"I want to thank you for having the vision and energy to bring this sort of adventure to Grand Forks. People like you make this a better community to live in."
--Jim Fairlcloth, Sr. Vice President of Marketing, Alerus financial
ENDracing Young Adventurer's Team (END-FAST)
The Extreme North Dakota Future (of) Adventure Sports Team (END-FAST) is being created as a means of supporting talented young racers just starting out in Adventure Racing. The team will be supported financially (as we are able) and with product from our sponsors, and will be expected to devote themselves to AR as they would any other athletic endeavor. They will represent ENDracing's young adventurer initiatives at all of ENDracing's events (five in 2013) and will receive some level of financial assistance with entry fees and travel costs for other regional and national events.
The team will have a maximum roster of 8 individuals for any given year, and will commit to a calendar of events as a team. Both the roster and the calendar will be determined each fall for the subsequent year. Years will run from Jan-Dec. Team members will be allowed to compete as part of the team during years that they begin between the ages of 13 and 18 (i.e. two racers turning 13 and 19 on Jan 2nd, 2013 would both be able to be part of the 2013 team). Racers 15 and under will be on a team with an experienced adult 'mentor' when racing. Racers 16-18 will, whenever possible, race on a team by themselves.
Besides committing themselves to learning the craft of adventure racing and all the requisite skills (biking, running, paddling, teamwork, navigation, fixed ropes, swimming), the team will train together to improve fitness, attend skills workshops and orienteering clinics, and conduct themselves appropriately as ambassadors of ENDracing and GroundUPadventures. The team will also serve the organization by helping plan and implement the Youth Adventure Racing camp held during the summer months. For an inside look at the 'real deal' of adventure racing (a 24 hour length race) from the perspective a youth team, check out Logan Smestead's race report from END-AR 24, HERE.
The end goal of creating this team (in conjunction with our other youth programs) is to help legitimize the sport within our region, make it accessible for younger athletes, and encourage their participation in it. It's existence will allow for promising younger athletes attending the Adventure Racing Camp someplace to 'go' as their talents develop.
We are currently developing the team for the 2013 racing season. To express your interest and find out more information, please email us. To Donate to the team, please click HERE, or on the "donate" link on the main menu bar.