures.com

Cascading and Canyoneering Programs in North Carolina Highlighted in Aug. 2010 Blue Ridge Outdoors Magazine

Pura Vida Adventures is proud to be featured in the August 2010 Issue of Blue Ridge Outdoors Magazine. The article entitled Cascading talks about the budding sport of southeastern canyoneering.

Graham Averil, the article's writer talks aboutthe development of the sport and recommends some beginner cnyoneering options in both North Carolina and Virginia. In addition it speaks of Pura Vida Adventures Canyoneering programs for those interested in a more technical canyoneering and cascading adventure.

Graham goes on to call Pura Vida Adventures owner Joe Moerschbaecher a "cascading pioneer". To read the full article visit the following link:

http://www.blueridgeoutdoors.com/current-issue/features/cascading/

Two new canyoneering programs are almost completely developed by Pura Vida Adventures and details will be coming soon, also twwo day canyoneering instructional programs are currently being scheduled for Aug. and Sept. please contact us for more details.

You play to win the game! Adventure Racing in Virginia

Pura Vida Adventures owners Joe Moerschbaecher and Julia Pollock were able to get some time off their busy summer schedules to team up with Brian Mayer and Baker of Team SOG to compete in the Odyssey one day adventure race this past weeekend in Virginia.

For Julia and Joe it was there first time racing in over a year and a half, and the excitement of being back on the race scene created some extra endorphins for this particular race. In addition, it was an opportunity to team up with two new teammates and join Team SOG in their quest to develop points in the checkpoint tracker series.

The race course was long and the temperature hot, so hot that tar bubbles were popping on the black top. We raced strong, smart, and persevered through the heat, cramping, and stomach issues. We stayed in or near the lead throughout the race. We attacked and got both the optional checkpoints. We had a lead on the second place team going into the last portion of the course after the optional points, but some unexpected tricky navigation left us 15 minutes short of a win.

We made the right decision in going for the optionals as it would secure the win. We went big doubling down seeking the adventure as oppose to just doing a race. We also won the respect of our competition. Thanks to team Odyssey/Imonpoint for sharing in that adventure. We would have liked to win, but if we had to lose I am happy with our decisions as it gave us the chance to win. As a wise prophet once said, "You play to win the game!," we raced to win and did not lose just ran out of time.

Pura Vida Adventures offers adventure racing camps , for more info visit:
http://www.pvadventures.com/news/index.html